The best time to renew a U.S. passport is generally 6 to 9 months before its expiration date. This is because many countries require passports to have at least six months of validity remaining beyond your planned travel dates to allow entry. Renewing early also helps avoid travel disruptions due to processing times, which can currently range from 6 to 9 weeks for routine renewals. If there is an urgent need to travel, expedited renewal options are available. Additionally, there are special cases like legal name changes, long-term travel, or drastic changes in appearance which might affect renewal timing or process. It is advisable to check the travel requirements of the destination country and keep a buffer for possible delays in processing.
