What’s New in the US ‘Flight of the Eagle’ Passport? Check the Details
The US has unveiled the new “Flight of the Eagle” passport design for 2028. Check its new cover, history-themed pages, eagle animation, packaging and online application changes.
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The United States is preparing for a major change to its passport system.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a new passport design called “Flight of the Eagle” on September 29, 2026. The redesigned passport is expected to start entering circulation in 2028.
At the same time, the US State Department is also preparing to make the passport application process more digital. From December 2026, Americans are expected to be able to apply for their first passport completely online through the new America.gov platform.
This means the passport changes have two different parts:
- A new physical passport design from 2028
- A new online application system from December 2026
So, what exactly is changing?
What Is The “Flight Of The Eagle” Passport?
“Flight of the Eagle” is the name given to the new US passport design that the State Department plans to introduce in 2028.
The passport will keep the familiar dark blue colour, but its cover will have a much larger and more prominent American eagle and Great Seal design.
“United States of America” will appear above the emblem.
The eagle will be presented in a gold design, giving the cover a different appearance from the current US passport.
The new design has been developed with the federal government's National Design Studio.
New US Passport: Key Details At A Glance
What Will The New US Passport Look Like?
The most visible change is the cover.
The traditional blue background will remain, but the American eagle will become much more prominent.
The words “United States of America” will be placed above the large Great Seal.
The eagle will have a gold appearance.
The State Department's presentation showed that the redesign is not limited to the front cover. The inside pages will also receive a new visual treatment.
This makes the passport different from the current design while keeping the familiar American national symbol at the centre.
New Passport Pages Will Show American History
One of the biggest changes will be inside the passport.
The pages will contain artwork representing different parts of US history.
The scenes shown during the unveiling include events and subjects connected with:
- The American Revolution
- Westward expansion
- The transcontinental railroad
- The Wright brothers
- Iwo Jima
- The Artemis space programme
Other artwork across the passport is designed to tell a broader visual story about the country's history.
This means the passport will function not only as a travel document but also as a booklet containing historical artwork.
Why Is It Called “Flight Of The Eagle”?
The name is connected to one of the passport's most noticeable visual features.
Inside the booklet, an eagle illustration changes position from page to page.
When the pages are moved or flipped quickly, the eagle appears to fly.
Reports have compared this effect to a flipbook or zoetrope-style animation.
The feature is designed to make the passport visually different from earlier US passport versions.
Will The New Passport Have New Security Features?
The State Department has not publicly disclosed every security feature of the redesigned document.
That is not unusual because passports are high-security identity and travel documents.
The US passport already contains security technology, including an electronic chip.
The new “Flight of the Eagle” passport will continue to be an official travel document, but detailed information about its security architecture has not been fully released publicly.
Therefore, it is better not to assume that every visual change is a new security feature.
New Passport Will Come In Different Packaging
Another change shown during the unveiling is the passport's packaging.
The new passport is expected to arrive in a new presentation package, rather than simply being delivered in the traditional type of envelope.
Reports described the new packaging as similar to the presentation box used for premium electronic products.
The packaging is part of the wider redesign of the passport experience.
US Passport Application Is Also Going Digital
The physical passport is not the only thing changing.
The US government is also changing the way people apply for passports.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that first-time passport applications are expected to become fully online from December 2026.
The new system will operate through America.gov, a new federal digital platform designed to bring government information and services together.
This is separate from the physical passport redesign.
What Could Applicants Do Online?
The planned system is designed to allow users to:
- Enter passport application information
- Submit a passport photo
- Pay online
- Track the application
- Check the application status
- Receive an estimated delivery date
The system is intended to provide updates showing whether an application has been submitted, is being processed or has been completed.
When Will The Online US Passport Application Start?
The first major change is expected in December 2026.
This means Americans may get access to the new digital application process well before the redesigned passport itself begins circulation.
Is America.gov Important For The New Passport?
Yes.
America.gov is at the centre of the digital part of the passport overhaul.
The platform is intended to act as a single digital gateway for US government information and services.
The passport system is one of the services being brought into this new digital system.
The government says the goal is to make the process easier to understand and reduce the number of separate steps applicants have to follow.
Will Current US Passports Stop Working In 2028?
No blanket cancellation of existing passports has been announced.
The 2028 date refers to the expected start of the new passport design.
Americans who already have a valid passport should continue using it according to its existing validity period unless the State Department provides different instructions.
The redesign is therefore not the same as a mandatory passport replacement programme.
People do not need to replace a valid passport simply because a new design is coming.
Do Americans Need To Renew Early To Get The New Passport?
Not necessarily.
The new design is expected to begin circulation in 2028.
A person with a valid passport does not automatically need to renew early just to obtain the new design.
Whether someone chooses to renew early would depend on their own passport validity, travel plans and the rules applicable to their application.
The important point is that the introduction of the new design does not automatically cancel existing valid passports.
Is The “Flight Of The Eagle” Passport The Same As The 2026 Anniversary Passport?
No.
The two should not be confused.
The United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026, and a separate commemorative passport design has also been associated with that anniversary.
The “Flight of the Eagle” is a broader passport redesign planned for 2028.
So, there are two separate developments:
2026: Special 250th-anniversary passport-related design
2028: New standard “Flight of the Eagle” passport design
This distinction is important because the anniversary edition and the new standard passport are not the same programme.
What Is The Biggest Change For Travelers?
For travelers, the physical passport design will be the most visible change.
But the online application system may be the more practical change.
Instead of handling the entire first-time application through an in-person process, eligible applicants are expected to be able to complete the process digitally through America.gov starting in December 2026.
The new passport itself will follow in 2028.
New US Passport Vs Current Passport
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Why Is The US Changing Its Passport?
The redesign is part of a broader effort by the State Department to modernise the passport system.
The department has said that while the passport document itself has evolved over time, the process for obtaining one has not changed at the same pace.
The new digital system is intended to make applications more accessible and provide clearer status updates.
At the same time, the “Flight of the Eagle” design gives the physical passport a new visual identity.
What Should Current US Passport Holders Know?
Current passport holders do not need to panic about the 2028 redesign.
There is no announced requirement for everyone to immediately replace their existing passport.
If your current passport remains valid, you should continue to follow the normal passport and travel rules applicable to your situation.
The new design will gradually enter circulation once the 2028 rollout begins.
Flight Of The Eagle Passport: Timeline
September 29, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the new passport design.
December 2026
The US plans to begin allowing first-time passport applications through the new online system.
2027
Additional services are expected to be added to the America.gov platform.
2028
The new “Flight of the Eagle” passport is expected to begin entering circulation.
Questions readers ask
What is the Flight of the Eagle passport?
The “Flight of the Eagle” is the new US passport design unveiled by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in September 2026. It is expected to begin circulation in 2028.
What is new in the Flight of the Eagle passport?
The passport will have a larger gold American eagle on the blue cover, new history-themed artwork inside and an eagle animation effect across the pages.
When will the new US passport be available?
The redesigned “Flight of the Eagle” passport is expected to begin entering circulation in 2028.
Can Americans apply for a US passport online?
The US government plans to allow first-time passport applicants to complete the application online from December 2026 through America.gov. The rollout may occur in stages.
Will current US passports become invalid in 2028?
There has been no announcement of a blanket cancellation of valid existing passports. The 2028 date refers to the expected introduction of the new design.
