If you've ever planned an international trip only to realize your passport has expired, you know the agony of renewing it in person.

But now there is good news. On Wednesday, the US State Department launched a beta program that offers US citizens the opportunity to renew their passports online.

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“The goal of online passport renewal is to save Americans time and effort by making it more convenient to renew their US passports,” said a senior State Department official. ABC News.

The government will start allowing a small number of people to apply on the online portal each day with plans to slowly increase the daily number as the system works itself out.

However, not everyone is eligible to apply.

To try out the system, hopeful applicants must be at least 25 years old and hold a US passport issued between 2009 and 2015. The passport must also have been valid for at least 10 years. Applicants also cannot plan any international travel for at least eight weeks from the date of submission of their application.

Expedited online service will not be available.

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The beta program is expected to run over the “next few months” with no specific timeline. State officials noted that once a new application is submitted, the person's current passport will be considered invalid.

As the system currently stands, the average wait for it renewing a US passport is between six and eight weeks, or two to three weeks for those who pay extra for expedited service.