In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Your passport book allows you to travel by land, by sea, or by air. We want you to know about a few differences between the book and card so you can decide if you want to apply for one or both documents. Learn about the steps for how to apply for or renew your u. If you already have a passport or if you are renewing your passport card, you might be able to submit your application by mail. A passport card serves the same purpose as a passport book. Getting your us passport as easily and quickly as possible.
A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. If they are issued for full validity, they both can be used as proof of your us citizenship and identification. Your passport book can be used in any situation where a passport card could be used, but you may find that it is convenient for you to also have a passport card. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. You have to go in person to present your application. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda.
It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. Is it faster to get a passport card than to get an actual. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. However, keep in mind that the book is more expensive than the card. Because of public health measures to prevent the spread of covid19, effective march 20, we have limited u. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. A passport card is also available for certain travel situations. Adults applying for a passport the first timeand children under age 16must use form ds11 and apply in person. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. An adult applying for a us passport renewal or firsttime passport can receive a card valid for ten years, while a child under the age of 16 would have one valid for five years. The us passport card is a credit cardsized identification document. You can only get a passport card with a passport book as part of a bundle which is an option you can select when renewing your childs passport online.
However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel by air, sea or land. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or drivers license. H ave you ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet. Read on to learn how you can apply for your passport card and lighten your load for your next journey. Passport cards for under 18s will be valid for the same period as the passport book.
United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their travels abroad. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. On the form, you indicate that youre applying for a passport card by checking the appropriate. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card.
Many people arent very familiar with passport cards and their uses. A passport card is a smaller version of a passport book and fits inside a wallet. A passport card provides valid identification for national travel, but only provides valid identification for certain types of international travel. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. Reasons to get a passport book or card a passport card and book are both considered us passports. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. See the table below to determine which one is best for you. The good news is a passport card is valid for the same time and has the same application process as a standard passport book. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. The passport card is only for land and sea travel, which means there is no way travelers can use the passport card to board a plane. Learn more on our covid19 update page and our frequently asked questions page.
You can get a us passport card, whether or not you currently hold a passport book. If you already have a passport book, you might be able to apply for your very first passport card by mail. Its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. Is it faster to get a passport card than to get an actual passport.
If you think having both will serve your purpose, then go ahead and get them. There is no available way to get a same day passport, but you can choose to get same day service on a regular passport book with us passport now. I would get the passport book or nothing the birth certificate and the passport card seem equal in value to me you cant fly home with either, and that would be the point of getting the passport book if there is an emergency and you are in a foreign country, you cannot get on an airplane without a passport book, period, so it seems like a. The passport card is the size of a drivers license and is used for convenience as it is smaller and cheaper than the passport book. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card.
Passport cards are a simplified passport book but operate in many of the same ways and go through similar processes. You can mail your renewal application directly to the state department yourself. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. The passport book and the passport card have the same validity which is 10 years for children 15 years old or younger, the validity is only 5 years. Would it be faster for her to get a passport card instead of a passport. If you are also applying for a renewal of your passport book and you opt for expedited service by mail, your passport book will arrive in 23 weeks, but your passport card may arrive in a separate envelope several weeks later. You should know that the passport card is only valid for travel by land and sea within mexico, canada, bermuda, and the caribbean, and you can not use it for air travel or for travel to other. In this post, you will get the benefits of having both documents. The time it takes to get a passport card can vary depending on the method that you choose to apply for it.
If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. However, depending on where youre travelling, you might be ok with just the card. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. Basically, i would say passport card is simply designed for those people who plan to cross the land border or enter a sea port, for example, there are many americans who only travelled to canada in their whole life. If im remembering correctly, you can use your passport card when travelling by land or sea. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. However, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover.
You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. A passport card can provide a more convenient, cheaper alternative to carrying your passport book. If youve never had a us passport before, this article outlines how you go about getting a passport book not passport card for the first time if youre living in the us and are an adult.
Lets take a look at the simplest and quickest ways to get your hands on a valid passport book. Us passport book and passport card online application. Youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. On the top of the ds82 application for passport renewal, you can select both. A passport book provides valid identification for any national or international travel. The passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use.
Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. How to get a passport card fast applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. The passport card contains a vicinityread radio frequency identification rfid chip. This card provides a smaller, less expensive alternative for people who frequently travel between the united states and these countries. Adult passports are valid for 10 years and may be renewed by mail. Aside from the size, a passport book and a passport card difference is that the latter cannot be used when traveling abroad via air, the passport book is required. Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a. It attests to your united states citizenship and your identity.
A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Passport cards are valid for land and sea travel to and from canada, mexico and the countries of the caribbean. Although, keep in mind, while both can be used as forms of id when traveling, the passport card has some restrictions. Is a question frequently asked by our readers if you are traveling to mexico, canada, and the caribbean as a u. The us passport card allows you to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at sea ports of entry, land border crossings and is more convenient and cheaper than a passport book. If youre a citizen of the united states, and youre thinking about traveling to mexico, but you dont yet have a passport, you might consider getting a passport card instead of a regular passport book. Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade your passport card to a passport book. However, if you get a passport card, it cannot be used for travel by air. You can apply by mail using form ds82 if you have a passport book or card that. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more portable alternative to the passport book. Differences between a passport book and passport card.
The united states passport card is an official identity and limited travel document issued by the united states federal government in the size of a credit card. Find a passport application acceptance facility card. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. If youre applying for a passport card for the first time, youll want to find a passport. In order to apply for your first passport card, youll need the same documentation you need to apply for a passport book. A passport card carries many of the same benefits as a passport book, it just resembles a credit card and has certain restrictions.