If you've ever been in need of a passport, you know how difficult it can be to get one. Now it's at least a little less of a headache, thanks to the official debut of the online renewal system for US passports. The Department of State has finally removed all restrictions and opened the program to all eligible citizens. Previously, applications opened at 1 p.m. ET and closed after a certain number of people applied each day. 

Now anyone who has an expired US passport that was issued in the last 15 years can renew it online. The State Department estimates that the online application will take about 40 minutes, but if you've got all your documents and payment information together, you can probably complete it in half that time. The big catch is that you'll need a MyTravelGov account to apply online -- we'll explain more below.

Learn everything you need to know about the new online US passport renewals, including who is eligible and how you can apply. For more travel tips, check out the best days and times to get cheap plane tickets or the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.

How can I renew my US passport online?

Most US citizens currently renew their passports by printing and filling out form DS-82, then mailing that form with a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. The online passport renewal system instead uses a website form and a payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards or online ACH transfers.

Renewing your passport online doesn't mean that you'll receive it any sooner than usual, though. The State Department is sticking to its "routine service" for passport renewals, whether they're online or by mail. That means you'll receive your new passport in six to eight weeks, no matter how you apply. If you need your passport sooner than that, you'll need to apply by mail and pay $60 more for expedited service.

Who can renew their US passport online?

The most important qualifying factors for renewing your passport online are:

• You are at least 25 years old.
• You live in the US (state or territory).
• Your current passport is or was valid for 10 years.
• Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and have been issued within the last 15 years (2009-2015).
• You still have your existing passport, and it's not mutilated or damaged.

Along with the main eligibility requirements, the State Department provides a list of further restrictions for online renewal:

• You can only renew regular passports online, not "special issuance" passports (like diplomatic, official or service passports).
• You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your previous passport.
• You must be able to pay for online renewal using a credit card, a debit card or ACH transfer.
• You must be able to upload a new passport photo.
• You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your online renewal application.

That last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled as soon as your online renewal application is accepted.

If you don't meet the eligibility requirements for renewing your passport online, you'll need to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency.

Here are the steps for renewing your US passport online

Before you can apply for an online passport renewal, you'll need to create a MyTravelGov account, which uses the government's login.gov system. If you don't already have a login.gov account, you can visit the MyTravelGov website, click on the blue Sign In button in the top-right corner, then click Create an account.

You'll then need to enter an email address and your choice of language: login.gov is available in English, Spanish and French. After submitting your email address, you'll need to verify it by clicking on a link in an email message from login.gov, after which you'll choose a password and preferred form of multifactor authentication.

You'll then need to provide personal information for the account, at minimum your first and last name. Once you're finished, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page. Hit the blue Start button at the bottom of the page to begin the application. The State Department estimates that the online application process will take about 40 minutes.

To begin the application for online passport renewal, you'll need the following items:

• Your existing US passport.
• A digital passport photo.
• Payment -- credit card, debit card or your bank's routing and account numbers for ACH transfer.

In the first part of the application, you'll enter information about your current passport, your legal name and whether you want a passport book, passport card or both. Next you'll upload your digital passport photo, and then finally your payment information.

MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal application: The first will confirm your pending payment, and the second will confirm that the payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the State Department's online passport status system. You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.

Can I renew my US passport card online?

Passport cards are objects that look much like US driver's licenses and can be kept in your wallet. They allow for travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for any international air travel.

You can renew both passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew whichever US passport document that you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.