Is your passport set to expire some time this year? State officials say you should renew it as soon as you can.
Here are six things to know about why passport renewal is crucial in 2016.
1. Government officials expect to issue a high number of new and renewed passports. Approximately 49 million passports are going to expire over the course of the next three years, according to CNN Money. The U.S. government expects to issue and renew over 17 million passports in 2016, according to The New York Times. This number is 1.5 million more than those that were issued in 2015.
2. There was an uptick of passports issued in 2006 and 2007. In these years, Americans were rapidly preparing for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which went into effect in 2007. The initiative requires U.S. citizens to have passports for travel to Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Because passports expire after 10 years, millions of passports will be up for renewal.
3. The deadline for compliance with the Real ID Act is approaching. Passed in 2005, the Real ID Act created stricter standards for all states in terms of identification cards and driver's licenses. The Department of Homeland Security recently set Jan. 22, 2018 as the start date for compliance. When travelling domestically, citizens in the states that haven't complied will be required to show an alternative form of identification — like a passport — rather than a driver's license.
4. Numerous countries deny entry if passports haven't been valid for a certain time period. Some European countries — such as those in the Schengen area — require three to six months' validity on a U.S. passport. Americans can be barred from entering these countries if their passport hasn't been valid long enough.
5. Renewals are costly and take time. First-time passport applicants must apply in person at a designated agency for a fee of $135. Those seeking to renew an existing passport can apply by mail for $110. But beware — although renewing a passport in 2015 only took four weeks, renewal could take up to six weeks in 2016, according to The New York Times.
6. There's a cheaper option for Americans traveling close to home. If you don't need to travel outside Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico, consider applying for a wallet-sized passport card. For Americans who own a passport book, the cost is only $30. Since 2008, over 4.5 million passport cards have been issued, according to CNN Money.
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