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. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air. If you do not have upcoming travel plans, you can visit your post office or county clerk to start the application process. Which one you must get completely depends on how you are going to travel and how much you. 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 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. 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. Travelers who need passport cards in less than two weeks must make an appointment at one of the regional passport agency offices to submit their applications and payment in person. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. As passport books allows more activities as compare to passport card so they tend to cost more as well. Your passport book allows you to travel by land, by sea, or by air. 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. Only available for passport book applicants in the united states not canada. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.
Passport book vs passport card norwegian cruise line. Visa, mastercard, diners club international and american express cards are accepted. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. The good news is a passport card is generally valid for the same time and has the same application process as a 26 or 52page passport book. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. See below the differences between a passport book vs. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. To begin with, passport cards can not be used for air travel. A passport book provides valid identification for any national or international travel. The passport card is a fully valid passport that attests to the u. What is the passport card good for and what is its limitations. If you apply for a passport card it will be issued valid for 10 years regardless of the expiration date of your passport book. Applicants must provide documents which attest to their u.
Like the book, passport cards are good for 10 years if you are 16 or older. Validity and application process of passport cards. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book.
The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. 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. Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. Be aware of the fact that a passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. This service is not available for passport card applicants. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. 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. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. 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. They are valid for five years from the date of issue, just like a minor passport book. 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. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land.
Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. Passport cards are also only valid in mexico, bermuda, canada and the caribbean. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. Entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. In contrast, a passport card is similar in purpose to a passport book but much more limited in scope.
There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. Whether you get the passport bookcard both are valid for 10 years. 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. There are, however, some key differences that need to be considered. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. 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. If youre a frequent traveler to canada or mexico by land or sea, then the passport card can be a budgetfriendly option. Difference between a passport book and passport card. You can now apply for a passport book and a passport card. Learn more about how a passport card differs from 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 card is a portable pocket sized card similar to a credit card that fits in your wallet. Can be used for international travel via land, sea, or air. What is the differences between passport book vs passport. Processing times for passport cards and passport books routine processing times for the passport card or passport book range from 46 weeks or longer.
What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. You can use it, while traveling through land, water or air transport. Passport cards and passport books are no exception. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a. The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. Difference between passport book and passport card. The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag.
Unless you use the mobile passport app, youll have to. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. 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. You only need a passport book if you travel by air.
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. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of. Differences between a passport book and passport card. 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. The passport card will match the expiry date of your passport book, if you have less than 5 years validity remaining. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. Passport card vs passport book, travel, 9 replies should i get a passport card to go along with my passport book. Call the national passport information center npic at 18774872778 or use npics online passport appointment system to schedule your appointment.
In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. In general, everyone must have a passport book or a regular passport to travel from one country to another. 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. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. Passport cards requested by mail are always shipped back. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados. The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is that passport cards are only valid to enter canada, mexico, bermuda, and. Minors under 16 will need to renew their passport every 5 years. First of all, the passport book contains many pages designated for visa stickers and stamps, while the passport card, on the other hand, is a credit cardlike id. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states.
In july of 2008, due to requests from residents along us borders for a more portable and easier application process than a regular passport, the united states department of state began issuing passport cards, a wallet sized identity card usable for international travel by land and sea, valid only for travel to canada, mexico, the. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. Generally speaking, when someone is thinking about a passport, chances are good that they are thinking about a passport book. For flight travel abroad you will need a new passport book by mid 2009. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison.
The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. A passport card is the size of a drivers license and can be used only for travel by land or sea to canada, mexico, bermuda, and parts of the caribbean. Complete online and submit form ds82 available using the online passport wizard. The passport book is a passport that we receive, if we have a desire to cross borders and the country that we desire to has got the requirement of identification. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. 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. Check out the differences between the two types of passport. As such, the passport card is adjudicated to the exact standards as the passport book.
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