Your Experience With Online Passport Renewal

My husband renewed his passport last year (so I can't comment on how long it is taking recently). However, we had a difficult time with his photo. He had a hard copy and we tried to take a photo of it. Maybe it was the shadow/glare that didn't quite work. The scanner at my office is not the best either. He ended up going to Staples for a new passport photo and they provided him with the photo in a USB drive and a hard copy.

Separately, I recently had to submit my kid's passport photo for something. I used an app on phone that helps you take a photo on the format of US passport (Passport Photo Booth). It was free. You then have the option to just save as a photo or send to print (4 in a 4x6 format). The tricky part is to find a plain white background.

Good luck!

I got a Staples hard copy and digital copy and neither worked when I tried to submit them online. The BOT they use kept saying "Please remove your glasses." Okay, so I am older and have wrinkles around my eyes... Maybe I should have used a little eye makeup to smooth out the wrinkles before I got photographed - Duh!

We just did it. I had to take about 20 pictures before we had one that the renewal site accepted. We were finally successful with a white wall in the background, taking a picture with my phone camera at a distance of about 2 feet. The hardest part was correctly centering the photo so that in inputted into the right position.

We don't have the renewal back yet so can't comment on timing.

A couple of months ago, I took photos at Staples, (hard copy and digital) because recently I had to do a cell phone photo for another legal enterprise and it kept rejecting it, plus I couldn't figure out how I was essentially taking a selfie yet my beloved grandma was the face in the photo. Anyway, I digress. I uploaded the digital photo and received the new passport in 13 days (via regular processing not expedited).

Literally the most difficult part for our renewals was getting the lighting right for my wife's photo. We only have one room with "white" painted walls, and the lighting in there is natural. When I snapped my selfie, the lighting was fine. I did my renewal easy peasy and decided I'd tackle my wife's after lunch. Room lighting changed, I took about a dozen against different walls in that room until eventually getting the right combination the website accepted.

Wrapped up her renewal, and we both got our renewals very quickly (back in Jan/Feb 2026) - probably 2-3 weeks turnaround.

Honestly, for the OP, just find a white wall in your house or friend/family's house, take a bunch of selfies or have someone do it, and don't worry about passport photos (save the $5 or whatever). Even with my struggle to get it right for my wife, it was still 10x easier, faster, and cheaper (free) vs dropping into a place to take one. Of course, if you have a hardcopy photo already, definitely scan it and TRY. The software will, at worst, reject it immediately, but it may accept it and you're good to go.

It has been about a year since I renewed and there was a problem with the picture.

First pictures did not work.

I think another friend had to take my picture and then send it to her expert to do editing and then send it back to me. That worked.

My memory is that was the biggest problem.

But once I was able to apply online, it was very efficient and fast. Did not take much tme to receive.

At the time, my library helped but I do not know if libraries do it any longer due to budget cuts.

And there are professional companies that will do the work for you but they charge and it can be expensive. However they do it right and get it done.

I discussed my situation on forum and will see if I can find it. If so, I will attach it.

I found my discussion regarding my online passport renewal last year. Fair Warning, It is long! I am going to attach it and maybe it will help some.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/passport-renewal-online-have-question-need-answer

EDIT. Some of the information may not be relevant to you but if you kep reading........

I renewed my passport online about six months ago and it was incredibly easy. For the photo, I took a selfie and got it on the first try. Just make sure you’re standing against the white wall and that you’re not smiling. Follow the instructions and you should be fine.

I received the passport within about two weeks from the date of order.

Photos are heavily processed with automation or A.I. Follow the instructions instead of trying to do it your way. Facial Recognition facility is of course involved.

My entire (non-summer) process took about 8-10 days.

I recently just did the online passport renewal process. I took about 8 selfies against a white door background, mostly just trying to get one that I liked myself. Selected picture uploaded and was accepted with no problem. I think I applied on 6/7/26, and I received my updated passport via mail on 6/18/26! I never thought it would come that fast.

Many thanks to all who responded. Based on your good information about the photo situation, we've decided to forego the DYI Selfie route. We'll just go to Staples or AAA and have them make us hard copies and digital images on a thumb drive. Will come back later and report how things went.