The difference between the two is that one is a card and one is a book. The us passport card is less expensive to get then passport book, and is much smaller. The passport book is a thin cardboard cover with your picture and information inside it. It has several pages for visas and travel documents. Our fees listed on this page are for those applying for or renewing their passport in the united states and renewing by mail from canada. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book.
A us passport card can be used for ground border crossings between the us and canada and the us and mexico, and for some water entries. 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. It is smaller and more convenient to carry than a passport book, and it is less expensive to obtain. Youll need to include your most recent passport, form ds82, an updated passport photo, payment for the new book andor card, and any documentation to support a requested name change.
Getting your us passport as easily and quickly as possible. You can use the passport card when traveling in the european union, the european economic area which includes iceland, liechtenstein and norway and switzerland. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5. The passport card is about the size of any credit card, and fits easily into your wallet for frequent travel. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. 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 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. If you still got any questions about us passport book and card, you can always contact travel visa pro. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. 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. Difference between a passport book and passport card.
It was designed for people who travel frequently between the u. 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. Your passport book allows you to travel by land, by sea, or by air. Passport book is widely used for international travel while passport card is used for united states citizens who live in border territories in the us. If you make infrequent trips between the us and canada andor mexico by land and are not a frequent cruise passenger to the caribbean and you live in a state that provides a real id compliant drivers license yet you travel internationally by plane, it would make sense to get a passport book and not pay the extra money for a passport card. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course.
They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. The difference is that the card s use is limited to travel to or from only canada, mexico, bermuda and the. Passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. 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. The difference between passport and passport card us. The passport card is valid for up to 10 years if you are an adult, and allows you virtually unlimited travel to the caribbean, bermuda, mexico, and.
The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. A passport book provides valid identification for any national or international travel. 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. 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. You can use this credit card sized document to reenter the united states from mexico, canada, bermuda and the caribbean when traveling by land or sea. The adult and minor passport card fees are about the same.
Passport card the standard passport book covers all the bases. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport. Differences between a passport book and passport card. The united states government issues a few different types of passports to american citizens. The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. In contrast, a passport card is similar in purpose to a passport book but much more limited in scope. 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 card has one fee for us citizens when you apply for the first time, and another fee when you already have a passport. What is the difference between a passport and a passport. Passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel. You still need a valid drivers license to operate a motor vehicle.
Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. Well help you determine whether you want or need to pay extra for the passport card. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. For more information about passports and passport cards, visit the u. A regular passport book has a blue cover and is issued with the standard 28 pages or nonstandard 52 pages. To begin with, passport cards can not be used for air travel. What is the differences between passport book vs passport. Passport card is a walletsize travel document that can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda, and the caribbean whereas a passport book can be used for international travel to all destinations by air, land, or sea. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. There are, however, some key differences that need to be considered. As a passport industry veteran, a traveler, and a mom, im a great believer in the value of us passport cards for children. Passport card basically 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.
The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. Each type has a specific purpose and requires specific requirements be met in order to obtain it. A passport book is the official book style document that allows a us citizen to travel internationally by land, sea or air. I would like to save some money if i can but i travel to mexico, just would like to know difference. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. For more information about the california real id, visit the dmv website.
How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. 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. But the passport book that most americans are familiar with isnt the only kind of travel document available in the us theres also the passport card, which is made of plastic and is about the. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. Wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. To be considered as an adult you must be 16 or older, and to be considered a minor, you must be 15 or less. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. 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. Today, united states citizens need a passport to travel to neighboring countries such as mexico and canada. Normally, when a person obtains a passport, this is what he or she will receive.
A card sized id for children even if you have a valid passport book, the likelihood is that you dont carry it around all the time. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or drivers license. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. A standard passport book comes with 28 pages, but you can also request an extralarge 52page book. You must have the original copies of all required documents.
If you run out of pages before your book expires, you can request to add more pages or order a new book altogether. 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. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. A passport, passport card or california identification card is not a substitute for a drivers license. What is the difference between a passport card or book. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. This is perhaps unsurprising, seeing as how a passport card lacks the blank pages of the passport book because it is nothing more than the size of a standard id card. Did you know the term passport can actually refer to two different documents a passport book and a passport card. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo and identifying information. Learn more about how a passport card differs from a passport book. 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. One of the most important differences between the two is that passport book has been in use for longer time than the 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.
What is the difference between a passport book and. What is the difference between passport book and card. From passport cards to global entry, which trusted. Whats the difference between a passport book and a.
What is the difference between a passport card number and. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. From passport cards to global entry, which trustedtraveler program is right for you. Department of state, performs the same function of identifying the holder as a u. The difference between the numbers is two digits and the letter c. The walletsize passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. Passport cards are also only valid in mexico, bermuda, canada and the caribbean. Passport card cannot be used for international air travel. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your visas.
1466 586 917 1133 1010 525 342 1192 432 499 121 633 343 1443 1256 1382 827 1403 325 574 573 309 656 649 779 310 728 593 986 685 1278 687 434 62