If you are a frequent international traveler, you are no doubt familiar with your passport and how recent it is. Many people, however, do not keep track of such information and then find themselves in a jam when an emergency or vacation comes up and they have no way of traveling. Keep an eye on your expiration date and remember that it can take a while to get a renewed passport. Therefore, when it is about six months from expiring, you know it is time to renew your pasport.

The reason why you might need six months to renew your passport is to account for any delays or complications. It is an official document and therefore must undergo a lot of research and processing. It can take quite a while to get it to you. But you should be on the lookout for local passport agencies who sometimes do deals for people in the area. They will have a one day special in order to serve as many people at once as they can for a slightly cheaper rate.

So what should you do first? Typically, most people renew their passports through the mail. It is simple to do and you don’t have to travel anywhere. However, this option is not available for every person in every situation. It is only available if the below statements reflect your passport status.

Your passport is undamaged. You can submit your passport with the form. You were older than sixteen when you got your passport. Your passport is fifteen years old or less. You still have the same name as you do on your passport. If you do not have the same name, you can show through legal documents your name change. Assuming these statements are true, you can download the DS-82 form from travel.state.gov.

If you have a problem with one of those statements or your passport was stolen or this will be your first ever passport, applying in person is your only option. Find the DS-11 form on the same site. Make sure you have all of your proper documentation ready to go by checking out the US passport requirements you can learn whgat you need. Do not even go if you are missing one of the documents as it will waste everyone’s time.

Go to the Passport Agency with your form and documents. These documents can be any number of many things. Marriage licenses and birth certificates, for example, are a few among many.

To help you locate these areas, go to the site and look for the search engine or locator. You just have to type in your zip code. This will help you find people or areas near you. Some people may be certified to do it, such as notaries and town clerks.

Note, too, the special passport requirements pages on the web site. Things become a bit more complicated if you are under eighteen years old. There are requirements for sixteen year olds and different ones for seventeen year olds to renew your pasport. If you have any diplomatic or official status, you will also get a specialized passport.