WASHINGTON, D.C.- The United States plans to introduce a redesigned passport in 2028, with a standardized 38-page book and a new “Flight of the Eagle” design.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also outlined plans for first-time passport applications to move online through America.gov, with a target for most Americans to have access to the service by the end of 2027.
The presentation of the new passport included an interior image that appeared to show President Donald Trump, although the final design has not been explicitly confirmed on that point.
What Will Change in the 2028 US Passport?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the redesigned US passport on September 29, 2026, during the launch of America.gov in Washington, D.C.
He described the document as the result of a redesign by the State Department working with the National Design Studio, covering the passport from its cover to its interior pages.
The new passport is planned for rollout in 2028. The redesign will change the physical format, interior artwork, and presentation of the passport, while the application process is also being modernized separately through America.gov.
First-Time Passport Applications Will Move Online
One of the largest practical changes will be the planned expansion of online passport applications. Rubio said that starting in 2027, Americans will be able to apply for their first passport entirely online through America.gov.
He also said the State Department’s goal is for the vast majority of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through the platform by the end of 2027.
The demonstration showed how the new process is expected to work. Applicants will sign in through Login.gov, view information already held by the government, take a passport photo with a phone or upload one from their device, review the photo in the context of the passport and submit payment online.
The system is also expected to provide real-time application status information and an estimated delivery date. Rubio presented the process as one designed to remove the need for printing forms, arranging an appointment and waiting in line.
The timing should still be treated as a rollout plan rather than a fully operational service. America.gov is being introduced as a centralized digital entry point for federal services, and the White House executive order says existing lawful options, including in-person, telephone and mail services, will remain available.
The Standard Passport Will Have 38 Pages
The physical passport will also move to a single 38-page format. A Federal Register notice published in April 2026 said the current Next Generation Passport was available in 26-page and 50-page versions, while the Series B redesign planned for 2028 would move to one 38-page book.
That means the new standard book will provide 12 more pages than the 26-page version but 12 fewer pages than the 50-page option. For many applicants, the 38-page book will therefore provide more space than the standard passport available today.
The State Department said a 2024 feasibility study found that a single 38-page format could improve production efficiency and reduce waste. The department also said about 92% of passport applicants requested the 26-page book, while about 8% received the 50-page version.
The change could have a different effect on frequent travelers. People who regularly collect visas and entry stamps and previously selected the 50-page book will no longer have that larger option.
The State Department has acknowledged that some frequent travelers, overseas applicants and special-issuance passport holders could need to renew more often under the new format.
“Flight of the Eagle” Design
The new passport will be called “Flight of the Eagle” and will keep the familiar blue cover while making the American eagle and Great Seal more prominent.
The words “United States of America” will move above the Great Seal, rather than appearing below it. Rubio said the new Great Seal would be larger, more prominent and more gold in appearance.
The interior pages will use artwork covering major moments and themes in U.S. history. The presentation referenced the American Revolution at Lexington, westward migration, the Wright brothers, the U.S. Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima and the Artemis program.
The eagle is also designed to create an animated effect when the passport pages are flipped quickly. Each illustration changes position across successive pages, creating the appearance that the eagle is flying through the passport. Rubio described the feature as the eagle carrying travelers across 250 years of American history.
Passport Will Tell a Visual History of America
Rubio described the redesigned passport as “a visual story of the greatest nation in the history of the world.” The presentation then showed a sequence of interior-page images intended to illustrate that broader historical narrative.
The original report of the presentation identified 16 page images in this sequence. OMAAT noted that the first of those images appeared to show President Trump and that the artwork looked very similar to the imagery used in the limited-edition 2026 commemorative passport.
The timing is also notable. The Trump image appeared shortly after the video presentation began, a little over nine minutes into the event video according to the original report. The image was presented as part of the sequence illustrating the passport’s visual story.
Is Trump Actually Going to Appear in the Standard Passport?
This remains the least certain part of the redesign.
The State Department’s published remarks clearly confirm the new passport, its eagle-centered design, historical artwork and 2028 introduction. However, Rubio’s published remarks do not explicitly identify the person shown in the first of the 16 interior images as Trump.
The distinction matters because the State Department already offers a separate “Patriot Passport” commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. That limited-edition passport features a portrait of President Donald Trump on its inside front cover and is being offered in a limited run of 250,000 passports.
The artwork seen in the 2028 presentation appears similar to that commemorative passport artwork, which is why the possibility of Trump’s image being carried into the standard passport has drawn attention.
At this stage, however, the safest factual description is that Trump imagery appeared in the presentation visuals, while final confirmation of its inclusion in the production passport remains pending.
2026 Patriot Passport Is Not the 2028 Standard Passport
The commemorative “Patriot Passport” and the planned “Flight of the Eagle” passport serve different purposes.
The Patriot Passport was created specifically for the 250th anniversary of the United States. It has custom artwork on the front, back and inside covers, including Trump’s portrait on the inside front cover.
It uses the existing passport format rather than establishing the new standard design for all future passports.
The 2028 Flight of the Eagle passport is intended to become the next standard U.S. passport design. Its changes include the 38-page format, new cover artwork and historical illustrations throughout the book.
New Packaging Is Also Part of the Redesign
The change will extend beyond the passport booklet itself. Rubio said the State Department had also reconsidered how passports are delivered to Americans, arguing that the document should arrive in packaging that reflects its importance.
He showed a new presentation package during the event and said the department was moving away from the existing envelope-based presentation. The new packaging is planned alongside the 2028 passport redesign.
What Changes for Current Passport Holders?
The 2028 redesign does not by itself mean that Americans with valid passports must immediately replace them. Existing passport holders should continue using their current documents according to their stated validity and the entry requirements of their destinations.
The biggest near-term change is expected to be digital access to first-time applications through America.gov. The physical passport redesign comes later, with the new Flight of the Eagle booklet planned for 2028.
Travelers should continue to follow current passport rules until the new systems and booklet are formally implemented. The State Department’s current passport process still applies while the digital expansion is being developed.
Key Takeaways From US Passport Redesign
The planned 2028 U.S. passport will introduce several significant changes at the same time. The passport will move to a single 38-page format, replacing the existing standard and larger book options described in the 2026 Federal Register notice.
The “Flight of the Eagle” design will feature a larger gold Great Seal, place “United States of America” above the emblem and use historical artwork throughout the booklet. The moving-eagle effect is designed to create a flipbook-style visual as the pages are turned.
The application process is also being redesigned. Rubio said first-time applicants will be able to complete the process online through America.gov beginning in 2027, including taking or uploading a photo, making payment, and tracking application progress.
The State Department’s goal is for the vast majority of Americans to have passport or passport-card application access through America.gov by the end of 2027.
The possible Trump image remains an open question. The image appeared in the presentation material reviewed by OMAAT, but the public State Department remarks do not explicitly confirm that it will appear in the final standard passport.
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