[digianarchist]

Renewed recently which was my first time using the online system. The entire process was exceptionally fast. I got the passport back in less than 2 weeks from California.

In comparison my Canadian passport renewal (damaged after 3 years) from California took 4 months. Was entirely paper based and had ridiculous requirements such as requiring a reference and a photograph stamped by photographer.

I know there's a digital pilot that's ongoing. That should be rolled out ASAP.

[kalleboo]

Just being able to do it via mail sounds like luxury, to renew a Swedish passport you need to visit an embassy in person. And then in 2 weeks go back in person to pick it up. Really fun when the embassy is on the other side of the country and it means expensive plane trips. This was even more of a problem during COVID when borders were closed, since Sweden doesn't have embassies in every single country.

And they expire in 5 years, not 10 like many other countries.

[OptionOfT]

I need to renew my Belgian passport soon, and I live in the United States.

Even though the consulate has my biometric data, I need to visit them in person.

My only saving grace is that they sometimes visit my city., and I can register there. But that registration is only valid for 1 year, and they don't visit every year...

And that is still 2h+ one way of travel for me, for something they already have.

[riffraff]

> Even though the consulate has my biometric data, I need to visit them in person.

don't they need to re-record them after X years? I thought that was the whole point of renewing an identity document/passport.

[belgiandudette]

The Belgian passport comes in exceptionally fast though. For me it was ready for pick up in the Belgian embassy in less than a week from application.