Applying For US Passports Will Soon Be Easier For Minnesotans

After having to jump through hoops two years ago to get my passport, things are going to get a whole lot easier in 2027.

It's amazing how we are going from one extreme to the other in seemingly a very short period of time.

PASSPORTS A LA CARTE

According to a news article, if you have never applied for a passport before, but have been putting it off simply because it sounded like too much of a hassle to get one, you're in luck.

First-time passport applicants will now be able to apply entirely online starting in 2027. The application process will happen through a website called America.gov.

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GETTING A PASSPORT A FEW YEARS AGO LOOKED MUCH DIFFERENT

When I attempted to get my passport a few years ago, it took me weeks to get all my paperwork together. If you had a name change, you had to have documentation for any name change you've had throughout your life, even if you had a current Minnesota License. I needed my birth certificate, my Social Security card, name change documents, marriage certificate...It was crazy. You had to go to a licensing center in person and have a photo taken there for it to be used.

Since I already had a Minnesota license, all of the paperwork was completely unnecessary! I was already verified. Why we had to do that is beyond me. I guess it felt more official????

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But apparently now, none of that matters anymore. Now you don't need to be in person. You can take your photo from your phone and submit it. So apparently, that ugly photo I had to settle with because it was 'the real me' won't matter for you. You can get all dolled up, and even if it doesn't really look like you, you should be okay? I guess we'll find out.

REQUIREMENTS

You'll need to fill out the online forms, take your passport photo with your phone, and pay securely online. Then you'll be able to track your passport status to find out when it should arrive in your mailbox.

In 2028, more updates are planned. The State Department will be issuing redesigned US passports with new artwork and security features. If you have a valid passport prior to the 2028 changes, you won't need to replace your passport, as the security standards will stay the same.

IS THIS TOO EASY TOO SOON?

It does feel like we are going from one extreme to the other. I still see where going to a center to have your photo taken and matched with the photo that you present with your ID makes sense.

Maybe there will be more to the process, and it won't be as simple as it sounds. Are we making it too easy? Or should it always have been this way?