Use DS-82 only when your previous U.S. passport and your circumstances meet every renewal requirement. Otherwise, the usual route is DS-11 in person. Wanting expedited service does not change which form you qualify to use.
The quickest way to choose is to look at the passport you have, when it was issued, your age at issuance and whether you can submit it. Do that before printing a form or paying for a service.
DS-11 and DS-82 at a glance
| Question | DS-11 | DS-82 |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | First passport or applicant not eligible for renewal | Eligible renewal using a qualifying previous passport |
| In-person appearance | Required | Normally not required for renewal by mail |
| When to sign | When the acceptance agent instructs you | Sign and date before submitting the renewal |
| Acceptance fee | Normally applies | No standard acceptance fee for renewal by mail |
| Children under 16 | Required application route | Not eligible |
Read this graphic as text
- First passport: Normally DS-11, with an in-person application.
- Old book issued under 16: DS-11; current age does not change the old book.
- Lost or damaged book: Use the applicable in-person replacement route.
- Qualifying renewal: DS-82 only when every renewal condition is met.
An urgent deadline does not change form eligibility.
Check DS-82 eligibility first
The State Department’s renewal-by-mail instructions require a qualifying previous passport that you can submit. It must have been issued for full ten-year validity, be undamaged apart from normal wear, not have been reported lost or stolen, have been issued within the last 15 years and have been issued when you were at least 16. The name must match your current name, or you must be able to document a legal name change.
If any required condition is missing, do not send DS-82 and hope that an explanation will make it acceptable. Check the in-person route or the specific government instructions for your situation.
Situations that usually point to DS-11
- You have never had a U.S. passport.
- Your previous passport was issued before you turned 16.
- Your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
- Your valid passport is lost, stolen or damaged.
- You are applying for a child under 16.
DS-11 requires citizenship evidence, identification, a photo and the relevant supporting documents. For a valid lost or stolen passport, reporting requirements apply too. Read the official adult application guidance and the instructions for any child application.
Three examples that cause confusion
“My passport expired last year.”
Expiration alone does not automatically require DS-11. A ten-year adult passport issued 11 years ago may still fit the 15-year issuance condition, provided every other renewal requirement is met. Count from the issue date, not just the expiration date.
“I am 19, but my old passport was issued when I was 14.”
That book does not qualify for DS-82 because of your age when it was issued. Your current age does not change the old passport’s eligibility.
“My passport is current, but it was soaked.”
A damaged passport is not a normal DS-82 renewal. See our damaged passport replacement guide for the statement and document preparation involved.
Where online renewal fits
The government’s online renewal program has its own eligibility rules. Completing a form on a computer and printing it is not the same as submitting an online renewal.
If travel is approaching, read whether an online passport renewal can be expedited before choosing that route. Do not submit two competing applications to try to make the process move faster.
Choose the form before choosing the speed
Once the application type is clear, compare the available submission options with your departure date. Both a DS-11 applicant and an eligible renewal applicant may have urgent needs, but the documents and in-person requirements differ.
For field-by-field help, use our existing DS-11 guide or DS-82 guide. If you need private expediting assistance, contact us with your passport issue date and travel deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Is DS-11 faster than DS-82?
The form identifies the application route, not a speed tier. Eligibility and the submission service determine the next steps.
Do I sign both forms before sending them?
No. DS-11 is signed when instructed at the in-person application. A mailed DS-82 must be signed and dated before submission.
Tell us your destination, departure date and application status. Call first to arrange a visit to our Los Angeles office.
Call (310) 913-7804