In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. The united states passport card is an official identity and. Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. 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. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or driver s license. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book. Also, if youve lost your passport book, go and see our stolen passport or lost passport pages for details on getting the replacement of your passport. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. H ave you ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet. This card cannot be used for overseas travel, but for people who go to either canada or mexico on a.
Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. A passport card can provide a more convenient, cheaper alternative to carrying your passport book. Feb 12, 2019 passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel. The traditional passport book is still required for most travel purposes. 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. Introduced in 2008, the passport card is a relatively inexpensive personal identification card that can be used in place of a passport book or drivers license at land and sea entry points to.
Its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. However, if you get a passport card, it cannot be used for travel by air. Passport cards allow entry from canada, mexico, caribbean. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u.
Many passport application acceptance facilities, which include libraries, clerks of court, and post offices, are not accepting u. On the top of the ds82 application for passport renewal, you can select both. The passport book is a real passport, and allows you to fly internationally. A us passport card is used as a federal id and is only good for travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. Find a passport application acceptance facility card. The difference between passport and passport card us. 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. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea 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. I use my passport for primary id have lost my backup, for which i dont qualify for anymore anyway. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. 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. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail.
Passport book and or card, will be placed int o our consular lost and stolen passport system. Youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. S citizens that want to travel by land or sea to canada, mexico, and the caribbean. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. If youre applying for a passport card for the first time, youll want to find a passport. 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. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. You can use form ds82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips.
What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. The passport card is also a valid form of id so it is useful to have it on you at all times when traveling abroad. Aug 10, 2012 a passport card can provide a more convenient, cheaper alternative to carrying your passport book. Read on to learn how you can apply for your passport card and lighten your load for your next journey. 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. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. A passport book application will take approximately 10 working days to process and a passport card, six to eight weeks. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. 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 is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. Therefore, a statement is required when applying for a new u. It was introduced on july 18th, 2008 and over 7 million passport cards have been issued since then. The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your. Application form ds11 can be used in order to apply for a passport book, passport card or both. Is a question frequently asked by our readers if you are traveling to mexico, canada, and the caribbean as a u. If you would like to receive your passport before the passport card, please provide two courier envelopes at the time you submit your application. Applying for passport card wo giving up passport book. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. If you are traveling by air or to most countries, you will need a. Travelbuzz applying for passport card wo giving up passport book. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. This system is designed to prevent the misuse of your lost or stolen u.
Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. State department has introduced a simpler style passport card which serves the same purpose as the original passport bookonly it fits in your wallet like a drivers license. To make an appointment at a passport agency or center for a lifeordeath emergency, you must call our national passport information center at 18774872778 18888747793 tddtty on monday friday, 8. In such situations, a passport card comes in handy because it is the size of a credit card and fits nicely in a wallet. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. Apply for a passport card residents of england and wales.
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 card cannot be used for international travel by air. The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at u. The card has the same period of validity as a passport book. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. The passport card is a walletsize card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the united states and canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. However, depending on where youre travelling, you might be ok with just the card. On the form, you indicate that youre applying for a passport card by checking the appropriate. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Can you use the passport card for travel to the bahamas. Your personal details must be an exact match of the. Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport card book for no, loststolen, or submitted with application.
The information you provide on the ds64, statement regarding a lost or stolen u. Complete online and submit form ds82 available using the online passport wizard. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. It is more convenient and cheaper than a passport book. If you already have a valid us passport book, then it is not required to also have a passport card to travel internationally. Entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. 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 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 difference between passport book and passport card is. The card may not be used to travel internationally by air the requirements for applying for a u. The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your visas. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. If you are traveling by air or to most countries, you will need a traditional passport book, with pages for your various visas. I know there used to be info on this somewhere, but i cant find it. Us passport book and passport card online application.
Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade your passport card to a passport book. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. 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. The passport card has benefits, but does not offer the same list of privileges as a traditional passport. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo and identifying information. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book and card. Is there a way to apply for a card while keeping my passport book.
There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. Passport card can be used to enter united states from canada, mexico, the. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. Adults who already have a fully valid passport book may apply for the card as a passport renewal.
Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. 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. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. 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 is for people who frequently drive across the border but dont intend to fly. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more portable alternative to the passport book. I will be in this situation in two year and therefore have clicked want answer, but in the meantime here is something ive found in the instructions to the ds82 passport renewal form pdf submit your most recently issued emp. You can carry your passport card with you at all times and leave the passport book safe in the hotel room locker. You can apply for a us passport card by mail if you already have a us passport book and eligible to use form ds82.
Now that you are required to have a passport to go to canada, mexico and the caribbean. Apr 06, 2016 its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. If im remembering correctly, you can use your passport card when travelling by land or sea. 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. Report the loss of your passport card by calling 8774872778 or you can fill out the lost passport report form ds64 and mail this to the address on the form. They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. 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. Visa, mastercard, diners club international and american express cards are accepted. Passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel. Jul 26, 2019 unfortunately, you cannot upgrade your passport card to a passport book. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. 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. For complete instructions and a link to download the form, click the link below.
Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport cardbook for no, loststolen, or submitted with application. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. The card may not be used to travel internationally by air. Passport card difference between passport book and passport card u. 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. 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. The passport card will match the expiry date of your passport book, if you have less than 5 years validity remaining. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship.
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