DS-82 or DS-11? How to Pick the Right Passport Form

Last updated August 25, 2026 by the ExpediteGov editorial team.

The five eligibility rules that decide whether you can renew your U.S. passport by mail on Form DS-82 or must apply in person on Form DS-11.

Choosing the wrong form is the most expensive mistake in the whole process, because you usually find out weeks later when your packet comes back.

Use DS-82 (renew by mail) only if all five are true

1. You can submit your most recent passport with the application.
2. It is undamaged beyond normal wear.
3. It was issued when you were 16 or older.
4. It was issued within the last 15 years.
5. It was issued in your current name — or you can document the change with a certified marriage certificate or court order.

If all five are true, you mail it. No appointment, no acceptance agent, no execution fee.

Use DS-11 (in person) if any of these apply

• It's your first U.S. passport
• Your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
• Your passport was issued before you turned 16
• Your passport was issued more than 15 years ago
• You're applying for a child under 16

DS-11 requires appearing at an acceptance facility with original citizenship evidence, a valid photo ID, and a photocopy of that ID. Do not sign the DS-11 in advance — you sign it in front of the agent, under oath. A pre-signed form is void.

The other forms you may need

• DS-64 — reports a lost or stolen passport. Filed alongside a DS-11 replacement.
• DS-5504 — corrects a data error, or updates a name changed within one year of issuance. Often no fee.
• DS-3053 — a notarized statement of consent from a parent who can't attend a child's application. Must be dated within three months.

Two situations that trip people up

"My passport expired years ago." That's fine. Expiration doesn't force you into DS-11 — age at issuance and the 15-year window do. An 11-year-old expired adult passport still renews by mail.

"My passport went through the wash." Water damage, a torn cover, or a detached page means damaged, and damaged means DS-11 in person, not renewal.

Not sure?

Answer a few questions in our application flow and we'll select the form for you, fill it in, and hand you a checklist that matches your exact case.

ExpediteGov is a private concierge service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State. Government forms are free at travel.state.gov.

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