It is also used for domestic travel to countries by land or sea. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Us passport book and passport card online application. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card.
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. What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. The passport card has the same validity as the passport book. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. First of all, the passport book contains many pages designated for visa stickers and stamps, while the passport card, on the other hand, is a credit cardlike id. 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. While both types of documents have the same period of validity five years for children under 16, ten years for adults and serve as a valid form of identification abroad, they are unique documents that may each be used better depending on the. If they are issued for full validity, they both can be used as proof of your us citizenship and identification. 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. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv.
I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. The passport book is the traditional multipage document that border agents stamp as you travel through. This passport holder meets all the needs ive been looking for. Which one you must get completely depends on how you are going to travel and how much you. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. They are particularly useful as identification for children who are too young to get a drivers license. 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. I believe getting the passport card is the same price as getting a passport book renewal. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. Adults applying for a passport the first timeand children under age 16must use form ds11 and apply in person.
If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u.
To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to indicate that you would like to apply for both products. You can get a us passport card, whether or not you currently hold a passport book. Save yourself hassle with expedited passport services if you dont have the time or patience for applying for your u. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. 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. What is the difference between a passport book and. The passport card can be used for entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. The irish passport card, can be used by irish citizens for travel within the. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Normally, when a person obtains a passport, this is what he or she will receive. If you have a passport card, you can also use it to drive across the canadian border and to. Many people arent very familiar with passport cards and their uses.
You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using either form ds11 apply in person or form ds82 renew by mail must be eligible. I suggest you get the card since you are going on a cruise. Aug 18, 2016 one is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. Passport cards are a simplified passport book but operate in many of the same ways and go through similar processes.
Passport card faq get answers to your passport card questions. Mar 18, 2020 the passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece credit card sized id card. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. If you have a passport card and you are eligible to use form ds82, you. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. Youll need to submit both documents when you do your next renewal. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. The time it takes to get a passport card can vary depending on the method that you choose to apply for it. If you already have a passport book, you do not need a passport card to travel internationally. Can i renew my usa passport book and passport card separately. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book.
You can mail your renewal application directly to the state department yourself. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when applying for a passport book. Mar 05, 2018 a passport card is a smaller version of a passport book and fits inside a wallet. You do not need to renew your passport before it expires unless you are. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time.
Due to this growth, more and more questions are sent to use about this travel document. Differences between a passport book and passport card. 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. A passport book is the official bookstyle document that allows a us citizen to travel internationally by land, sea or air. Feb 12, 2019 what are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. You can use form ds82 to renew your passport book at the same time you apply for your first passport card. The adult passport bundle, which includes a 10year passport book and 5year passport card for people aged over 18, costs 100. First of all, the passport book contains many pages designated for visa stickers and stamps, while the passport card, on the other hand, is a credit card like id. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. 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. A passport card carries many of the same benefits as a passport book, it just resembles a credit card and has certain restrictions. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. The use for a card is generally for land and sea travels, so you wouldnt be able to board an international flight using a passport card, tharp said. Your old passport card will be marked cancelled by having one corner clipped off.
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. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. Passport book allows you to travel by land, sea and air. Did you know the term passport can actually refer to two different documents a passport book and a passport card. These countries include canada, mexico, and the caribbean. You have the freedom to choose which one you wish to have to depend on the country you are planning to travel to. 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. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years, so if it fits your travel plans, the passport card can be a cheaper alternative. Jun, 2019 how to get a us passport book first time. Passport cards for under 18s will be valid for the same period as the passport book. You must have the original copies of all required documents. You can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book.
Passport cards are particularly handy for people who live close to the border and cross frequently or people who rarely travel but have decided to go on a cruise in mexico or the caribbean. This card provides a smaller, less expensive alternative for people who frequently travel between the united states and these countries. 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. Passport card faq get answers to your passport card. The passport card is a walletsize identification card with your picture, information, and barcode. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. If you are applying from outside ireland, there is an additional delivery cost of 5. Firsttime passport card applicants who do not have a passport book traditional passport must go in person to a passport application facility, such as a post office. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. Just a few years later, the number of passport cards issued rose to over one million.
The passport card can be used for identification purposes. However, if youd like to get a passport card still, you can apply by completing the ds82 passport renewal form. 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. Which one you must get completely depends on how you are going to travel and how much you are willing to pay for this travel document. Reasons to get a passport book or card a passport card and book are both considered us passports. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped.
There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. The state departments website offers complete details and an online application form. The card comes in very handy because it is much easier to handle. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. Passport cards are valid for land and sea travel to and from canada, mexico and the countries of the caribbean.
Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. If they are issued for full validity, they both can be. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas. Adult passports are valid for 10 years and may be renewed by mail. Because of its small size, the passport card will fit in your wallet, as opposed to a passport book which can be impractical to carry around with you. The passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. Understanding the difference between a passport book and a passport card can potentially save you a lot of hassle when you travel. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. If i already have a passport book, can i use the ds82 to get a passport card.
I have a passport card, but also need a passport book for overseas. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. Whats a passport card, and can it replace a real id. I previously had a regular passport holder, which was just a sleeve for my passport.
A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. A passport card is a smaller version of a passport book and fits inside a wallet. Jun 09, 2019 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. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. If you already have a passport book or passport card, you can renew by mail using. A passport card is less expensive than a traditional passport book. Is a question frequently asked by our readers if you are traveling to mexico, canada, and the caribbean as a u. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to.
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