Getting a first U.S. passport has long meant printing forms, finding a photo studio, and booking a visit to a post office or similar office. That is expected to change. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that starting in 2027, Americans will be able to apply for their first passport through an entirely online process.[1]
The headline date needs a little care, though. Rubio described the goal as the vast majority of Americans being able to apply for a passport or passport card on America.gov by the end of 2027.[2] That makes it a target and a rollout, not a switch that flips for everyone on one day.
What the State Department Actually Announced
The announcement came during the America.gov launch event on September 29, 2026.[3] America.gov is the Trump administration’s new portal for federal services.[4] The passport application is one of the first big services planned for it.
Officials have been fairly open about what is still unsettled. Deputy spokesman Luke Ortega couldn’t give an exact start date, and the department aims to make most Americans eligible by the end of 2027.[4] So “2027” is the year to watch, with the finish line at the end of it.
Why First-Time Applicants Have Had The Hardest Road
Right now, the first application is the clunky one. An adult seeking a first U.S. passport must appear in person at an authorized acceptance facility, such as certain post offices, libraries and local government offices.[2] Ortega said applicants have to complete forms and submit them through one of those facilities.[5]
That friction adds up, especially for people who live far from an acceptance facility or can’t easily get an appointment. Coverage of the announcement noted the change could be especially convenient for those people.[6] Meanwhile, anyone who already holds a passport has had an easier path for a couple of years.
How The New Online Process Is Expected To Work
The outline is straightforward. Applicants are expected to sign in through Login.gov, review information the government already has, upload or take a photo with a phone or other device, pay online, and track the application.[6] Rubio also demonstrated a feature that would show an estimated delivery date.[6]
It’s worth knowing that this is mostly still a plan. America.gov currently works mainly as an information and question-and-answer website.[6] The passport application and other transaction features are meant to be added later, so nothing is available to use yet.
Phone Photos Come With Rules
One of the biggest perks is skipping the drugstore photo. The application is designed to let you take a passport photo with your phone or upload one from your device.[7] You’ll also be able to preview the photo on the passport before submitting.[7]
Don’t expect a casual selfie to pass, however. Ortega said uploaded photos will be held to the same requirements the department already applies to online renewals.[4] Under the renewal system, the photo can’t be a selfie, needs a white background, and must be recent.[8]
What Isn’t Settled Yet
Plenty of details are still missing. The State Department hasn’t released all the final eligibility rules, so it’s unclear whether certain applicants or situations could still need extra in-person verification.[7] That’s a fair reason to hold off on assuming every first-timer will qualify.
The old route isn’t going away either. The online process will be added to existing passport services, and in-person options will remain for people who need or prefer them.[5] Ortega framed it as adding choices rather than removing any.
Online Renewals Are The Test Run
Americans have already seen a version of this. The State Department made its online passport renewal system fully available to the public on September 18, 2024.[9] At launch, an assistant secretary of state said the department expected 5 million Americans to use it every year.[8]
Renewal comes with limits that first-timers will be watching. Early eligibility rules required a 10-year passport issued within a certain window and a passport holder aged 25 or older.[10] Children’s passports couldn’t be renewed online either.[10] The new first-time system could face similar questions about which applicants fit.
Costs, Timing And Delivery
The money side looks unchanged. Reporting on the announcement says fees stay the same, at $165 for a first-time adult passport.[4] Going online is meant to save time and trips, not dollars.
Processing will still take a while. Ortega said the department currently spends about four to five weeks processing an application once it has what it needs, and delivery can take another couple of weeks.[5] The online option is expected to cut time at the front end by letting people apply from their phone.[5] Also on the horizon, a redesigned booklet is due in 2028, with the maximum page count dropping from 50 to 38.[4]
Beware Of Look-Alike Sites
New government services tend to attract imitators. For renewals, the State Department says the only official place to renew online is opr.travel.state.gov, and other sites claiming to offer it may be fraudulent.[11] Such sites charge extra fees and put personal data at risk.[11]
Since the first-time application isn’t live, any site claiming to offer it today deserves suspicion. The department advises checking that a website ends in .gov rather than .com, .us, or .org.[12] Ortega said the department won’t give up ground on the security of the document itself.[4]
