Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. Sometimes it makes life more convenient to have both a passport book and a card, and carry them both on your international travel. 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. So if someone gets sick on a cruise and only has the passport card, they cant fly them home. Passport book, which allows travelers the right to leave and return to the united states. If you want to apply for a passport card and currently have a valid traditional passport, you can simply download and file form ds82.
Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. I hadnt realized that you could get one if you have a full passport book. I know there used to be info on this somewhere, but i cant find it. 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. 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. This new travel document can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. A passport card is only good for travel by land and sea, not by plane. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha.
Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. The passport book only covers land border crossings or seaport entry. 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. Department of state since 2008, and can be used to enter and exit 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. If you are applying for both the passport book and the passport card you must. Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. The walletsize passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. The passport card is only valid for entry into the united states at land border crossings or sea ports of entry. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison.
Without a passport is without a doubt timely and helpful. While customers rarely have two passport books, they commonly have both a passport book and a passport card. 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. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. The goal is to enjoy as much visafree travel as possible, especially to those countries you wish to visit regularly. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a.
Jan 08, 2020 both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. The passport book is valid for all types of travel. Passport cards are only good for traveling to mexico and canada on land, it cannot be used if you want to fly anywhere including to mexico and canada. Check out the differences between the two types of passport using the. If you are considering flying to another country in the next 10 years, we recommend that you obtain a passport book and not a. Passport card for a reduced fee if you only plan to travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean nations. You can get a passport card with your passport book if you like. The passport card cannot be used throughout the world but can be used for traveling by land or sea to canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. The passport required for most international travel is the u. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. This option means getting both a passport book and passport card with just one application. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. An adult passport card looks similar to a drivers license, and is valid for ten years.
However, if you need to fly, you cannot use the passport cards to enter another country by air. Sep 02, 2010 there is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. Jun 30, 2015 therefore, prior to getting my passport card, this meant my passport book often found itself in my back pocket getting frayed, damp, and bent not a good thing for a machinereadable document. Passport book for reentry into the united states from any country. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Passport card cannot be used for international air travel. Their smaller size makes them more convenient to carry around than a traditional passport book, and theyre cheaper, too.
When it comes to us passport card versus passport book, the winner will depend on your need. The complete guide to offshore residency, dual citizenship and second passports robert e. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. It contains several pages like the passport details page which provides the holders name,date of birth, passport expiry date etc as well as other blank pages for visa and immigration stamping a passport card is a portable pocket sized card similar to a credit card that fits in your wallet. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. However, since passport cards arent valid for flying, again i dont see how theyre helpful in that region. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air. 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. This will be the first time i leave the country and fly in an airplane. You dont need to present a passport or the card when entering and exiting the ship. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. 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. Aug 18, 2016 the passport book allows for all travel, by air, land, and sea and youll need the passport book in order to receive a travel visa. Literally the nations and peoples are here and still coming.
Just dont try to use a passport card to get to cuba. 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. If you do not have a valid passport, you will need to apply for your new passport card with the government in person and you will need to file form ds11. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air. How to protect your passport while traveling travel us news. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card.
Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel. 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. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. As of october 1, 2020, however, the federal government will require all ids for boarding domestic flights to be either realid compliant or a federally issued id such as a passport. Is it worth it to get a passport card if you are already.
How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. This card was designed to be cheaper and more portable than a regular passport. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. If you lose your passport book, you can still travel to mexico and canada if necessary using your passport card i have both of them, because when i went to get my passport book renewed, the passport officer said, quoting him, sir, if you are planning on visiting canada or mexico, you might wish to have both, because only the more convenienttocarry card will be needed for those places. A most important consideration when seeking another citizenship is how easily you can travel using that countrys passport. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. However, when they went to apply for new passports, the clerk steered them toward ordering one of the walletsized new passport cards.
Therefore, prior to getting my passport card, this meant my passport book often found itself in my back pocket getting frayed, damp, and bent not a. A passport book is always required to travel internationally. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. Differences between a passport book and passport card. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u. The only reason youd most likely need a passport is if you got missed he ship for whatever reason.
You can use the irish passport card for travel within the european union. The passport book allows for all travel, by air, land, and sea and youll need the passport book in order to receive a travel visa. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. This book gives you all of the countries by region in which you could gain a second passport legally. You do not need a passport to enter the united kingdom, but airlines and. Jun 23, 2009 the walletsize passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. Citizen and immigration services uscis recently issued a press release stating that the passport card can be. Sep 30, 2015 the passport book only covers land border crossings or seaport entry. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport 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. Apparently, neither the clerk nor the housleys was aware of one of the crucial differences between a passport book and a passport card.
However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. Travelbuzz applying for passport card wo giving up passport book. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas that are meant for travel visas and country entry and exit stamps. I use my passport for primary id have lost my backup, for which i dont qualify for anymore anyway. Minetor the first comprehensive companion guides for 1. That said, passport cards are very useful forms of identification. In particular, if you plan on traveling to any countries other than canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean nations youll need to get the u. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. I need to purchase my passport, but i dont know if i need just the book, or just the card, or both. After all, a passport is your key to crisscrossing the globe. 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. What is the difference between a passport book and passport. Passport cards are small, walletsized passports that are used for land and sea travel to mexico, canada and the caribbean. Passport books are the ultimate travel document for visiting any foreign countries, american citizens.
Here is a table showing the principal differences between a. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults. The childrens passports are only good for 5 years whether its the book or card which makes it even more pricey for the books, but if youre super concerned about maybe needing to fly back into the. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean.
We want you to know about a few differences between the book. It is timely due to the demographic shifts happening in our world and specifically in north america. Applying for passport card wo giving up passport book. If you are like my family and friends, you are curious as to the differences between the new us passport cards and the more traditional us passport books. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. Start today by applying for or renewing your passport.