State Department to Pilot Online Passport Applications for First-Time Applicants via AI Chatbot
The U.S. State Department is launching a pilot program to allow certain first-time passport applicants and those ineligible for online renewal to submit applications online. This initiative, set to run from November 16, 2026, to November 20, 2027, will utilize America.gov, the federal government's AI-powered chatbot. Eligible individuals will be able to submit Form DS-11, the standard application for first-time passports. Initially, the pilot will be open to U.S. adults who previously held a valid U.S. passport but cannot use the DS-82 renewal process, and first-time adult applicants who can prove U.S. citizenship with a Certificate of Naturalization. Applicants will go through a qualification process on America.gov, verify their identity via Login.gov, upload a passport photo, select delivery options, and record an oath. A passport agent will then review the submitted materials. The department plans to expand the pilot to include applicants using birth certificates, Certificates of Citizenship, Consular R...
