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. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. Your old passport book and or card will be returned to you, but generally it will come in a separate mailing from your new passport. You can get a us passport card, whether or not you currently hold a passport book. 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.
However, keep in mind that the book is more expensive than the card. Include name change documents if applicable if the name you are currently using is different from the name on your most recent u. The passport book comes as either 28 or 52 pages and is valid for five years. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Its small, and seems right up my alley for the type of traveling i will be doing. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u. 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. If youre thinking of going on a cruise, the passport card might be nice when you need a from of identification to get on and off the ship. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. H ave you ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet.
The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. Regardless if you are traveling by air, land, or sea, you can use a passport. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time. Us passport book and passport card online application. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. A passport book is the official bookstyle document that allows a us citizen to travel internationally by land, sea or air. Due to this, each one possesses its own particular upsides and downsides, meaning that each one might be bettersuited to some people out there than the other. If you need to get a passport in three weeks or less, you will need an expedited process. Should i get a passport card and a standard passport.
The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. Passport cards for under 18s will be valid for the same period as the passport book. If you think having both will serve your purpose, then go ahead and get them. Otherwise, if youre certain that youll only be traveling by land or sea, then the card should suit your needs. Please contact npic if you do not receive the second or third mailing within 10 business days of the previous mailing.
If you have the passport card, you may want to get the book as well in case you need to make unexpected flights. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. But seeing as its a newish form of a passport, does it come with any hassles. The postal clerk told me i should get a 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.
If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. For children age 15 and under, the passport is valid for 5 years and for adults 16 and older it is valid for 10 years. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel.
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. Keep in mind that if you do have the card, you will need to complete a new application for the book. 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. Aside from the size, a passport book and a passport card difference is that the latter cannot be used when traveling abroad via air, the passport book is required. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. 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. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. However, under what circumstances is a passport book or card right for you. A passport book is an acceptable document for international travels. All the information an embassy needs is coded on the card, they just swipe it and a replacement is issued. Did you know the term passport can actually refer to two different documents a passport book and a passport card. Jun, 2019 how to get a us passport book first time.
In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. The book offers more flexibility for you if you plan on doing extensive international traveling. The us passport card is a credit cardsized identification document. However, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover. A passport book is a product of the federal government. However, the card is more economical because you can obtain it by paying a lower.
I am in a debate with myself whether to get a passport book or a passport card. Should you choose a passport book or a passport card. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a passport card vs passport book. Whether you get the passport bookcard both are valid for 10 years. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. The passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. May 17, 2011 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. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u.
Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. But, the passport card can only be used for international travel by land and sea. Guest writer christine gilbert says no, and shares 5 reasons not to get the new us passport card. 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. 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. 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. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. You have to go in person to present your application. You can use the passport card when traveling in the european union, the european economic area which includes iceland, liechtenstein and norway and switzerland. 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. Or should i just spend the extra cash and get the traditional book. Should i get a passport book, card, or both for a cruise. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel.
Passport cards are wallet sized while the passport book is larger and thicker. A passport book is the official bookstyle document that allows a us. Apr 06, 2016 its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. Mar 18, 2020 the passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece credit card sized id card. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. Department of state passport services process and issue a passport card at the same time it takes to process if you were to obtain a passport book. 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. May 10, 2010 the passport cards usefulness as an international travel identification document is so limited, its not adequate for most of its intended use. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv.
In this post, you will get the benefits of having both documents. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. Getting a passport isnt that difficult, but it can be a bit of a hassle as there are several steps to take. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands. Jun 09, 2019 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. Nov 07, 2016 however, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados.
To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel by air, sea or land. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. The passport book and the passport card have the same validity which is 10 years for children 15 years old or younger, the validity is only 5 years. 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. Yes, it is much easier to get a new passport book with a pasport card over copies. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. Since a passport book comes with multiple pages, the cost is more than a passport card.
A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at u. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. One question we see a lot online is what is a passport card. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book.
I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. 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. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. While us passport books can be accepted in any country with the proper visa unless theyve specifically barred americans from entry, a passport card can only be used to enter countries by land or sea. The passport book is the regular passport that youve seen before. The card cannot be used for international air travel. On the top of the ds82 application for passport renewal, you can select both. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Its easy to get a passport card for your child when you apply for their minor passport book. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. You only need a passport book if you travel by air.
How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. When your card is not an acceptable document for travel, you must use a passport book. Well clear that up in the article below, and give you a couple good reasons why you may want to have both at the same time. To start, you will need to know whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both. 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.
These federal identification passport cards and passport books are the only documents that permit u. As stated, the passport book and the passport card are not the same. Normally, when a person obtains a passport, this is what he or she will receive. 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. Applicants need to understand how to get a passport before they begin planning their international trips. On all vitalchek blogs, birth certificates, passport information, vital records. Differences between a passport book and passport card.
A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. A us passport allows you to travel anywhere in the world by plane, car, or boat. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. A passport book is a passport that will be accepted anywhere in the whole world and on any form of transportation that youll use. 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.
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