Should i get a passport card and book

It can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, and many caribbean islands, but it is not valid for any international travel by air. Once i get it back im going to apply for a passport card. A passport card can provide a more convenient, cheaper alternative to carrying your passport book. However, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a. Passport cards, and which type of passport do you need for your trip. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. 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. All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. 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. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.

If youve never had a us passport before, this article outlines how you go about getting a passport book not passport card for the first time if youre living in the us and are an adult. Should i get a passport card and a standard passport. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. Cant think of any reason that it would matter which way i went, so just want to get opinions. 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. Please contact npic if you do not receive a second mailing within 10 business days of receiving the first. You cannot use a passport card on cruises from international homeports.

A passport card serves as official identification and proof of your us citizenship. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. Otherwise, if youre certain that youll only be traveling by land or sea, then the card should suit your needs. Passport card frequently asked questions with answers. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not. I know its really only useful if you travel by landsea to mexico or canada i dont plan on going anytime soon. Passport book is widely used for international travel while passport card is used for united states citizens who. The passport book is the regular passport that youve seen before. On the top of the ds82 application for passport renewal, you can select both.

Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. We fly from maryland to florida where we board our ship and sail to the bahamas. The department of state charges extra for a passport card, and you still must have a passport book if you are going to fly to an international destination, so you might think that you dont need the passport card. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. Do you need a passport card and book to go from the us to canada.

If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. Passport card versus passport book a passport card will be cheaper than a regular passport for you to obtain. 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. Passport cards for under 18s will be valid for the same period as the passport book. You may receive your newlyissued passport card and your citizenship documents in two separate mailings. Passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. You can use your passport card for travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. Last time i was at the post office using my passport book as a id to get a package. Read on to learn how you can apply for your passport card and lighten your load for your next journey. 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.

A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. We are traveling with a 4 and 2yearold on a disney cruise. Its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. Difference between passport book and passport card. 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. If you have the passport card, you may want to get the book as well in case you need to make unexpected flights. Will my passport card have the same number as my passport book. Did you know the term passport can actually refer to two different documents a passport book and a passport card. If you have a us passport book, there really is no need to get the passport card. To start, you will need to know whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport.

All the information an embassy needs is coded on the card, they just swipe it and a replacement is issued. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u. I dont know if i need just the card or the book, or both. You can now apply for a passport book and a passport card. Below, weve summarized the differences between a passport card and the standard passport book. 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 best way to cover all bases is to get both a passport card and standard passport, which you can easily do the next time you renew your passport. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. But, when you refer to a passport for international travel, there is an option besides the booklet. If youre planning a trip to any other destination, then you would need a u. I would get the passport book or nothing the birth certificate and the passport card seem equal in value to me you cant fly home with either, and that would be the point of getting the passport book if there is an emergency and you are in a foreign country, you cannot get on an airplane without a passport book, period, so it seems like a.

Yes, it is much easier to get a new passport book with a pasport card over copies. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. Just beware that not all caribbean locations will accept this as a valid id per wikipedia. Should i get a passport book, card, or both for a cruise. Find a passport application acceptance facility card. Can you upgrade from a passport card to a passport book. 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. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. Keep in mind that if you do have the card, you will need to complete a new application for the book. Do you need a passport card and book to go from the us to. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha.

Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. You have to go in person to present your application. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. Passport cards are a card sized version of a us passport. But given the card s restrictions, does it even make sense for a u. If youre applying for a passport card for the first time, youll want to find a passport. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport.

Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. A passport book is the official book style document that allows a us. Below is a handy list of pros and cons to help you decide. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Most travelers are familiar with acquiring and using a passport book, as its required for international air travel. A passport card is also available for certain travel situations. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. The passport card s usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got. Whether you get the passport book card both are valid for 10 years.

If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time. Yes, if you have a passport card, you can obtain a passport book. You cannot use the passport card for international air travel, nor can you use it for travel to other international destinations. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece credit card sized id card. The passport book is what is needed for all other international travel, including all travel by air. 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. To date, more than 17 million passport cards have been issued, according to the state department, representing about 10 percent of all passport holders. However, the card is more economical because you can obtain it by paying a lower. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u.

I am going to canada in the spring and i need a passport. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their. Other then that i like to ask if i have to send my passport book along with the application to get the passport card, photo, check. Getting a passport isnt that difficult, but it can be a bit of a hassle as there are several steps to take. You can apply by mail using form ds82 if you have a passport book or card that. Should i get a us passport card along with my passport. Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a passport card vs passport book.

We only send the passport card via first class mail. We can send your passport book via a 12 day delivery service. On all vitalchek blogs, birth certificates, passport information, vital records. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. 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 card like id. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card.

The book offers more flexibility for you if you plan on doing extensive international traveling. To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel by air, sea or land. Which one you must get completely depends on how you are going to travel and how much you. This is a privately owned website and not a government agency. Basically, i would say passport card is simply designed for those people who plan to cross the land border or enter a sea port, for example, there are many americans who only travelled to canada in their whole life. What is a passport card, and what should you know when youre considering a passport book vs. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via cruise. These rules do not apply to cruises roundtrip from san juan, puerto rico, as the island. You can only get a passport card with a passport book as part of a bundle which is an option you can select when renewing your childs passport online.