Passport book vs passport card do i need both

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. Both fees are collected and retained by law even if a passport is not issued. The only reason youd most likely need a passport is if you got missed he ship for whatever reason. That being said, i recently got one simply because it is convenient to use in. Photocopy of your drivers license or other stateissued id front and back. Below is a comparison of the features of the california real idcompliant drivers license, real id identification card, u.

First you will need to gather the required documents for a passport card. Jun 20, 2019 passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. 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. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. Youll need to submit both documents when you do your next renewal. 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. 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. As like the passport book, the card also must be renewed after validation gets completed. The passport book vs card question is one you may have if you are a firsttime international traveler. If you have a us passport book, there really is no need to get the passport card. Difference between passport book and passport card compare.

The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. 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. The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. Mar 18, 2020 the passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, and the caribbean.

Although not required on closed loop sailings, which call at foreign ports but sail roundtrip from the u. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. Passport card vacation season is right around the corner, and as such, you will most likely be renewing or obtaining your us passport. 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. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. Renewal cost of the passport book and passport card. Select both and you will pay additional fees for the passport book and passport card. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. If the passport card and passport book are applied for at different times, the applicant would need to.

Oct 05, 2018 if so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. Conveniently, both the passport book and the passport card have the same renewal period. 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. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time.

I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. If your cruise departs from florida but stops in jamaica before returning to florida, youll need your passport card. 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. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card.

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. Your old passport card will be marked cancelled by having one corner clipped off. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Since a passport book comes with multiple pages, the cost is more than a passport card.

What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their. 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. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of. However, if youre considering a passport book vs passport card, just get both.

Along with allowing for international travel, passports can be used to prove your identity and citizenship, especially when you need multiple forms of identification. You can also apply for both a passport card and book if you need both. Before we get into the details about bringing a passport vs. 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. If you miss your ship or have an emergency and need to fly home, the card will do you no good. What is the difference between a passport book and a. Furthermore, both passport cards and books are also suitable for short trips that need you to show an id as youll be crossing a sea or land border into a foreign country. The passport book is designed with heavy travel in mind. However, since passport cards arent valid for flying, again i dont see how theyre helpful in that region. 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. However, it is possible to damage a passport book so its best to carry a passport protector or wallet to keep it safe. Visa, mastercard, diners club international and american express cards are accepted. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us.

There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Check out the differences between the two types of passport using the. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults.

Were going to take this one step at a time to give you all the information you need to know about a passport vs. Generally speaking, when someone is thinking about a passport, chances are good that they are thinking about a passport book. Carry both the card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both. Expedited passport processing ranges from two weeks to as fast as 24 hours. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. If issued for the full validity, they are both proof of your u. 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. During my daytoday, i just carry around my passport card in my wallet like i would a drivers license back home, and it has never failed me as. You can now apply for a passport book and a passport card. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. Minor children will need to have their passports renewed every 5 years until they reach 16 years of age.

The passport card is smaller when compared to the size of passport book. The passport card will match the expiry date of your passport book, if you have less than 5 years validity remaining. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the state that you live in a third option is available to you. 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. Oct 07, 2017 whether you get the passport book card both are valid for 10 years. 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. 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.

Adults will need to have their passport renewed every 10 years. Consumers also have the option of obtaining both a passport card and a regular passport. Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport card book for no, loststolen, or submitted with application. I lost my passport card, and i would like to apply for a new one to make use of the expedited rfid lanes at the mexican border.

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. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. 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 is both less costly and less flexible. Many overseas countries need nothing more for entrance compared to a u. You must have the original copies of all required documents. Both of these documents give you the ability to travel outside of the country. Us passport book vs us passport card us visa connection. You cant make use of the passport card for global aviation, even once you reenter the u. The card is for people who frequently drive across the border but dont intend to fly.

Difference between a passport book and passport card. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. The length of validity is the same for both documents, five years. The passport card is only valid for entry into the united states at land border crossings or sea ports of entry. Whether you get the passport book card both are valid for 10 years. The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. This will be the first time i leave the country and fly in an airplane. The us passport book vs passport card debate has many of us. The fee to obtain a passport card and passport book also changes. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. Real id, so that you can stop worrying about airport formalities and start getting excited about your trip. Can i renew my usa passport book and passport card separately. 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.

Applying regular or expediting the passport card is very simple if you follow the instructions below. Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. Some visas may require a sticker that can take up one full page in your passport book. 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. Minors under age 16 will need to submit copies of both parents passports or drivers licenses.

Differences between a passport book and passport card. However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Real id to the airport with you, lets cover the basics first. However, a passport card is only a valid form of id for travel within the u. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. As passport books allows more activities as compare to passport card so they tend to cost more as well. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. The state department doesnt offer discounts to travelers who apply for both, though, so expect to pay full price for each document. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. If you lose your passport book you still have your passport card and vice versa. Difference between 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. 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.

Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados. You dont need to present a passport or the card when entering and exiting the ship. 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. One instance could be, if you want to travel to jamaica, youll need a passport book.

What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. 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. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. 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. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. However, each of these items comes with certain restrictions regarding when you can use them. Living abroad, i keep my passport book tucked away in a safe location for when i need to travel internationally. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. This is the busy time of year for us passport applicants wanting to prepare for summer traveling whether close to home destinations such as mexico or canada, or far away destinations such as. The passport book is a real passport, and allows you to fly internationally. Aug 18, 2016 one is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. See the chart below to decide which is best for you. What is the difference between a passport book and.

The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. The passport book is valid for all international travel. If you dont want to spend the money for the full passport i would save what. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. 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. What is the difference between passport book and card. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. 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. Nov 20, 2017 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.