Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. Depending on your budget and travel plans, you can choose between a passport card or book. Passport book is valid for any kind of travel, while card is valid for sea and land travel only. Passport card for a reduced fee if you only plan to travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean nations. They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. Passport cards are also only valid in mexico, bermuda, canada and the caribbean. The united states passport card is an official identity and.
All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. My wife and i are planning a trip to mexico in the fall of 2014, and i am trying to figure this out. Passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel. Nov 20, 2017 a passport card allows significantly fewer opportunities for the holder to travel, but often its enough for some. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. People who scrimp on just the card rather than the book while going on a cruise, face problems if they get seriously ill. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard passport book has 28 pages. A passport book provides valid identification for any national or international travel. Difference between passport book and passport card can be a new subject to you if you are not a citizen of the united states of america.
A passport book is valid for all types of travel land. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of americans. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the adult passport, but renewing them every 5 yea. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. The passport book is the most common passport to carry. 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. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. Jan 11, 2019 the passport card is also commonly used for travelers that wish to take a cruise but do not plan on ever traveling by plane. Can be used for travel to canada, mexico, and the caribbean by land or sea.
There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Your passport book allows you to travel by land, by sea, or by air. Start today by applying for or renewing your passport. Passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. Learn more about how a passport card differs from a passport book. Validity of a passport book is 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors under age 16 the size of a passport book is approximately 5 x 3. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Passport is a document providing national identity and identification of an individual. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card.
It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. Although, keep in mind, while both can be used as forms of id. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card.
What are the differences between a passport book vs. The major difference between a passport book and a passport card lies in the scope they offer for international travels. The passport card is commonly requested by travelers that are planning to go on a cruise. As the name suggests, an enhanced drivers license edl is a driver license with a few extra perks. For example, an edl resembles a passport card in that it. What is the difference between passport book vs card. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. In part, this is because the passport card is the size of a standard id card, meaning that it. 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. Aug 10, 2012 passport cards and passport books are no exception. The size of card makes it easy to fix in wallet, while passport book cannot be kept in wallet.
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. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. 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. The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. To enter the united states at land border crossings or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card. 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. However, each of these items comes with certain restrictions regarding when you can use them.
A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and is only valid in canada, mexico, bermuda, and the caribbean. H ave you ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet. The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport. See the chart below to decide which is best for you. Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time.
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. The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. To protect yourself against emergency situations, go with a passport book, which covers all international travel by air, sea or land. First of all, a passport card can be used for travel by sea to barbados. Difference between passport book and passport card.
You only need a passport book if you travel by air. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. 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. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air. Differences between a passport book and 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. The purpose of the passport book is to allow entry and exit to any country in the world. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. United states citizens can get either a passport book or a passport card for their travels abroad. What is the difference between a passport book and. See below the differences between a passport book vs. To begin with, passport cards can not be used for air travel. The passport book vs card question is one you may have if you are a firsttime international traveler.
However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. A passport book can also be used as your id for domestic air travel. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. 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. 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. A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is. A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. So, given the differences between a passport book vs passport card, which one is right for you. I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16. Wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card.
The passport book has lots of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or driver s license. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. However, if youre considering a passport book vs passport card, just get both. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. 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. The passport card is not good for any international air travel, and can only be used for ground or sea entry from canada, mexico, and select caribbean countries. Jun 20, 2019 passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. The following chart will give you a quick overview of the passport card versus the passport book. 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. You can now apply for a passport book and a passport card.
The 4 kids need their passports renewed before our fall cruise. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands. 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. 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 are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. The passport book is your typical passport, a bound, paged booklet that is issued by the us department of state verifying your identity and nationality, usually for the purpose of traveling internationally all international air travel for us passport holders, regardless of origin or destination airport, must be accompanied by a valid us passport book. If you need to travel internationally, you must have a passport book. As with a passport book, a nonexpired passport card can serve as your proof of identity and citizenship. While the passport card is permissible for a cruise. Second, a good argument can be made that the passport card is more useful than the passport book for the limited circumstances in which it can be used. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport.
Infact for traveling abroad, one needs a passport for sure. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. If you still got any questions about us passport book and card, you can always contact travel visa pro. Can be used for international travel via land, sea, or air. Passport book for reentry into the united states from any country. 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. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is that passport cards are only valid to enter canada, mexico, bermuda, and. State department issues two versions of a passport.
Both of these documents give you the ability to travel outside of the country. Entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from. A passport book is good for all international and air travel. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. In general, everyone must have a passport book or a regular passport to travel from one country to another.
Difference between a passport book and passport card. What is the differences between passport book vs passport card. Even closed loop cruises often require passengers to have a valid passport. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel.
You can travel anywhere in the world with a passport book versus a passport card that only takes you to a handful of places. In part, this is because the passport card is the size of a standard id card, meaning that it can be carried with the same convenience as any other. The passport publication has lots of pages for arrivaldeparture stamps and visas, while the passport card is a id card. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Many people do not know but power of passports vary from one country to another. 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. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. It comes with many blank pages to be stamped at customs. Depending on where you are traveling outside of the u. Difference between passport book and passport card compare. A nonexpired passport book can be used as valid proof of identity and citizenship.
Passport card vs passport book americas central america. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. 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. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry. 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. You can get a us passport card, whether or not you currently hold a passport book. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land. 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. Many foreign countries require nothing more for entry than a u. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. Oct 07, 2017 wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card.
Passport card vs passport book carnival cruise lines. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. Passport book has a long history while card is a new travelling document. 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. The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. 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.
The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. There are, however, some key differences that need to be considered. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your visas. What is the differences between passport book vs passport. If issued for the full validity, they are both proof of your u. In contrast, a passport card is similar in purpose to a passport book but much more limited in scope. Nov 22, 2019 the cost between passport book vs passport card. Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5. 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 norwegian cruise line.
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