The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. 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 passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. A book allows you to travel anywhere else assuming you have all the other documents, visas etc. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. Practical travel safety and security issues told cant drive into canada with passport card on work visa we recently moved to canada as us citizens on work permits. The best travel credit cards in canada money we have. 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. Unlimited lounge access will appeal to frequent travellers while a card without foreign transaction fees will benefit everyone. Entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states.
To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. To apply for a passport, you must be a canadian citizen and 16 years of age and over. The purpose of the passport card is to offer a more convenient option than a regular passport book for us residents who frequently cross the border, typically by land to and from mexico and canada, but also for people who cruise to the bahamas and the. S citizens visiting canada need a passport book or will a. The card cant be used for international air travel. What is a passport card, and what should you know when youre considering a.
Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book and card. If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. 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. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa.
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 parts of the world. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Can i renew my usa passport book and passport card separately. Jan 25, 2019 the form you should use to apply for a passport card depends on whether you have had a passport before. Passport cards are applied for and issued in your home country. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. The card cannot be used for international air travel. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico. Does a passport card work to go to canada by train.
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. Acquire a first time canada passport card with cibtvisas. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. To enter the united states at land border crossings or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda, you can use a passport book or a passport card. Passport card may 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. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Differences between a passport book and passport card. 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. To apply for a passport, please consult the american citizen services section at the embassy or consulate nearest you. It is primarily used for travel to mexico, canada, the caribbean and bermuda since 911 and also for cruises, or to use as a form of proof of identity. However, keep in mind that the book is more expensive than the card. You can use form ds82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card. To avoid delays, make sure your references are available and not travelling outside of canada.
So, if you are a frequent flyer or will travel internationally, a passport book is the best choice. 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. You can use references who have known you for at least two years if youre applying for a passport. It is intended to be used in place of the standard u. If you already have a passport book or passport card, you can renew by mail using form ds82. May, 2019 in this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. Told cant drive into canada with passport card on work.
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. Passport card uses a different passport number, and a rfid chip with your biometric data, but cannot by itself be used to fly intoout of the usa. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. If you are not traveling in the next month or so, you can submit the application by mail or visit one of the passport offices or service canada receiving agent locations. You can apply for a us passport card by mail if you already have a us passport book and eligible to use form ds82. Comments for when should i apply for a passport renewal. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. 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. The passport card is a walletsize travel document that can only be used to.
Does my 16yo son need a passport book or a card to travel. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, and. The form you should use to apply for a passport card depends on whether you have had a passport before. Does my 16yo son need a passport book or a card to travel to canada. Getting a card only allows you to visit canada and mexico. Does canada have plans for a canadian passport card. They should also be in your time zone so we can contact them easily. A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land. You can use your passport card for travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.
Can i travel to canada using my canadian citizenship card and a passport issued from another country ex. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. However, if you go to canada, mexico, and the caribbean and would prefer a passport card, then you should apply for one. While both passport book and card are valid to cross into canada by train, united states citizens over the age of 16 also have several alternative options. Any additional benefits that come with the best travel credit cards in canada should be seriously considered. If you have had a passport in the past, it does not matter if it was a card or a book, it is still a passport. The us passport card is good for land and sea travel from mexico, canada, bermuda and the caribbean into the united states. Carry both the passport card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home.
The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at u. Cibtvisass first time passport card service provides a convenient and inexpensive way to meet entry requirements when you visit the countries of bermuda, canada, the caribbean, or mexico. Canada is our closest neighbor to the north, but u. If you make infrequent trips between the us and canada andor mexico by land and are not a frequent cruise passenger to the caribbean and you live in a state that provides a real id compliant drivers license yet you travel internationally by plane, it would make sense to get a passport book and not pay the extra money for a passport card. The passport card is a walletsize card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the united states and canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. 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 for a passport book instead. Do i need a passport book, passport card, or passport book. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u. A us passport card is used as a federal id and is only good for travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. Us passport book and passport card online application. Before you apply, answer a few questions or read the eligibility requirements to find out if youre eligible to apply for a new passport or to renew your actual passport. The passport card is intended as a more portable, less expensive alternative to the standard passport book, primarily for u. If youre not eligible to renew your passport, please go to our apply in person page to learn the steps for how to apply if you live in canada, you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail and avoid a trip to a u.
If you live in any other country, you must renew your passport at a u. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. If you choose to renew, be sure to request the 52 page passport book, especially if you travel frequently. Why cant i use the passport card to fly to canada, mexico, the. You cannot use the us passport card for air travel at all. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. A few weeks after moving, my parter was driving into canada osoyoos, bc with just her us passport card. I am going to the bahamas in june, and need a passport, when i went to apply online, they gave me all three options, with the same criteria for each option, and no explantion of the difference between them. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece credit card sized id card. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. If you already have a valid us passport book, then it is not required to also have a passport card to travel internationally.
If you need your childs passport in the next 20 days, you need to apply in person at one of the passport office locations. The passport cards are ideal for those walking or driving across the border frequently or visiting the caribbean and bermuda by boat. You can now apply for a passport book and a passport card. You cannot use the passport card for international air travel, nor can you use it for travel to other international destinations.
If you are applying for both the passport book and the passport card you must submit. Apply for a passport book if you plan on traveling abroad to countries that do not border the united states. Most airlines will not carry a passenger who only presents a passport from a country which normally. Cant see a reason youd need both other than another form of id that fits in your wallet.
It can also be affected by how long ago you had a valid passport. We already have nexus passes for frequent crossers i. How to get a passport card when renewing your passport. 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. The purpose of the passport card is to offer a more convenient option than a regular passport book for us residents who. Does my 16yo son need a passport book or a card to travel to. Passport card, a card format that allows land border crossings and sea portsofentry, for travel to canada, mexico, bermuda, and the caribbean, and is commonly used for cruise travel. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id 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.
1248 1424 269 795 1184 1048 988 1243 99 994 247 680 1480 198 956 1200 1373 44 592 1231 993 724 293 55 1291 1412 742 878 801 351 359 633 1136 466 1342