You only need a passport book if you travel by air. We compare the two to help you decide which type of id is best. How to get a passport card when renewing your passport. Of course, in theory its only officially valid for international land or sea travel between the united states, canada, mexico, the. The passport book only covers land border crossings or seaport entry. And whichever one you get will determine if your travels will allow you to go.
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. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Carry both the passport card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. The edl is also not valid for international air travel. The passport card is also considered a passport but is much more limite. Even if you are only flying in to mexico or canada, you still need a passport if youre leaving the country by air. On the form, you indicate that youre applying for a passport card by checking the appropriate box. 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. If a duplicate passport is more than youd like to bite off right now, a passport card might be the way to go. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air.
Priority passport card us passport card service with. You dont need to present a passport or the card when entering and exiting the ship. 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. It is even cheaper to buy both a passport and passport card at one time. Department of state, performs the same function of identifying the holder as a u. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport.
If you have a passport book already, getting a passport card is quite simple and not very expensive. If you ever do lose your passport book during a trip which thankfully i havent i suspect that having a passport card is going to make it. What is the difference between a passport book and. If youre traveling by sea, you can use a passport card, enhanced drivers license, nexus, fast or sentri card instead. So if someone gets sick on a cruise and only has the passport card, they cant fly them home. A real passport book can get you anywhere in the world, while the passport card is limited. Us passports vs enhanced drivers licenses rush my passport. If you re a citizen of the united states, and you re 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. If you plan to travel by air, then you will need a passport book.
No one expects an emergency, and whether you plan or not plan to travel. Of course, in theory its only officially valid for international land or sea travel between the united states, canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. Getting them both together is a great option, as you will not have to apply separately for one later. Is it worth it to get a passport card if you are already.
You do not need a passport to enter the united kingdom, but airlines and. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u. List a documents are those used by employees to prove both identity and. 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. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. To visit those countries, you would still need a us passport. However, since passport cards arent valid for flying, again i dont see how theyre helpful in. Jun 30, 2015 if you ever do lose your passport book during a trip which thankfully i havent i suspect that having a passport card is going to make it easier to get to the nearest us embassy or. The only reason youd most likely need a passport is if you got missed he ship for whatever reason.
If you want to apply for a passport card and currently have a valid traditional passport, you can simply download and file form ds82. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Apr 21, 2016 youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. Note, passport cards can only be used for travel by land and sea. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Our guide will show you the uses and advantages of each document, and will help you figure out which one is best for you, or if you should have both. While having a us passport card is great and affordable, if you need an emergency trip home, you may decide that a us passport book is more your liking. Differences between a passport book and passport card. The passport card is only valid for entry into the united states at land border crossings or sea ports of 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. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. For example, if you are fortunate enough to acquire citizenship in one of the countries presently a member of the european union ue, you gain the right to live and work in any of these 25 countries. Many frequent travelers require a us passport book, since the book allows you to travel to more places and allows you to secure a visa when you need one.
However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. The 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 convenient and less expensive than a passport book. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada. Both a passport book and a passport card are valid for 10 years after being issued to adults. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag.
To enter the dominican republic by air, you need a passport book. 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. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. For this reason, its best to also carry a passport card or passport book. If you have a regular passport and are qualified to. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. You will also need the passport book in order to receive a travel visa from countries that require an issue them. If not you should carry your passport book around, but that would be very stressful. The united states passport card is an official identity and limited travel document issued by the.
Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. 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. Check out the differences between the two types of passport using the. The passport book allows for all travel whether by air, land, or sea. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. However, if youd like to get a passport card still, you can apply by completing the ds82 passport renewal form. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. Start today by applying for or renewing your passport. Youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport bookeither a ds11 or ds82. The only reason you d most likely need a passport is if you got missed he ship for whatever reason. 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. 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. Why would anyone want to travel using a passport card except for short cross border trips between the u.
If you are applying for both a book and a card at the same time, you only need to submit one passport photo. Department of state since 2008, and can be used to enter and exit the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. Jul 02, 2010 if a duplicate passport is more than you d like to bite off right now, a passport card might be the way to go. 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. However, since passport cards arent valid for flying, again i dont see how theyre helpful in that region. How to obtain a duplicate passport and passport card its. The difference between passport and passport card us. Jun 03, 2014 the passport card passport card sample, image courtesy travel. Now, in terms of a passport book vs passport card, if you happen to be applying for 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 not use it for air travel or for travel.
When you apply for a passport card, you ll spend less money than you would when. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. An adult passport card looks similar to a drivers license, and is valid for ten years. The application allows you to get a passport booklet or a passport card, or both. If you dont want to spend the money for the full passport i would save what you would have spend on the card and use it toward a full passport book in the future. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. Oct 03, 2012 if you applied for a passport card today, the earliest you could expect to receive one is after the initial 350,000 orders are filled. Sometimes it makes life more convenient to have both a passport book and a card, and carry them both on your international travel. The passport card passport card sample, image courtesy travel. You should always wear identification, so i would suggest bringing your passport its a must and carry you card in your pocket. What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison.
Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. If you are applying for both the passport book and the passport card you must. Sep 02, 2010 there is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. Valid for all forms of travel by land, sea, and air. Both forms are available for download on the state departments passport website. While you are filling out the application, you will see that you have the option to get a passport card with your passport book. There is a place on the application to check whether you want to apply for a passport card, passport book or both. You did not indicate where your cruise is going to so i would check the locations in which the passport card is good for as from what i read they are only good for 34 places. You can have both the us passport book and a passport card. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. 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. Sep 30, 2015 the passport book only covers land border crossings or seaport entry.
If you are a frequent traveller to canada andor mexico, a passport card might be a handy thing for you to purchase. If you already have a passport book, you do not need a passport card to travel internationally. In additiona, you may be entitled to second citizenship if your aside from taxation, there are many compelling reasons for becoming a dual national. You can renew your passport and change the name at the same time. This card is not valid as a passport when traveling by air, but you can use the passport card for identification purposes. You may have heard about the passport card that the united states department of state now issues. 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. Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. Applications for a passport or passport card may be submitted at any of 9,300 passport application acceptance facilities, which typically include u. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. Also you can not use the passport card to fly into the us. They are valid for five years from the date of issue, just like a minor passport book. 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.