The age when the previous passport was issued controls this rule. A passport issued before age 16 is not eligible for adult online or mail renewal, even if the holder is now an adult.
If the applicant is still under 16
Submit Form DS-11 in person using the child-passport process. The child must appear, and the application must include proof of U.S. citizenship, the parent or guardian relationship, identification, required consent, a compliant photo, and current fees.
If the applicant is now 16 or 17
Use the Department of State process for applicants age 16–17. Form DS-11 is still required, but the parental-awareness requirements differ from the two-parent consent rules that generally apply to children under 16. A passport issued at age 16 or older normally has a ten-year validity period.
If the applicant is now 18 or older
A person whose only previous passport was issued before age 16 normally applies in person with Form DS-11. That earlier child passport can still help document citizenship when it meets the current evidence rules, but it does not make the applicant eligible to renew.
Do not use the expiration date alone
Adult renewal eligibility also depends on factors such as possession of the passport, its condition, how long ago it was issued, and whether it was issued in the current name or accompanied by acceptable name-change evidence. The child-passport rule is separate: issuance before age 16 prevents renewal.
Recommended action
- Check the age shown by the date of birth and passport issue date.
- Select the under-16, age 16–17, or adult DS-11 instructions that apply on the new application date.
- Gather the original evidence and photocopies required for that route.
- Use the official fee calculator and current acceptance-facility instructions.
Official sources
- Department of State — Apply for a child’s passport
- Department of State — Applicants under 16
- Department of State — Renew or replace a passport