Answers to Your Questions About Passport Cards

People preparing to travel overseas frequently ask questions like, “Do I need a passport card if I have a passport book?”, “How do I get one?” and “Should I bring it when traveling overseas?”

Maybe you’re about to travel and are wondering the same thing. Learn about passports and passport cards and find the answers to all your questions in this article.

What is a passport card?

The passport card is an official national identity and limited travel document issued by the U.S. Department of State to U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals. It was created in 2007 as a less expensive and more portable alternative to northern and southern U.S. border communities with residents that cross the border frequently. The passport card is the size of a credit card and it contains your photo, full name, date and place of birth, nationality, card issue and expiration dates, and your unique passport card number. Over 7 million passport cards have been issued since they were first introduced.

What is a passport card used for?

The passport card can be used to enter the U.S. at land border crossings and seaports of entry. It is also accepted for entry by land or sea into Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and certain countries in the Caribbean:

Anguilla Antigua/Barbuda Aruba British Virgin Islands

Caribbean Netherlands Cayman Islands Dominca/Dominica Republic

Grenada Jamaica Montserrat St. Kitts/Nevis St. Lucia

St. Vincent/Grenadines The Bahamas Turks/Caicos Islands

Adults and children with U.S. passport cards can save time at the U.S.-Mexico border by using designated Ready Lanes that read the card’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. It can also be used as an identity card for domestic air travel, proof of U.S. citizenship and other purposes. But it cannot be used for international air travel. It can be useful for travelers who are too young to get a driver’s license or other state-issued identification card.

What are the differences between a passport card and a passport book?

There are four major differences between a passport card and a passport book: 1) border entry method, 2) travel destination, 3) format and size, and 4) price.

Border entry method – the passport book can be used for all entry methods (air, land or sea) and is the only document approved for international air travel. Passport cards are limited to travel through land and sea borders only.

Travel destination – there are no limitations for destinations where you can use a passport book. Passport cards can only be used to go through borders in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Carribean.

Format and size – the passport book is larger in size (3.5” x 5”) than a passport card and has multiple pages in it (usually 28 pages, but you can request a 52-page version). The first page of the passport book contains the same information as the passport card, plus your gender. The rest of the book contains blank pages for immigration stamps and visas. Since 2007, the passport book contains an electronic chip with the information on the first page, a biometric identifier of your photo, a chip ID, and a digital signature.

Price – Passport books are more expensive than passport cards. You can generally expect to pay $85 – $100 more for a passport book than you pay for a passport card.

Here is a snapshot comparison of the passport book and card:

	U.S. Passport Book	U.S. Passport Card
Image (not to scale)
Used For	International travel by air, sea, or land Real ID: Passport books and cards are alternatives to a state-issued ID.	Entering the United States at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from: Canada Mexico Caribbean countries Bermuda The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. Real ID: Passport books and cards are alternatives to a state-issued ID.
Validity	16 and older: 10 years Under 16: 5 years	Same as a passport book
Size	Fits in your pocket	Fits in your wallet
Cost	Please see Passport Fees for more information.	Please see Passport Fees for more information.
Shipping Options	If you’re applying for a book, you can select 1-2 day delivery for an additional amount.	If you’re only applying for a card, it will be sent to you via First Class Mail. You cannot select 1-2 day delivery.

One other difference between the card and the book is their ID numbers. Card numbers begin with the letter C followed by 8 numbers, and the book has 9 digits that are unique to each US citizen.

Do I need both a passport book and card? Should I bring the card along when traveling overseas?

The short answer is that in most situations, you do not need both a passport book and card. The passport book is usually required, but a card is often not needed for international travel. However, the passport card can serve as a safer and more convenient alternative to carrying your passport book with you when the book is not required by law.

We recommend bringing your passport card with you when traveling overseas. Why? Many countries require you to keep your passport book on your person at all times. Since a passport book is too large to fit in an average wallet, there is a greater risk of losing it, damaging it or having it stolen.

However, the card is laminated and is the size of a credit card, so it’s easier and safer to keep with you at all times. It is also more convincing than a photo or photocopy of your passport. Carrying a card allows you to keep your passport book safely locked away for the time when you’re ready to leave the country.

Although you don’t need both, it can be helpful to have both is you travel by air and land equally, or if you don’t have a Real ID that is needed for domestic air travel.

How long is it valid?

The card has the same validity period as the passport book – 10 years for age 16 and older, and 5 years for age 16 and under.

How much does it cost?

The card costs $30 for adults if you already have a passport book, and $65 for first time adult applicants.

How do I apply for or renew it?

If you already have a passport book or card, you can renew by mail using Form DS-82. Your current passport book or card must be:

Submitted with your DS-82 application
Undamaged (other than normal “wear and tear”)
Issued when you were age 16 or older
Issued within the last 15 years
Issued in your current name (or you can document your name change with an original or certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order)

You must Apply in Person for the card using Form DS-11 if you do not meet the requirements listed above.

If you only applied for the card, it will be sent to you via First Class Mail. 1-2 day delivery service is not available for the cards.

Only U.S. citizens can apply for a passport. Green card holders may not apply. In addition, you must have no criminal record to qualify for a passport.

Can I apply for the passport book and card using the same application?

Yes, you can apply for both a passport book and card at the same time using either Form DS-11 (apply in person) or Form DS-82 (renew by mail – must be eligible). 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.

If you have a passport book and you are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for the card as a renewal by mail even if it is your first card. If you’re renewing your passport book and card, you must submit both documents. If you can submit a passport book, but you lost your passport card, you cannot renew the passport card using Form DS-82.

Here are three websites containing additional information about applying for passport books and cards:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/card.html

https://usa.gov/passport

http://www.dmv.org/articles/how-to-apply-for-a-passport-card/

Could my passport application be denied?

Yes, your application for a passport card or book might be denied if one of the following applies to you:

You provided incorrect information
You are missing something from your documents
You changed your name and did not provide the correct documents
There is a mistake in your birth certificate
Your photo doesn’t follow the guidelines for a passport picture.
You owe child support
You owe taxes to the IRS
You are under a legal procedure

What if my passport book or card is lost or stolen?

You will need to replace the passport before being allowed back into the USA. Contact your local embassy or consulate immediately. You will also be directed to where you can obtain a photo for your replacement passport. Save time by getting a new photo taken and take it with you when you go in to meet with them. You must also complete a statement describing the circumstances under which your passport was lost or stolen.

If you’re at home and are told that a friend or family member overseas has lost their passport, contact the Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 immediately; they’ll connect you to the proper embassy and assist with the replacement passport application, even often waiving the fee if they were robbed.

More at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/lost-or-stolen-passports-abroad.html

If this article doesn’t answer all of your questions about passport cards, feel free to post a comment or send an email to [email protected] and we’ll answer it for you. And when thinking about travel preparedness, don’t forget a good travel insurance plan! We have a number of options to fit every traveler and budget – See our recommendations here.