The vast majority of foreign countries require nothing more than a us passport book to enter, although there are some that require visas. Jun 23, 2009 a real passport book can get you anywhere in the world, while the passport card is limited. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. Passport cards requested by mail are always shipped back. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. The passport card is smaller when compared to the size of passport book. A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land.
Obviously, its far more useful to have a passport book vs. I suggest you get the card since you are going on a cruise. Passport books can be accepted in any country unless theyve barred us citizens from entry, like north korea, and are valid for visa applications, while a passport card can only be used to enter countries by land or sea. At the size of a drivers license, it is very portable. Passport card if you are thinking about taking a vacation outside of the united states and need to renew or obtain your passport, it can take up to 6weeks, not counting any unforeseen delays, to get your passport. 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 are also applying for a renewal of your passport book and you opt for expedited service by mail, your passport book will arrive in 23 weeks, but your passport card may arrive in a separate envelope several weeks later. Aug 18, 2016 one is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. Furthermore, in terms of federal identification, if you wanted to visit a federal facility or military base but do not own a real id card, the facility will accept your passport or passport card as an alternative. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas. Passport book allows you to travel by land, sea and air. The fee to obtain a passport card and passport book also changes.
Passport card vacation season is right around the corner, and as such, you will most likely be renewing or obtaining your us passport. We hope this helped you to consider your options about a passport vs. A book allows you to travel anywhere else assuming you have all the other documents, visas etc. We fly from maryland to florida where we board our ship and sail to the bahamas. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us.
Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. Whats a passport card, and can it replace a real id. You can apply by mail using form ds82 if you have a passport book or card that. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. Depending on how you plan to visit canada, you may be able to use a passport book, passport card, or even a nexus card. Its issued by the federal government, which is the only entity that can determine citizenship. However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel.
Passport card cannot be used for international air travel. Mar 16, 20 the passport card is only good for land and sea travel to canada, mexico and approximately 17 islands in the caribbean. Dankers says a passport card is often a better way to go. Generally speaking, when someone is thinking about a passport, chances are good that they are thinking about a passport book. Passport card versus passport book a passport card will be cheaper than a regular passport for you to obtain. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more portable alternative to the passport book. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time.
The card, which requires a background check and indepth interviews with authorities from both the us and canada to obtain, gives you trusted. The traditional passport book is still required for most travel purposes. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry.
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. Nov 20, 2017 a passport card allows significantly fewer opportunities for the holder to travel, but often its enough for some. Deciding which is best for you boils down to where youre traveling, how. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air.
I applied to renew my passport this past summer, and i had the option of applying for a just a passport book, or b both a passport book and also a passport card, which can be used in certain intercountry travel situations cant remember what situations either, but doesnt really matter as it is irrelevant to my question. I recently read an article on facebook about a lady whose daughter booked her and four of her friends on a weeklong vacation to turks and caicos. Below is a comparison of the features of the california real idcompliant drivers license, real id identification card, u. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo and identifying information. Nvidia also offers a gsync module with its own hardware scaler. Since we all know how to acquire passport booklets, lets learn how to get hold of a passport card.
May 17, 2011 i want to get my 3 kids passports for our cruise in october. Unless you use the mobile passport app, youll have to. A name change document, like a marriage certificate, may also be required. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Also you can not use the passport card to fly into the us.
A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. 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. Also, an applicant will be able to use the same form, ds82 when they apply for a renewal of their passport book at the same time that they apply for the passport card if. If you are traveling by air or to most countries, you will need a traditional passport book, with pages for your various visas. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Proof of social security number ss card, a w2, or a pay stub with full ssn. 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. But plenty of travelers will find theyre better served by the more traditional passport book. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. I believe getting the passport card is the same price as getting a passport book renewal. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. It reiterated that it is always a travelers responsibility to know and possess proper travel documents. And, actually, the passport card will slow down your checkin time at the port a little bit, as they currently cannot be scanned into the computer like the passport books are.
If you have the book, you dont need the card unless youd like to have it as a walletsized id or you plan to travel frequently by car to canada and or mexicothe card gets you through quicker in those situations. 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. Oct 23, 2017 on the contrary, any applicant that is already in possession of a passport book and can use form ds82 will be able to apply for a passport card. However, if you get a passport card, it cannot be used for travel by air. By the end of 2016, more than 12 million passport cards had been issued to u. This new travel document can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. Passport card or book for my kids to go to the bahamas via cruise.
Jun 03, 2014 it is a credit card sized, laminated document that is less expensive than the passport book, and discounted further if the traveler also holds a valid passport book, but it is not necessary to have a passport book to get the passport card. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. State department started producing in july, will work well for. The united states passport card is an official identity and limited travel document issued by the. Residency document rental or lease agreement, mortgage or utility bill, etc. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. Consumers also have the option of obtaining both a passport card and a regular passport.
It is my understanding that it is better to have them in case of emergency. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. Additionally, for states that do not yet comply with the real id act of 200. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from 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 difference between passport and passport card us. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Difference between passport book and passport card. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. However, it generally offers better quality and consistency than monitors without the scaler generally, as there are some topnotch freesync monitors, and some garbage gsync ones.
Passport card versus passport book should i get a passport. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and is only valid in. What is the passport card good for and what is its limitations. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Oct 07, 2017 whether you get the passport book card both are valid for 10 years. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. Jun 02, 2018 if you got any questions about whether you need a passport book or card, please contact travel visa pro we are always ready to help you. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. If you got any questions about whether you need a passport book or card, please contact travel visa pro we are always ready to help you. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. What is the difference between a passport book and.
We are traveling with a 4 and 2yearold on a disney cruise. 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. While an enhanced drivers license does prove citizenship, the passport card is better because its more authoritative. Passport card vs passport book carnival cruise lines.
What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. You can apply for both the passport card and passport book at the same time using the same application. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to.
The passport card is a walletsize travel document that can only be used to reenter the united states at land bordercrossings or portsofentry by sea from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. Passport books are too fragile, and birth certificates lack photos or expiration dates. In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16. The passport card does serve a purpose as a secondary form of photo identification and proof of u. Feb 12, 2019 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.
Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. Most us passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. 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. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. 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. 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 passport book is only type of passport that is accepted for international air travel. The walletsize passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. The daughter booked everything through an online travel agency ota, which i will not name, but an ota is continue reading passport card vs. The application fee for a passport card is also lower than the passport book. Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. Passport card information must be entered manually by the cm at checkin. A passport book functions in all ways a passport card is used and there is no need to obtain a passport card if you already have a passport book. But if you have the money to spare or anticipate traveling more frequently and internationally, a passport book is always the best choice.
How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. That makes them better than regular passports, right. Ive heard, however, its better to apply for them separately because if you apply at the same time, both the book and the card will have the same number and if you lose one of them, the other becomes invalid when you report the loss. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. Difference between passport book and passport card compare. Better safe than sorry dont cruise with just a passport card as a result of dwaynes outreach, sellers received a final word from princess cruises. However, a passport card is only a valid form of id for travel within the u.
Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. The card provides a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or sea. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport a bookletstyle identification and travel document. Passport card vs passport book americas central america. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the u. This increases the cost for consumers and is not part of the openstandard. For canada crossings, nexus card no longer beats a us passport. Applications for a passport or passport card may be submitted at any of 9,300 passport application acceptance facilities, which typically include u. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book.
Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked visas that are meant for travel visas and country entry and exit stamps. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. American citizens can apply for a passport card at the same time they apply for a passport book. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. You may also wonder, if you can save a few pennies by obtaining the passport. Not so fastfor many travelers, passport cards have a fatal flaw in that they arent acceptable for air travel. You did not indicate where your cruise is going to so i would check the locations in which the passport card is good for as from what i read they are only good for 34 places.
Department of state expedite fee paid per application, in addition to. 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. So, passport cards are cheaper and more convenient. The passport card was really meant to be a cheaper form of identification for people who live near the border and drive across frequently, to make it easier for them to comply with the western hemisphere travel initiative that requires passports for border. So if someone gets sick on a cruise and only has the passport card, they cant fly them home.
You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. I want to get my 3 kids passports for our cruise in october. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. 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. This is a privately owned website and not a government agency.
The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their. Both forms are available for download on the state departments passport website. A regular passport book may cost a little bit more, but its valid for 10 years for all types of travel. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. Jan 06, 2009 the card provides a less expensive, smaller, and more convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. The form for renewing a passport or passport card is ds82.
Save yourself hassle with expedited passport services if you dont have the time or patience for applying for your u. You must have the original copies of all required documents. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. The nexus card used to be the bestkept secret of frequent travelers to canada. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. Cant see a reason youd need both other than another form of id that fits in your wallet. Passport cards are easier to carry than a passport book and they have some hidden benefits. Aug 15, 2016 the passport book only covers land border crossings or seaport entry. Getting a card only allows you to visit canada and mexico. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the state that you live in a third option is available to you. 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.
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