Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book. Applying for passport card wo giving up passport book. 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 benefits, but does not offer the same list of privileges as a traditional passport. Practical travel safety and security issues is it worth it to get a passport card if you are already renewing a passport book. What is the difference between a passport book and. S citizens that want to travel by land or sea to canada, mexico, and the caribbean. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Passport card difference between passport book and passport card u. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book.
Apply for a passport card travel us department of state. 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. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel by air, sea or land. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id.
Both forms are available for download on the state departments passport website. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the u. Passport application form ds82, completed offline or filled out online at. For more information on applying for a new passport book or card, a renewal or other passport questions, please contact covingtons helpful business travel advisors. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. The card provides a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land. Many passport application acceptance facilities, which include libraries, clerks of court, and post offices, are not accepting u. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. I have a passport card i got last year while going to mexico, but this spring im going to study abroad so i need an actual book. The passport card is also considered a passport but is much more limited. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Unlike the passport book, the passport card is valid only for entry to the united states at land border crossings and sea ports of entry when traveling from canada, mexico the caribbean, and bermuda.
The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. 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. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo and identifying information. Passport cards for under 18s will be valid for the same period as the passport book. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. I want a card so i can frequently travel to mexico while my passport book is on hold for getting a visa to travel to china.
Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. The passport book only covers land border crossings or seaport entry. Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a name change. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane.
A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your visas. I will be traveling this february to mexico cruise and would prefer to renew my passport just in case of an emergency. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. The card provides a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or sea. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. Differences between a passport book and passport card. 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. 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 passport book covers international travel by land, air and sea. You will need to report the loss of your passport card by calling 8774872778 or by filling out the lost passport report form ds64 and mailing it to the address on the form. Requirements for passport card applicants who hold a valid passport book your current us passport this must be the actual book, not a photocopy. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped.
The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. The traditional passport book is still required for most travel purposes. To enter the united states at land border crossings or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda, you can use a passport book or a passport card. The passport card or formally known as the people access security service card pass is small in size compared to a passport. The united states passport card is an official identity and. 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. You dont need to present a passport or the card when entering and exiting the ship. The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at u. The difference between passport and passport card us. I applied to renew my passport this past summer, and i had the option of applying for a just a passport book, or b both a passport book and also a passport card, which can be used in certain intercountry travel situations cant remember what situations either, but doesnt really matter as it is irrelevant to my question.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. Passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel. An adult passport card looks similar to a drivers license, and is valid for ten years. Sherry housley and her daughter whitney had planned to to take a motherdaughter vacation by the ocean in cozumel, mexico. Currently, all citizens of the united states need a one or the other for international travel, even to neighboring countries such as mexico and canada. When you apply for a new passport, should you get a passport book or passport card. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. You can apply by mail using form ds82 if you have a passport book or card that. Id seen the passport card discussed and pitched when it was new. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book and card. If you are traveling by air or to most countries, you will need a traditional passport book, with pages for your various visas. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. If you are considering traveling any time soon, look into getting a passport card instead of the standard passport book.
Passport cards are delivered separately from passport books. I use my passport for primary id have lost my backup, for which i dont qualify for anymore anyway. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. Vip passports and visa services united states passport agency specializes in american passports, us passports, passport renewals, passport applications, passports forms, birth certificates, notary services, visas, and passports in less than 24 hours. 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. Additionally, the passport card is a lot more economical than a traditional passport. Department of state of the views or products contained therein.
Is there a way to apply for a card while keeping my passport book. Us passport book and passport card online application. Ive tried searching on the passport card threads, but if this specific question has been discussed ive managed to miss it. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u. 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. The form for renewing a passport or passport card is ds82. 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 cards are particularly useful for some people. I have a passport book for about five years now, but i wanted to obtain a passport card. The only reason youd most likely need a passport is if you got missed he ship for whatever reason. I have two children who will be needing passports as well and would like to get them passport cards. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. The difference between passport book and passport card is. If you have also lost your passport book, please see our lost passport or stolen passport pages for details on how to replace your passport.
Carry both the card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. As of march 25, 2020, post offices which are still accepting applications are requiring customers to make an online appointment to apply in. The card has the same period of validity as a passport book. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. Applications for a passport or passport card may be submitted at any of 9,300 passport application acceptance facilities, which typically include u. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16.
The passport card is a walletsize travel document that can only be used to reenter the united states at land bordercrossings or portsofentry by sea from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. How to get a passport card if i already have a passport book. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a.
In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you 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. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or driver s license. Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. A passport book functions in all ways a passport card is used and there is no need to obtain a passport card if you already have a passport book. Travelbuzz applying for passport card wo giving up passport book. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. I am going to the bahamas in june, and need a passport, when i went to apply online, they gave me all three options, with the same criteria for each option, and no explantion of the difference between them. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air. However, since passport cards arent valid for flying, again i dont see how theyre helpful in. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. Your personal details must be an exact match of the.
Passport cards can only be purchased as an addon feature when applying for a passport book. 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 or courthouse,and submit a completed passport application form, proof of us citizenship, one passport photo and the required fee. 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. Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport cardbook for no, loststolen, or submitted with application. Youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. Is it worth it to get a passport card if you are already. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. I remember reading somewhere that the fees were different, but im not sure. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. I know there used to be info on this somewhere, but i cant find it.