New US Passport Design Revealed: What Changes and When It Arrives

Quick Facts: The 2028 US Passport Redesign

• Rubio revealed the design September 29 at the launch of America.gov, the administration's new portal for federal services.

• The cover stays blue, with "United States of America" moved above a larger, more prominent gold Great Seal.

• Rollout is scheduled for 2028, so anyone applying or renewing now still receives the current design.

• One 38-page book replaces today's 26-page and 50-page options, so most travelers gain pages and frequent flyers lose the big book.

• An eagle "flies" across the pages when you flip through, alongside scenes from Lexington to the Artemis II splashdown.

• First-time applications move online for adults through America.gov starting in 2027, with a photo you take on your own phone.

• Passports will ship in a box, a white-and-gold presentation package in place of the familiar mail envelope.

A Bigger Great Seal on a Familiar Blue Cover

Set the two side by side and the new cover is still recognizably American. It's blue, and it still carries the Great Seal with its eagle, olive branch and arrows. What changes is proportion: the country name moves to the top and the seal grows to fill more of the cover, in a finish Rubio described as "more gold."

The State Department developed the redesign with the National Design Studio and pitched it as a cover-to-cover rethink built around 250 years of American history. For travelers, the cover is cosmetic. Border officers read the data page and the chip, not the embossing, so old and new designs will circulate side by side for years.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduces the "Flight of the Eagle" passport in Washington on September 29, 2026. Photo: Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) via X.

Inside the Book: A Flipbook Eagle and a New Page Count

The inside pages trace American history through illustrated scenes, from the fighting at Lexington and covered wagons heading west to the Wright brothers, the flag raising on Iwo Jima and the 2026 Artemis II splashdown. An eagle is printed in a slightly different position on each page, so thumbing through makes it appear to fly. Expect kids to wear the corners out.

The practical change is the page count. A State Department notice from April says the 2028 passport will come as a single 38-page book, replacing the current 26-page and 50-page options. For the 92% of applicants who get the smaller book, that's 12 extra pages, while travelers who fill the 50-page version may end up renewing sooner.

One detail is still unsettled. Artwork shown during the presentation appeared to include President Trump's portrait on the inside front cover, as on the optional America 250 "Patriot Passport" already available. A State Department spokesperson declined to confirm to Forbes whether it will be part of the standard 2028 book.

Two of the new visa pages show the 1945 flag raising on Iwo Jima and the 2026 Artemis II splashdown, with the flipbook eagle at top right. Photo: Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) via X.

Applying From Your Couch Starts in 2027

The part of the announcement that could save you an afternoon is the application itself. Rubio said the State Department plans to let Americans apply for a first passport entirely online through America.gov starting in 2027, with Login.gov sign-in, online payment and real-time status updates. The goal is for the "vast majority" of Americans to apply for a passport or passport card this way by the end of 2027.

You'd also take or upload your own photo and preview it on the finished passport before you submit, which Rubio framed as the end of the "drugstore hostage photo." Many adults can already renew online, so the news here is for first-time adult applicants, who still have to show up in person today. Children under 16 will keep applying in person, and the demo isn't a live service yet, so hold on to any appointment you've booked.

Should You Renew Now or Wait for 2028?

There's no reason to plan a trip around the new design. Your current passport stays valid until it expires, provided it isn't damaged, and nothing in the announcement changes that. If yours expires before 2028, renew on your normal schedule, since many countries want six months of validity left when you arrive.

Frequent travelers who normally request the 50-page book should keep an eye on the rollout date, which hasn't been announced. Once the new format takes over, the larger option disappears, and the State Department acknowledges that some frequent travelers and Americans living abroad will need to renew more often. It also says online renewal for overseas applicants is planned, which should take some of the sting out.

Travelers can keep using their current U.S. passport until it expires, even as the redesigned passport begins rolling out in 2028.

The redesigned passport won’t change how you travel, but it will look noticeably different when it starts rolling out in 2028. Between the new cover, illustrated history pages and single 38-page format, it’s a fairly major visual update to something most travelers only think about once every few years. For now, though, there’s nothing to do but keep using the passport you already have.

Frequently Asked Questions: New US Passport Design

When does the new US passport come out?

The redesigned passport is scheduled to roll out in 2028. The State Department hasn't published an exact start date yet.

Is my current passport still valid?

Yes. Your passport remains valid until it expires, as long as it isn't damaged, and the redesign doesn't change that.

What does the new passport cover look like?

The cover stays blue. "United States of America" moves to the top, above a larger and more prominent gold Great Seal.

How many pages will the new passport have?

The 2028 book is planned as a single 38-page version. It replaces today's 26-page and 50-page options, so most travelers gain pages and frequent travelers lose the larger book.

Can I get the new passport design now?

No. Anyone applying or renewing before the 2028 rollout receives the current design. The America 250 edition is a separate, optional limited release.

Will President Trump's picture be in the new passport?

Artwork shown at the unveiling appeared to include his portrait on the inside front cover. The State Department has not confirmed whether it will be part of the standard book.

Can I apply for a US passport online?

Many adults can already renew online. First-time adult applications are planned to move online through America.gov starting in 2027, and until then they're handled in person. Children under 16 will still apply in person.