Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via cruise. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. That being said, i recently got one simply because it is convenient to use in. Below, weve summarized the differences between a passport card and the standard passport book. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. We are traveling with a 4 and 2yearold on a disney cruise.
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. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. 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. 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.
You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not. If you think that your children might need a passport book in the near future, then you might want to apply for this. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document.
A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. But, the passport card can only be used for international travel by land and sea. The postal clerk told me i should get a passport card. In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. The department of state is issuing the passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. A passport card also could be useful for alaska cruises, as long as all border crossings into canada are done by land or sea. As stated, the passport book and the passport card are not the same. Passport cards cannot be used for international air travel, even within the 19 mostly caribbean countries that accept the cards at land or sea ports. Regardless if you are traveling by air, land, or sea, you can use a passport. Getting a passport isnt that difficult, but it can be a bit of a hassle as there are several steps to take. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. A passport card can provide a more convenient, cheaper alternative to carrying your passport book. If you are traveling outside the united states via air travel, you will still need a traditional passport book as a passport card is not valid for air travel.
Nov 07, 2016 however, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover. The best way to cover all bases is to get both a passport card and standard passport, which you can easily do the next time you renew your passport. People who frequently cross the mexican or canadian border by car or train. 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. Jun, 2019 standard processing takes 46 weeks, not including the time it takes for your new passport book to get to you. Read on to learn how you can apply for your passport card and lighten your load for your next journey. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the u. 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. A passport book is a passport that will be accepted anywhere in the whole world and on any form of transportation that youll use. 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. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16.
The requirements are the same for the passport card as those for the passport book. The department of state is issuing this passport card in response to the needs of border resident communities for a less expensive and more portable alternative to the traditional passport book. A passport book is an acceptable document for international travels. May 17, 2011 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 card cannot be used for international air travel. Passport cards for under 18s will be valid for the same period as the passport book. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. 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. Your passport book would need to be surrendered if the application is made by mail. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport.
One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. I didnt have my passport with me but i did have my c. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. The passport book is valid for all types of travel.
That being said, i recently got one simply because it is convenient to use in situations where the passport book is not needed namely, everywhere besides nonneighboring national borders. However, if you get a passport card, it cannot be used for travel by air. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. Applicants need to understand how to get a passport before they begin planning their international trips.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Carry both the card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. Children too young to get a drivers license or other stateissued identification card. If youre thinking of going on a cruise, the passport card might be nice when you need a from of identification to get on and off the ship. What is the difference between a passport book and. A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. If youre applying for a passport card for the first time, youll want to find a passport. Passport cards requested by mail are always shipped back. To start, you will need to know whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both. A passport card is also available for certain travel situations.
Adults who already have a valid passport may use form ds82 to apply by mail or form ds11 to apply in person. H ave you ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet. You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. While the passport book allows for full international travel via all methods including flying, it can sometimes b. When i last renewed my passport i decided to pay the extra few bucks for a passport card and im glad i did. These federal identification passport cards and passport books are the only documents that permit u. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. Should i get a passport card and a standard passport. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. When your card is not an acceptable document for travel, you must use a passport book. If not, then the passport card should suffice for your trip to the bahamas. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time. For these adults with existing passports, consider whether you travel internationally frequently.
A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. This is my opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt, as just that. 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. On the top of the ds82 application for passport renewal, you can select both. Should you choose a passport book or a passport card. All the information an embassy needs is coded on the card, they just swipe it and a replacement is issued.
When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a passport card vs passport book. With standard processing, you should submit your application no later than 8 weeks before your travel date. The passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. We only issue second passport books not second passport cards. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. We fly from maryland to florida where we board our ship and sail to the bahamas. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at u. Yes, it is much easier to get a new passport book with a pasport card over copies.
If youre sure that youll never fly into any other country, the card should be sufficient. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. However, keep in mind that the book is more expensive than the card. Find a passport application acceptance facility card. In contrast, a passport card is similar in purpose to a passport book but much more limited in scope. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. When a passport card might be just what you need for travel there are few travelers in this world who arent interested in trying to save money while on vacation. A passport card does not count as a second passport. 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. Youll need to submit the same documentation for getting a passport card as you do for a passport book, so getting them both at the same time makes things easier. Due to this, each one possesses its own particular upsides and downsides, meaning that each one might be bettersuited to some people out there than the other.
You obtain a passport book using the same process you used to obtain your passport card. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. Not only do they look different, they serve slightly different purposes. For example, if youre traveling on april 24, 2015, you should submit your application no later than february 27. The us passport card is a credit cardsized identification document. Can you upgrade from a passport card to a passport book. However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. Guest writer christine gilbert says no, and shares 5 reasons not to get the new us passport card. If youre like this person, you might be asked if you want the new passport card instead of your trusty passport. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time.
Before you jump at the cheaper price more than 50% less expensive for the card compared to the passport, be aware there are several good reasons to stick with your. Passport cards are wallet sized while the passport book is larger and thicker. This is perhaps unsurprising, seeing as how a passport card lacks the blank pages of the passport book because it is nothing more than the size of a standard id card. 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 passport card cannot be used for international air travel. Youll need to submit the same documentation for getting a passport card as you do for a passport book, so getting them both at the same time. 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. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports.
This is the base fee and does not include any fees to expedite. Differences between a passport book and passport card. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. While customers rarely have two passport books, they commonly have both a passport book and a passport card. Oct 16, 2017 the passport card is cheaper to obtain than the passport book.
I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. Standard processing takes 46 weeks, not including the time it takes for your new passport book to get to you. If you have a us passport book, there really is no need to get the passport card. Just beware that not all caribbean locations will accept this as a valid id per wikipedia. 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. You need a passport book now to fly into any country, including canada, mexico, and the caribbean. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. 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.
The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more portable alternative to the passport book. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. A passport card is a document you would use to travel by land or sea. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u. The card has the same period of validity as a passport book. If you find yourself frequently traveling to canada or mexico but not so much the rest of the world, a passport card is one way to help pinch some pennies. 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 the size of a drivers license and is used for convenience as it is smaller and cheaper than the passport book.
Depending on where you are traveling outside of the u. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. You have to go in person to present your application. 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. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your. Yes, if you have a passport card, you can obtain a passport book at any time. The passport book is the regular passport that youve seen before. It is imperative to understand what the is the difference between a passport book vs card. You should know there are restrictions on a passport card.
The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. However, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover. Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a. You can get a us passport card, whether or not you currently hold a passport book. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. 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. Is there any reason i should get a us passport card in. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. Should i get a passport book, card, or both for a cruise. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card.
1234 1409 1087 963 544 1450 538 588 502 872 352 592 716 1458 1299 843 735 644 1156 22 1109 1145 466 86 971 213 808 840 1003 562 97 730 803 562 426 1355