A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. Your new passport card will be valid for 10 years from the date that it is issued. As like the passport book, the card also must be renewed after validation gets completed. I just got my new passport book in the mail, but my passport card wasnt in the. However, people find a passport card more convenient and accessible when carrying. The passport book comes in both a standard, 24page version and a bigger, 52page version for those who travel frequently. Can be used for international travel via land, sea, or air. Heres a look at the key differences and various other pieces of info which will prove very useful. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Passport books are too fragile, and birth certificates lack photos or expiration dates. Since we all know how to acquire passport booklets, lets learn how to get hold of a passport card.
Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. You have to go in person to present your application. The only distinction i can think of that might make you want to have both an edl and a passport card is the information on the face of the cards. 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. 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.
How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. Passport book and passport card are two terms that are often used these days by many citizens of the united states who are applying for a passport for the first time. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. I didnt have my passport with me but i did have my c. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years, so if it fits your travel plans. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5.
Passport cards are also only valid in mexico, bermuda, canada and the caribbean. A passport book functions in all ways a passport card is used and there is no need to obtain a passport card if you already have a passport book. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the state that you live in a third option is available to you. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their. 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. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of americans. Both fees are collected and retained by law even if a passport is not issued. Cant see a reason youd need both other than another form of id that fits in your wallet.
Service commitment our expedited service commitment is to process your passport application within 8 business days from the date we receive your application at a passport agency or center or from the date you request expedited service. Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a. 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. 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. State department issues two versions of a passport. I dont see any benefit of carrying both on a particular trip since theres no situation where a passport card is valid but a passport book is not, the entire purpose of the passport card is so that you dont have to carry around your passport book. The passport card can be used for identification purposes. 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. Shes an avid coffee drinker and enjoys researching new topics for writing. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Along with allowing for international travel, passports can be used to prove your identity and citizenship, especially when you need multiple forms of identification. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book.
Passport book vs passport card first time cruisers. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. 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 contains several pages like the passport details page which provides the holders name,date of birth, passport expiry date etc as well as other blank pages for visa and immigration stamping. A passport book may not be a massive document by any means, but having something as small as the card to fit in your wallet is definitely less of a hassle. The additional cost isnt significant when compared to the convenience.
The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. The passport book vs card question is one you may have if you are a firsttime international traveler. Difference between passport book and passport card can be a new subject to you if you are not a citizen of the united states of america. There is a place on the application to check whether you want to apply for a passport card, passport book or both. The difference between the numbers is two digits and the letter c. While an enhanced drivers license does prove citizenship, the passport card is better because its more authoritative. The passport book is a thin cardboard cover with your picture and information inside it. However, each of these items comes with certain restrictions regarding when you can use them. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. 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. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Find uses and advantages of a passport book and a passport card and figure out which one is best for you, or if you should have both documents.
You must have the original copies of all required documents. If you apply or renew now, you will experience significant delays of several months to. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for. Some passport acceptance facilities will provide photo service onsite. Your local drugstore or photo print lab likely will take it for a few bucks.
Select both and you will pay additional fees for the passport book and passport card. These countries include canada, mexico, and the caribbean. Whether you get the passport bookcard both are valid for 10 years. It has several pages for visas and travel documents. Its not tied to the validity of your passport book. What is the differences between passport book vs passport.
The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport. What is the difference between a passport card number and. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. Currently, all citizens of the united states need a one or the other for. 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. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. You must also supply a copy of the proof of citizenship being used. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. At about the size of a credit card, the passport card is handier, smaller, and more durable than the passport. If i apply for a passport card now, how long will it be valid. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas that are meant for travel visas and country entry and exit stamps. Difference between passport book and passport card.
A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air. We have been even using our passports for domestic travel the last few yrs. Us passport book vs us passport card us visa connection. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. 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 passport card can be used only to reenter the u. 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. The passport card is good to get into canada or mexico the passport book is used to get into all countries. The passport card is a walletsize identification card with your picture, information, and barcode. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book.
To begin with, passport cards can not be used for air travel. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. Someone needing to take a flight to paris, or hop a freighter to new zealand may consider applying for both a passport book and card at the same time and only take the one they need. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. See below the differences between a passport book vs. The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is that. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of. The official terms are passport book and passport card they are both passports. As passport books allows more activities as compare to passport card so they tend to cost more as well. It is also used for domestic travel to countries by land or sea.
Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. I applied for both a passport book and a passport card. Differences between a passport book and passport card. You can apply by mail using form ds82 if you have a passport book or card that. The difference between passport and passport card us. Passport card frequently asked questions with answers. If you plan to travel by air, then you will need a passport book. When i last renewed my passport i decided to pay the extra few bucks for a passport card and im glad i did. Travel requirements with the growing threat of global terrorism, all traveling us citizens are required to possess more specific documentation than in the past. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. Passport cardbasically a limiteduse passport enhanced drivers licenseacts both as a driver license and a travel document, but also with limits well walk you through the basic differences of each of these documents, and help you determine which one is right for you. What is the difference between passport book and card.
Last summer i was in michigan and the opportunity arose to go to canada for the day. Both of these documents give you the ability to travel outside of the country. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. What is the difference between a passport book and.
Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u.
Note, passport cards can only be used for travel by land and sea. Renewal cost of the passport book and passport card. Apply for a passport card united states department of state. A passport card is a portable pocket sized card similar to a credit card that fits in your wallet. When renewing our passports this year, i opted to get both the passport and the passport card for my wife and myself. 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.
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