Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book.
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. Knowing whether you need a passport book or a passport card is relatively simple and can be explained in just a few simple steps. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. An adult passport card looks similar to a drivers license, and is valid for ten years. The state departments website offers complete details and an online application form. Do you need a passport card or passport book to travel by air. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. If you are traveling within north america and are not traveling by air, you can use the new us passport card, which is simpler and less expensive to apply for.
However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of. Passport requirements for travel to jamaica getaway usa. While both passport book and card are valid to cross into canada by train, united states citizens over the age of 16 also have several alternative options. The passport card is a walletsize card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the united states and canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. We want you to know about a few differences between the book and card so you can decide if you want to apply for one or both documents. If issued for the full validity, they are both proof of your u. For example, if you can submit a passport book, but you lost your passport card, you cannot renew the passport card.
Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the state that you live in a third option is available to you. Can i renew my usa passport book and passport card separately. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less. You wont be able to use a passport card for air travel to or from the island.
If you live in canada and need your passport for international travel within 4 weeks, you should make an appointment at a u. Do you need a passport card or passport book to travel by. Card is good from the us to canada, mexico, and the caribbean by land or sea, but not air travel. Yes, you can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. If you fly to jamaica, a passport book is the only acceptable form of identification, despite jamaicas membership of the western hemisphere travel initiative. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. If you want to renew both a valid passport book and passport card, you must submit both documents. In 2008, the united states government introduced a passport card, which can be used to travel to some countries. 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. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book.
Well help you determine whether you want or need to. These rules do not apply to cruises roundtrip from san juan, puerto rico, as the island is a u. If you want to renew either a valid book or a card, you must submit the specific document you want to renew. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. The passport book comes in both a standard, 24page version and a bigger, 52page version for those who travel frequently. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. You never know when you might need to get off the ship because of an injury or. 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. Since john will be driving between buffalo, new york and toronto, canada at least once each quarter, he can use the passport card, but if he drives one way from buffalo to toronto and flies home, hell need a passport book for the flight. 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 to other.
Since you are going to japan, you need to apply for a passport book, thus not necessary to get a card too. A us passport card is used as a federal id and is only good for travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport book is valid for all international travel. Will i have to apply for the book as a first time applicant. I have a passport card, but also need a passport book for overseas. There are no passport control stations at state lines. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison.
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. The book covers all the international requirements you need and there are no travel restrictions. In fact, on the ds11 application to renew or get a passport, at the top you can select whether you are applying for a passport book with pages for foreign visa entryexit stamps, visas, etc. Presumably its not good for international air travel as there is no way to stamp it, like the passport book. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados.
You cannot use the passport card for international air travel, nor can you use it for travel to other international destinations. A passport card cannot be used for air travel, only for sea travel. I have a passport card, but also need a passport book for overseas travel. If you still got any questions about whether you need a passport book or card, please contact travel visa pro. Jan 23, 2019 in 2008, the united states government introduced a passport card, which can be used to travel to some countries. Your passport does not have to be expired for you to renew it. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Feb 14, 2020 although cruise passport requirements vary depending on where youll be sailing, you will usually need either a passport card or a passport book. In addition to being mandatory for air travel, it can offer peace of mind for emergencies. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. Do you need a passport to travel within the united states. 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.
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. This has, unsurprisingly, caused a lot of confusion for individuals who are getting ready 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. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to indicate. You do not need a valid passport book in order to apply for a passport id card, and you can apply for either the card only, or you can apply for a passport book and a passport card at the same time. Although cruise passport requirements vary depending on where youll be sailing, you will usually need either a passport card or a passport book. No one expects an emergency, and whether you plan or not plan to travel by air, you will require a us passport book.
What is the difference between a passport book and. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. It is primarily used for travel to mexico, canada, the caribbean and bermuda since 911 and also for cruises, or to use as a form of proof of identity. If you want to travel outside of the us, you will need either a valid us passport or a us passport card. Passport cardbasically a limiteduse passport enhanced drivers licenseacts both as a driver license and a travel document, but also with limits. So, yes, you could use a passport card to travel between the usvi and bvi by sea but a passport card cannot be used as a document to establish your citizenship if youre asked to provide that upon your departure from the usvi to the mainland.
A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. Oct 07, 2017 whether you get the passport book card 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. Is a us passport card good or valid id while in europe. If you already hold a passport book, your card will be issued with a different number. Why would i bother with a passport card when a traditional passport covers both landsea travel and air travel. Jun 02, 2018 whether you need a passport book or card for your travels, come on down to the nearest travel visa pro to discuss your options. Long story short, you will be needing a passport to enter bermuda. Do i need to apply for a new visa to another country if my us passport. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.
Passport card uses a different passport number, and a rfid chip with your biometric data, but cannot by itself be used to fly intoout of the usa. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. 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. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. First, can you have both a passport and a passport card at the same time. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. You can definitely get both, but if you already have the passport book, theres no need to obtain the card.
Plus only traditional passports can be marked with cool stamps from around the world. Passport books are the ultimate travel document for visiting any foreign countries, american citizens can use this to travel everywhere outside of the us. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. However if you do a lot of traveling, which would include traveling to the countries that the card is valid for and also using the passport book to travel to countries which the card is not valid for, it may just be easier to keep the card in your wallet and not have to worry about the book when you are traveling to the countries that are covered by it. Well help you determine whether you want or need to pay extra for the passport card.
Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. If you do have the book and travel frequently between through the boarders of canada and mexico or on ships to bermuda, mexico, and the. I need to purchase my passport, but i dont know if i need just the book, or just the card, or both.
Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. If you have a passport card, you can also use it to drive across the canadian border and to. If youre traveling by airplane, youll need to use a passport book no matter what. This card is not valid as a passport when traveling by air, but you can use the passport card for identification purposes. If you have a passport book and you are eligible to use form ds82, you may apply for a passport card as a renewal by mail even if it is your first passport card. Both of these passport types serve as proof of citizenship and identity, but if youre traveling by air, you will need to carry a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. To get a passport more quickly, you need to make an appointment at a.
Not only do they seem different, they serve different functions. How to know if you need a passport book or passport card. Carry both the passport card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. Yes, you can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the.
Both are good for 10 years 16yo and up, 5 years if under. If you have any intention of traveling internationally, say to europe, youll need a passport book. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. 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. Its important to understand that there are two different types of passports. 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. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. Whether you need a passport book or card for your travels, come on down to the nearest travel visa pro to discuss your options. The passport book is the traditional multipage document that border agents stamp as you travel through. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. Can i apply for a passport card and passport book using the same. How to get a passport card when renewing your passport. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. Whether you get the passport bookcard both are valid for 10 years.
Otherwise you will need to use form ds11 to apply for a passport card. Limited to travel between the us, and mexico, canada, the caribbean, and bermuda. If you plan to travel by air or wish to visit a country other than canada, mexico, bermuda or one of the other caribbean island nations, you should apply for a passport book instead. The passport publication has lots of pages for arrivaldeparture stamps and visas, while the passport card is a id card. What is a passport card, and what should you know when youre. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both.
So how does it look when we do the passport card versus passport book overview. Both passport books and cards are valid for 10 years. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried. So, yes, you could use a passport card to travel between the usvi and bvi by sea but a passport card cannot be used as a document to establish your citizenship if youre asked to provide that. If you think having both will serve your purpose, then go ahead and get them.
Though you may be asked for a passport as proof of identity if youre not a u. The passport card is only valid for entry into the united states at land border crossings or sea ports of entry. This will be the first time i leave the country and fly in an airplane. Both passport cards and books are also acceptable on shore excursions. You can renew a passport book, a passport card, or both documents. The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. In this post, you will get the benefits of having both documents. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Oct 17, 2009 the passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship.