when to renew passport

The best time to renew a passport is generally about nine months before it expires. This allows enough time to avoid travel disruptions since many countries require the passport to be valid for at least six months beyond the travel dates. You can renew your passport at any time, even if it has several years left before expiration, but renewing about nine months ahead is recommended to avoid last-minute stress and potential processing delays. If your passport is damaged, full of pages, or expired, you should renew it immediately. For U.S. passports, routine renewals can be done online or by mail if eligibility criteria are met, typically starting about a year before expiration or when there is less than one year remaining on the passport. Processing times vary but usually take a few weeks unless expedited service is requested.