The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced this Tuesday that starting in 2027, American citizens will be able to apply for their first passport completely digitally, without having to visit any office.
The announcement, disseminated by the Department of State, was made in the context of the launch of America.gov, the new artificial intelligence-driven platform initiated by President Donald Trump to centralize federal services into a single portal.
The end of the bureaucratic "maze"
Rubio described the difficulties of the current process bluntly: “Today, if you need to get your first passport, that’s where the maze begins. You have to know which form to print, schedule an appointment, and then go wait in line.”
That complexity, he noted, has created a parallel business that harms citizens.
"Today, there is an entire industry built around taking advantage of every stage of the process. Some of these sites charge you for forms that are free. Others charge for appointments that are also free. And after taking your money, they also obtain your most sensitive personal information," he pointed out.
How will the new system work?
The new process, developed in partnership between the Department of State and America.gov, can be completed entirely from a mobile phone or a computer.
The system will integrate with Login.gov, the federal government's digital identity platform, so that the applicant's data will be automatically pre-filled.
One of the most striking features is the ability to take the passport photo right from your own device, at home, and repeat it as many times as necessary.
Rubio summed it up with a straightforward phrase: “Without printed forms, without being held hostage for a photo at the pharmacy, without an appointment, without a line, without an intermediary that you are paying for something that should be available to you.”
Once the process is complete —data, photo, and payment of the fee— the passport will be delivered directly to your home.
According to EFE, the State Department currently sends out tens of millions of passport envelopes each year.
A new passport for 2028
Rubio also noted that in 2028 a complete redesign of the document will be introduced, featuring enhanced security measures and a more robust and dignified presentation.
“In 2028, a beautiful new United States passport containing 250 years of America within it,” he specified.
The secretary criticized the current packaging—which is an ordinary envelope—as unworthy of the most important identity document a citizen can receive, placing the reforms within a broader vision.
"The U.S. passport says something very simple. It states that anywhere in the world: 'I am American, and my country stands behind me.' U.S. citizenship is something sacred, and the symbols and documents that support it must reflect that," he remarked.
America.gov and federal modernization
This Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order requiring all federal agencies with more than 100,000 annual users to integrate their services into America.gov, a platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to guide citizens through their processes in natural language.
Phase two of the platform, expected in early 2027, will allow users to request and track processes such as Social Security, passports, and Medicare directly from the system.
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