DS 82 Passport Form [Filling Instructions with Examples]

Simon Wojtyczka is a writer with experience living and working in 7 countries, each adding depth to his work. Holding a Master's in Applied Linguistics, he has a profound grasp of language and its intricate ties to culture.

Simon Wojtyczka August 30th, 2024 9 min read

DS 82 Passport Form [Filling Instructions with Examples]

As seen on:

The New York Times

Contents

Existing US passport holders (aged 25 and over; previous passport issued between 2007 and 2013 ) can now do their entire passport renewal online–provided they meet a few other conditions.

However, most renewals are still done by printing Form DS-82, filling it out, and mailing everything (including the supporting documents) using the United States Postal Service (USPS).

That’s where this guide, prepared by Passport Photo Online (a biometric photo app), comes in.

Passport photo in 3s!

Take a photo with your smartphone, upload it to the website, we will convert it to an official passport photo and send you a digital or printed version. Simple? You can’t get more convenient than that!

passport photo editor

Passport renewal form DS-82–eligibility

To be eligible to do a passport renewal using form DS-82 rather than a new passport application, the applicant must have:

Failure to meet even one of the above criteria will require the applicant to submit a new passport application (form DS-11) rather than a US passport renewal.

Passport form DS-82–downloading the form

US citizens have two options for downloading and filling out the digital passport form. They can:

  1. Use the Department of State’s online form filler to fill out and print passport form DS 82 online. OR
  2. Download the fillable form in PDF format, print it out, and manually complete DS-82 using black ink.

Both options require the individual to print out the form and can only be used for submission in person at a US passport acceptance facility or via USPS. Be sure to print the form single-sided; forms printed in double-sided format are not accepted.

Have you mastered Form DS-82? Check out these related articles:

US passport renewal form DS-82–filling it out

With the form in hand or on your computer screen, we’re ready to start filling DS-82 out (online or using black ink only).

The first 4 (four) pages have detailed instructions on correctly filling out each section in the final 2 (two) pages of the 6-page form. It is worth reading through these instructions as a way of “double-checking your work” prior to submission.

Let’s get started.

As stated at the top of the form, applicants can use DS-82 to renew a US passport book and/or US passport card.

To fill out the form, begin with question 1. Name, and work your way through to question 20. Travel Plans. Be sure to pay attention to the examples in italics next to each question. For example, any dates on the form, such as 2. Date of Birth, 11. Name Change Information, and 20. Travel Plans require the answer to be written in numerical month/day/year format as indicated by the (mm/dd/yyyy) prompt next to each question.

The first page of passport renewal form DS-82, filled out by a hypothetical applicant named “Joan Smith.”

Make sure to sign and date the bottom of the page (where indicated) in black ink only.

The second page of passport renewal form DS-82, filled out by a hypothetical applicant named “Joan Smith.”

Similarly, if an applicant has no impending travel plans, the italic prompt at the side of question 20. Travel Plans indicates the respondent should write “none,” as displayed in the example below:

Question 20 on form DS-82 requires a response of “none” if the individual does not have any upcoming travel plans.

Important! Unlike form DS-11, which needs to be signed and dated in the presence of a passport acceptance officer, renewal of expired passport form DS-82 must be signed prior to mailing.

DS-82 passport renewal form requirements

Before mailing in your US passport renewal application, be sure to secure all of the required supporting documents. These include