You should always wear identification, so i would suggest bringing your passport its a must and carry you card in your pocket. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. You must apply in person for a passport card using form ds11 if you do not meet the. The united states passport card is an official identity and. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. Youll need to submit both documents when you do your next renewal. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. Differences between a passport book and passport card. 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.
Some countries require you to carry your passport with you at all times. If you are applying for both a book and a card at the same time, you only need to submit one passport photo. The passport card is only valid for entry into the united states at land border crossings or sea ports of entry. If you have a us passport book, there really is no need to get the passport card. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. 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. You should always wear identification, so i would suggest bringing your passport its a must and carry you card in. Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. How to get a passport card when renewing your passport. 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. The passport book is the traditional multipage document that border agents stamp as you travel through. The length of validity is the same for both documents, five years.
Since a passport book comes with multiple pages, the cost is more than a passport card. What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. 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. Can you upgrade from a passport card to a passport book. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. If you have a passport card, you can also use it to drive across the canadian border and to.
Passports need a passport apply for a passport card the passport book and passport card are both u. If youre planning a trip to any other destination, then you would need a u. Passports need a passport apply for a passport card. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. Minors under age 16 will need to submit copies of both parents passports or drivers licenses. Minor children will need to have their passports renewed every 5 years until they reach 16 years of age. If any of the above statements do not apply to you, you must apply in person using form ds do i need both. You can renew a passport book, a passport card, or both documents. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. What is the difference between a passport book and a passport. Everything else about the application process is the same for each type of passport. They are valid for five years from the date of issue, just like a minor passport book. Nassau, bahamas if you are cruising to the bahamas from the u.
If you want to apply for a passport card and currently have a valid traditional passport, you can simply download and file form ds82. Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. My passport was you can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not. Photocopy of your drivers license or other stateissued id front and back. Mar 18, 2020 the passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. My passport was issued to me when i was 17 years old and now 10 years later i believe i am eligible to renew it. Find out if you need a passport to go on a cruise celebrity.
What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Carry both the passport card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. Both passport cards and books are also acceptable on shore excursions such as the white pass and yukon. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. Passport book vs passport card i f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. No one expects an emergency, and whether you plan or not plan to travel. Youll need to submit the same documentation for getting a passport card as you do for a passport book, so getting them both at the same time makes things.
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. 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. In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. You will need to specify on the application whether you are applying only for the passport card or for both a passport book and a passport card. First you will need to gather the required documents for a passport card. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years, so if it fits your travel plans. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. Sometimes it makes life more convenient to have both a passport book and a card, and carry them both on your international travel. Select both and you will pay additional fees for the passport book and passport card. Aug 18, 2016 one is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped.
Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. And again, applying for a passport book comes with higher fees. Do i need both a passport book and card golfschule. Depending on where you are traveling outside of the u. Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. 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. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Nov 04, 2014 conveniently, both the passport book and the passport card have the same renewal period.
If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. A citizen or national is allowed to hold both a passport card and a passport book. Your old passport card will be marked cancelled by having one corner clipped off. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. If not you should carry your passport book around, but that would be very stressful. The traveler, a family member, friend, or traveling companion may become seriously ill and need to return to the u. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time. You must complete all pages of the form and sign and date it. If you lose your passport book you still have your passport card and vice. Do you need a passport to go on a cruise to the bahamas.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. 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. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. Aug 24, 2017 both forms ask you to check a box indicating whether youre applying for a passport book, card or both. Carry both the card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. 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. 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. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Along with allowing for international travel, passports can be used to prove your identity and citizenship, especially when you need multiple forms of identification. That being said, i recently got one simply because it is convenient to use in situations where the passport book is not needed namely, everywhere besides nonneighboring national borders. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. May 10, 2010 those driving to canada or mexico, or on a cruise, only with a passport card, who encounter an emergency, cant use their passport card to fly back to the us.
The passport book and passport card are both proof of your. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. Adults will need to have their passport renewed every 10 years. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults. Difference between a passport book and passport card.
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. Applying regular or expediting the passport card is very simple if you follow the instructions below. That being said, i recently got one simply because it is convenient to use in. In such situations, a passport card comes in handy because it is the size of a credit card and fits nicely in a wallet. Yes, if you have a passport card, you can obtain a passport book at any time. Oct 05, 2018 if so, youve probably noticed the option for 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. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. 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. Can i renew my usa passport book and passport card separately. Feb 12, 2019 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. 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. An adult passport card looks similar to a drivers license, and is valid for ten years.