You can renew your U.S. passport at any time, meaning there is no official limit on how early you can start the renewal process before your passport expires. However, it is generally recommended to renew your passport about 9 months before it expires. This is because many countries require that your passport be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry, and renewing 9 months early ensures you have a valid passport in time for travel plans. If you renew your passport early, the new passport will still have the full validity period (typically 10 years) starting from the date of renewal. In summary:
- You can renew your passport anytime before it expires.
- The recommended time is about 9 months before expiration for convenience and to meet international travel requirements.
- Early renewal is often done for reasons like name changes, significant changes in appearance, a damaged passport, or simply to avoid last-minute renewal rushes.
All renewals require submitting your current passport and proper documents, including a recent photo. Expedited services are available for faster processing if needed.
