Welcome news coming out of the U.S. Department of State yesterday with the launch of online passport renewal functionality. It’s being called “a significant step forward in ensuring that Americans can more easily access passport services.”

So, “instead of printing a paper application and mailing it with a check, Americans can now renew their passports through a secure process that will save time and effort.”

There’s good news for procrastinators, too. Already expired passports can be renewed if expired within the past five years or expires during the coming year. The online passport renewal service is accessible 24/7 for adult Americans with a US address. The estimate is that the new service, which cuts average processing time to a record low of six to eight weeks, will benefit five million Americans in its first year.