However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. Whats a passport card, and can it replace a real id. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. The passport card is not valid for any air travel, including to canada and mexico. The only exception is that you may use a passport card in order to enter the united states by a land border crossing or at a sea portofentry.
Passport cards requested by mail are always shipped back. Feb 12, 2019 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 book vs passport card i f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. Us passport book and passport card online application. A passport book is an acceptable document for international travels. 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. Since a passport book comes with multiple pages, the cost is more than a passport card. Apr 06, 2016 getting a passport card for your child. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. Find a period of time when im not going to be traveling internationally and apply for the renewal book, using the card as id for domestic trips in the interim. On the form, you indicate that youre applying for a passport card by checking the appropriate box. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card.
Passport cards are valid for land and sea travel to and from canada, mexico and the countries of the caribbean. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. For travel by land or sea into canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean, the u. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.
The card is only good for sea and land to mexico, canada and the bahamas. This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a passport card. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade your passport card to a passport book. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. You will need to fill in an official form and present identification and proof of citizenship. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. What is the difference between a passport book and. If i already have a passport book, can i use the ds82 to get a passport card. A passport card is less expensive than a traditional passport book. 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.
A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport cardbook for no, loststolen, or submitted with application. To apply for a new passport card, you will need to use one of the following procedures. If im remembering correctly, you can use your passport card when travelling by land or sea.
This will enable you to obtain a passport card and still apply for a passport book later on. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. You can only use a passport card for land and sea crossings between the united states and bermuda, canada, mexico and the caribbean region. I just received my passport book, but if you go to the post office and get the passport application it would tell you the difference of the book and card. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece credit card sized id card. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. Requirement on traveling without us passport outside u. May 10, 2010 the passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. You can use the card for land and sea border crossings at canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda only. If you have a passport book and you are eligible to use form ds82, you may apply for a passport card as a renewal by mail even if it is your first passport card. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card.
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. All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. As it turned out, he was the one in for the unpleasant surprise. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. The new passport form gives you the option to get a passport card. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. When the book comes, resume my normal travel pattern. Applying for passport card wo giving up passport book.
Will a passport card be sufficient for a child or adult traveling to bahamas from the u. That said, passport cards are very useful forms of identification. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Differences between a passport book and passport card. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. The passport card is the size of your drivers license or state id, fitting in your wallet. But to answer your question, you cant fly to jamaica with a passport card. Its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. I lost my passport card, and i would like to apply for a new one to make use of the expedited rfid lanes at the mexican border. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. To enter canada, your passport book or card must be valid. Apr 21, 2016 youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. 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.
It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. If you already have a us passport, you may be able to apply for a new passport card using passport renewal form ds82.
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. Why consider a passport card if its use is so limited. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. 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. What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. Any frequent traveler knows how pricey foreign travel can get. You can use this creditcardsized document to reenter the united states from mexico, canada, bermuda and the caribbean when traveling by land or sea. Because you can get one for far less than youll have to pay for a passport book. 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. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and is only valid in canada, mexico, bermuda, and the caribbean.
Our guide will show you the uses and advantages of each document, and will help you figure out which one is best for you, or if you should have both. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. 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. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel.
Passport if you are thinking about applying for or renewing a u. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. However, you will need to apply for a passport card in person at a local. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. Youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. Fill out the application using a black ink pen or use the state department online tool to fill out the application, and select passport card. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so. Jul 27, 2019 after he confirmed that his spouse could cruise with just a passport card, he booked their tropical vacation.
After he confirmed that his spouse could cruise with just a passport card, he booked their tropical vacation. Department of state has a simple to read list of facts comparing the passport card with the passport book and providing links to applications for both. However, depending on where youre travelling, you might be ok with just the card. A passport book is always required to travel internationally. Passport card faq get answers to your passport card questions. Use the passport book to get the passport card, keeping the book in my possession. The passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. A passport card is a smaller version of a passport book and fits inside a wallet. The first step in obtaining a passport card is downloading and filling out the ds11 form. 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. 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. That price difference can be significant for trips across the.
The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. You can use the passport card when traveling in the european union, the european economic area which includes iceland, liechtenstein and norway and switzerland. It is smaller and more convenient to carry than a passport book, and it is less expensive to obtain. 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. 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.
You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. Jun, 2019 how to get a us passport book first time. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Passport card faq get answers to your passport card.
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