State Department to pilot online passport applications for first-time applicants
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ByGrace Dille,
Technology Reporter, Nextgov/FCW
November 13, 2026 11:39 AM ET
The pilot application will be accessible through America.gov, the federal government’s AI-powered chatbot.
The State Department will begin testing an online passport application process for certain first-time applicants and other individuals who are not eligible to renew their passports online.
According to a document scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Friday, the pilot will launch on Nov. 16 and run through Nov. 20, 2027. The application will be accessible through America.gov, the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot that the White House launched this fall.
The pilot will allow eligible applicants to submit Form DS-11, the standard application for first-time passports and other applicants who cannot use the existing online renewal process.
Currently, only individuals eligible to renew their passports using Form DS-82 can apply online. The new pilot will initially...
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