Although the event didn't get a lot of attention at the time, in December 2021 President Joe Biden signed a new executive order that will allow Americans to renew their passports online in a matter of days (see Sec. 4 of the official text). That development is a big deal for regular travelers because until…
After a two-year period of beta testing, digital passport renewal is now a full reality for American travelers. Here's how it works and how long it takes.
The U.S. State Department has announced that passport renewal via its website is officially open as of Wednesday, September 18,…
Which Countries Do Not Require 6 Months of Passport Validity? 12 Options for Renewal Procrastinators
To enter some countries, your passport expiration date must be at least 6 months away. But if your passport is expiring soon, you still have options. Here are 12 popular destinations where that rule doesn't apply.
One of the annoying things about passports is that the expiration date…
Asked to name the most ghoulish places in the United States, you might come up with Salem, Massachusetts, for its witchy goings-on, New Orleans for the aboveground cemeteries, and Washington, D.C., for the House of Representatives (shudder). But what about Nevada? The state arguably has one of the country's most formidable paranormal pedigrees, what with…
A year ago, as the U.S. government continued to climb out of the bureaucratic hole that Covid-19 and staffing woes had dug, the wait time for a new passport was as long as 13 weeks. During some periods in late 2022 and early 2023, the State Department received some 500,000 applications a week, the highest…
Many passport rankings focus on one factor: visa-free travel. But passport strength is more complex than this, according to the tax and immigration consulting firm Nomad Capitalist. That's why it produces a weighted annual index that analyzes five criteria: Visa-free travel — 50% Taxation — 20% Global perception —10% Ability to hold dual citizenship —…