An adult passport card looks similar to a drivers license, and is valid for ten years. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. Passport cards have been an option for us citizens since 2008, but they are still not as well known or. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.
Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport cardbook for no, loststolen, or submitted with application. You cannot use the passport card to fly internationally. Yes, if you have a passport card, you can obtain a passport book at any time. Minor children will need to have their passports renewed every 5 years until they reach 16 years of age. Many frequent travelers have learned the art of traveling light and i have made an obsession of it. 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. Generally speaking, when someone is thinking about a passport, chances are good that they are thinking about a passport book. To break it down simply, heres everything a card will cover on its own without the book. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. 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. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. However, it has a great number of limitations, so clients requesting a passport card should give serious consideration to applying for a passport book as well. Adults will need to have their passport renewed every 10 years. This is because a passport book is the booklet containing information about the person to whom it has been issued, which is in addition to a number of blank pages that can be used for travel visas as well as the stamps when said individuals enters and exits a country.
Entering the us from canada via land border crossings and sea ports. It cannot be used to travel to any other countries, and it cannot be used for international air travel at all. If i already have a passport book, can i use the ds82 to get a passport card. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. I currently have a passport card and never hard use for it but not to sure if i should apply for a passport book. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to.
S citizens that want to travel by land or sea to canada, mexico, and the caribbean. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. Entering the us from the caribbean via land border crossings and sea ports. The passport book is the most common passport to carry.
All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. You may need to make an appointment to apply for your passport card. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. It was introduced on july 18th, 2008 and over 7 million passport cards have been issued since then. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. 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.
I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. And, actually, the passport card will slow down your checkin time at the port a little bit, as they currently cannot be scanned into the computer like the passport books are. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. If you plan to travel by air, then you will need a passport book. Visa, mastercard, diners club international and american express cards are accepted. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados. For example, if you can submit a passport book, but you lost your passport card, you cannot renew the passport card. A real passport book can get you anywhere in the world, while the passport card is limited. I want to get my 3 kids passports for our cruise in october.
If you have the passport card, you may want to get the book as well in case you need to make unexpected flights. 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. Can you upgrade from a passport card to a passport book. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air.
In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. A us passport book may be a little more expensive and bulkier. Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport.
How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. The passport card has benefits, but does not offer the same list of privileges as a traditional passport. To get a passport card for a minor, you must pay two fees. 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. Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas that are meant for travel visas and country entry and exit stamps. Its as easy as checking a box on your passport renewal application to indicate you want a passport card along with your 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. 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. Note, passport cards can only be used for travel by land and sea. They are valid for five years from the date of issue, just like a minor passport book. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade.
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. My preference would be to not carry my passport in any kind of case at all but i have to be realistic, i need something basic to keep it from being damaged physically. There is a place on the application to check whether you want to apply for a passport card, passport book or both. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. For example, you will not be able to travel to london, england with just your passport card. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. 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. I have a passport card, but also need a passport book for overseas. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for.
I pack the bare minimum and choose the lightest yet strongest luggage available. The purpose of the passport book is to allow entry and exit to any country in the world. 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. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. In conclusion, the passport book versus passport card is important to know. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. Otherwise, if youre certain that youll only be traveling by land or sea, then the card should suit your needs. I have a passport book for about five years now, but i wanted to obtain a passport card. To apply for a new passport card, you will need to use one of the. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. You can apply by mail using form ds82 if you have a passport book or card that.
If you want to renew both a valid passport book and passport card, you must submit both documents. You can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. Consider using a passport card for your next border crossing by land or by sea. The pasport book is great for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, and. How to get a passport card if i already have a passport book. 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. The card has the same period of validity as 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. For the love of physics walter lewin may 16, 2011 duration. I am trying to figure out if i need a passport book. The passport card is a very handy tool to have in your vital document wallet.
Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. You do not need to renew your passport before it expires unless you are. 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. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i. Firsttime passport card applicants who do not have a passport book traditional. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more. Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. If you have a passport card and you are eligible to use form ds82. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. The passport card is also commonly used for travelers that wish to take a cruise but do not plan on ever traveling by plane. The passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. Your passport does not have to be expired for you to renew it. Requirements for passport card applicants who hold a valid passport book your current us passport this must be the actual book, not a photocopy.
Save yourself hassle with expedited passport services if you dont have the time or patience for applying for your u. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. Conveniently, both the passport book and the passport card have the same renewal period. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card.
The passport card will match the expiry date of your passport book, if you have less than 5 years validity remaining. It fits in most wallets, and is more resistant to damage as it does not have any pages. Entering the us from mexico via land border crossings and sea ports. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. Keep in mind that if you do have the card, you will need to complete a new application for the book. How to apply for us passport card when i already have.