Not yet. On September 29, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that starting next year Americans will be able to apply for their first passport entirely online through America.gov; until that service opens, a first passport still requires Form DS-11 and an in-person appearance.
The announcement came at the White House launch of America.gov, a single sign-in point for federal services created by executive order the same day. For our clients, the most important audience is one the speech did not name: the newly naturalized citizen applying for a first passport. Here is what was said, what was not, and how to plan.
Related FAQ: Can I apply for my first U.S. passport online?
What did Secretary Rubio announce?
In his remarks, Secretary Rubio said: "Starting next year, Americans will be able to apply for their first passport entirely online." He demonstrated the process on stage:
- Sign in once. The applicant signs in with Login.gov and sees the information the government already holds, so it does not have to be typed again.
- Take the photo at home. The photo can be taken on a phone or uploaded from a device, previewed inside a mock passport page, and retaken until the applicant is satisfied.
- Pay online. Name and address carry over from the Login.gov account; payment is entered and submitted in the same session.
- Track it. The application shows real-time status and an estimated delivery date.
He summarized the change as "no appointment, no line, no middleman." He also said the State Department's goal is for "the vast majority of Americans" to be able to apply for a passport or passport card on America.gov by the end of 2027, and he previewed a redesigned U.S. passport for 2028 and new packaging for mailed passports.
What is America.gov?
According to the White House fact sheet, America.gov is "a single digital point of entry" where people can sign in, ask questions in plain language, and, "where authorized and technically available," complete federal transactions. The executive order signed September 29, 2026 directs the General Services Administration, the National Design Studio and the Office of Management and Budget to operate it and to integrate Login.gov.
It covers public-facing federal services with more than 100,000 users in a 12-month period that can be accessed or applied for online. IRS tax filing and national-security-sensitive services are excluded. The fact sheet says that later this year Americans will be able to complete tasks such as passport renewal and Medicare enrollment on America.gov, with more services added as agencies integrate.
Status, stated precisely
- America.gov: launched September 29, 2026 for questions and information. Transactions roll out over time.
- First passport applications online: announced, not yet available. The Secretary said "starting next year." No launch date has been published.
- Online passport renewal: already exists through the State Department for eligible adults, separate from America.gov.
- Fees and processing times for the new online path: not announced.
- Everything else today: unchanged. A first passport, and any renewal that does not qualify, still goes through Form DS-11 in person.
What has not been answered yet
The announcement leaves open the questions that matter most for our clients:
- Proof of citizenship. A first passport requires evidence of U.S. citizenship. The remarks did not explain how a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship or a birth certificate will be submitted or verified online, or whether originals will still be mailed.
- Who qualifies. The remarks did not address minors, applicants living abroad, or applicants with name changes.
- Timing. "Next year" is the only public timeline for first-time applications.
We will not guess at these answers, and neither should you. When the State Department publishes the rules, we will update this article.
Who can use it, and who cannot
A U.S. passport is issued only to U.S. nationals. Lawful permanent residents and visa holders cannot use this service, and nothing announced on September 29 changes any visa, green card or naturalization process. For green card holders, the path to a U.S. passport still runs through naturalization first.
Three angles that matter for our clients
1. New citizens. The first passport is usually the first thing a new citizen wants after the oath ceremony. Today that means Form DS-11, your Certificate of Naturalization as evidence of citizenship, and an in-person appearance. If you have travel planned in the coming months, do not wait for the online system; apply the current way.
2. Fraud. Secretary Rubio described a "cottage industry" of websites that charge for free forms and free appointments and then collect sensitive personal information. Immigration clients see the same pattern every day. Government forms are free, government fees are paid to the government, and the official sites end in .gov. If a site or a "consultant" asks you to pay for a blank form or an appointment slot, stop.
3. Technology as a standard. Sign in once, upload documents securely, see real-time status. That is now the government's stated standard for a passport. It has been the standard for our clients: Samper Law's secure client portal gives 24/7 access to case status, deadlines, documents and direct communication with the legal team. See how we work. A simpler form does not replace judgment on eligibility and evidence, and that is where counsel still earns its place.
What to do
- Newly naturalized: apply for your first passport now if you will travel in the next several months; use Form DS-11 and your Certificate of Naturalization.
- Already hold a passport: check whether you qualify for online renewal today. You do not if your passport was issued before your 16th birthday, more than 15 years ago, is damaged, lost or stolen, or was issued in a prior name without legal proof of the change.
- Create or check your Login.gov account. The Secretary's demonstration ran through Login.gov; having an account in order is a reasonable step now.
- Use only official .gov sites. Do not pay third parties for forms or appointments.
- Employers: if employees who recently naturalized need to travel for work, build passport time into the plan now rather than waiting for the online launch.
- Green card holders thinking about naturalization: the passport announcement does not change eligibility. Schedule a strategy session to review timing and risks before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for my first U.S. passport online?
Not yet. On September 29, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that starting next year Americans will be able to apply for their first passport entirely online through America.gov; until that service opens, a first passport still requires Form DS-11 and an in-person appearance.
Related reading
- Samper Law Technology and Client Portal
- Global Consular Processing
- October 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Returns, EB-2 and EB-3 Move Back for Most Countries
- Samper Law FAQ
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Secretary of State Marco Rubio at President Trump's America.gov Event (September 29, 2026)
- The White House, Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Streamlines Access to Government Services Through America.gov (September 29, 2026)
- USAGov, Renew an adult passport
Accurate as of September 29, 2026.
Founder and Managing Attorney of Samper Law, Lidice leads the firm's uncompromising litigation standards with relentless advocacy and strategic precision honed across federal and state courts.
