Americans applying for their first U.S. passport are expected to be able to complete the process online next year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sept. 29.

The planned service would be offered through America.gov, a new federal government website. In a demonstration, Rubio showed a user looking up how to apply, submitting a passport photo, previewing how it would appear and paying online, according to The Hill.

The service is not yet available. The State Department’s current guidance says adults applying for a first passport generally must apply in person at an authorized acceptance facility. Some adults who already have a passport can renew online through a separate State Department system.

Rubio described the online first-time application as a way to avoid printing forms and scheduling an in-person appointment. The department has not yet provided full details about eligibility, fees or the rollout schedule.

For current application requirements and updates, visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport application page.

At the America.gov launch, Rubio described a process that would begin on the government site and use Login.gov for sign-in. The demonstration showed information already held by the government being brought into the application, though officials have not explained how identity checks would work for every first-time applicant.

The State Department has not published the forms, document-submission steps or eligibility rules for the proposed service. Its current guidance still directs first-time adult applicants to apply in person with the required application and citizenship evidence until the new option is formally available.

Rubio said the administration’s goal is for most Americans to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through America.gov by the end of 2027. The existing online renewal service is separate and remains limited to eligible applicants; the first-time application option has no announced launch date.