Sometimes it makes life more convenient to have both a passport book and a card, and carry them both on your international travel. The us passport card is quite useless in form and substance. Getting your us passport as easily and quickly as possible. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the u. You can renew your passport and change the name at the same time. If you plan to travel by air, then you will need a passport book.
Allow approximately 68 weeks for processing a passport application. 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. In short, a person with a passport card can use it to travel to either canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean so long as they are taking either a land route or a sea route. An applicant may have both a passport book and a passport card. If you apply for both the passport book and passport card you will receive two separate mailings. Jun 02, 2018 if you got any questions about whether you need a passport book or card, please contact travel visa pro we are always ready to help you. If they are issued for full validity, they both can be used as proof of your us citizenship and identification. Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a. Your new passport card will be valid for 10 years from the date that it is issued. If you lose your passport book you still have your passport card and vice versa.
Is there any reason i should get a us passport card in. Although, keep in mind, while both can be used as forms of id. Its not tied to the validity of your passport book. However, if youre considering a passport book vs passport card, just get both. 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. Some countries require you to carry your passport with you at all times. 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. Try using it for id at the airport when going thru the tsa checkpoints, and youll soon find out. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. The us passport card is a credit cardsized identification document. Oct 05, 2018 if so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. Apply for a passport card united states department of state.
Regardless, the passport card that is issued in the united states still has select uses under select circumstances. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. Passport books are larger than cards and come with many pages for customs stamps. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card.
I just got my new passport book in the mail, but my passport card wasnt in the. If you got any questions about whether you need a passport book or card, please contact travel visa pro we are always ready to help you. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. The card cant be used for international air travel. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Jun 16, 2016 if i apply for a passport card now, how long will it be valid. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both. If i apply for a passport card now, how long will it be valid.
Processing times for passport card applications submitted outside the u. Reasons to get a passport book or card a passport card and book are both considered us passports. Complete online and submit form ds82 available using the online passport wizard. Us passport book and passport card online application. A citizen or national is allowed to hold both a passport card and a passport book. If you are applying for both the passport book and the passport card you must submit four 4 u. Both passport cards and books are also acceptable on shore excursions. How to get a passport card us passport office locations. You can use form ds82 to renew your passport book at the same time you apply for your first passport card. The us passport card allows you to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at sea ports of entry, land border crossings and is more convenient and cheaper than a passport book. It has several pages for visas and travel documents.
Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. You must have the original copies of all required documents. 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. Passport books are the ultimate travel document for visiting any foreign countries, american citizens can use this to travel everywhere outside of the us. You must complete all pages of the form and sign and date it. Jan 08, 2020 both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. There is a place on the application to check whether you want to apply for a passport card, passport book or both.
It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. I dont need to be busy looking for the passport, flight ticket and cash at security check point or duty free stores anymore. Passport license center licenses and permits government. You may request a larger passport book with 52 pages at no additional cost by checking the 52 page box at the top of the ds82.
United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their travels abroad. Mar 18, 2020 the passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Carry both the card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. Difference between a passport book and passport card. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. A passport card is a card the size of a drivers license that is issued by the us state department. Us passport timeline page 2 us immigration forums hosted. You have to go in person to present your application.
An additional self addressed express post envelope is required for the mailing of your u. The passport book is the traditional multipage document that border agents stamp as you travel through. 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. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. If your name has legally changed submit relevant legal documentation if applicable.
Presumably its not good for international air travel as there is no way to stamp it, like the passport book. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. Passport cards cannot be applied for in conjunction with an emergency passport, nor can they be issued if you do not qualify for a full validity passport. You can also apply for the passport book and the passport card at the same time when youre utilizing the ds11 new passport application for new passport. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. Passport card difference between passport book and passport card u. Both parents or guardians of a child younger than 16 years old must sign and provide photocopy of id when submitting this form on. Select both and you will pay additional fees for the passport book and passport card.
If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. Department of state statement regarding a lost or stolen. As the others have said, its really only good as a backup in case you lose the real us passport book. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. Since you are going to japan, you need to apply for a passport book, thus not necessary to get a card too. The passport book is a thin cardboard cover with your picture and information inside it.
Expedited service processes the passport in 3 weeks, at an additional cost. Note, passport cards can only be used for travel by land and sea. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. We want you to know about a few differences between the book. They are valid for ten years for adults, and five years for children age 15 and younger. If issued for the full validity, they are both proof of your u. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. If you need to travel internationally, you must have a passport book. Since a passport book comes with multiple pages, the cost is more than a passport card. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. The difference between passport and passport card us. Like a passport book, it proves your identity and us citizenship.
It is intended to be used in place of the standard u. Feb 12, 2019 you can also apply for the passport book and the passport card at the same time when youre utilizing the ds11 new passport application for new passport. Here are the countries and territories where a us passport card is valid. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. The passport card is only valid for entry into the united states at land border crossings or sea ports of entry. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. The passport book is your typical passport, a bound, paged booklet that is issued by the us department of state verifying your identity and nationality, usually for the purpose of traveling internationally all international air travel for us passport holders, regardless of origin or destination airport, must be accompanied by a valid us passport book.
I applied for both a passport book and a passport card. You only need to submit one photograph with your application for a passport renewal and passport card. Passport books can be accepted in any country unless theyve barred us citizens from entry, like north korea, and are valid for visa applications, while a passport card can only be used to enter countries by land or sea. You can renew a passport book, a passport card, or both documents. 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.
See the chart below to decide which is best for you. More often than not a passport card is applied for in conjunction with a passport book. The united states passport card is an official identity and. Therefore, a statement is required when applying for a new u. Nov 20, 2017 a passport card allows significantly fewer opportunities for the holder to travel, but often its enough for some. The length of validity is the same for both documents, five years. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. I previously had a regular passport holder, which was just a sleeve for my passport. Your passport photo must be in color, 2x2inches 51x51mm in size. The us passport office says over 30% of passport renewal application are returned because mistakes or incorrect documentation. Passport card on the same application, the newly issued documents, as well as your returned citizenship evidence, may be mailed to you in separate packages at different times. Is a us passport card good or valid id while in europe. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda.
A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Both the book and the card are equally valid as proof of identity and citizenship, and can be used for domestic air travel. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas that are meant for travel visas and country entry and exit stamps. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. This is my opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt, as just that. The passport card is intended as a more portable, less expensive alternative to the standard passport book, primarily for u. While the passport book allows for full international travel via all methods including flying, it can sometimes b. So, given the differences between a passport book vs passport card, which one is right for you. 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. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card.
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