Should i get both passport book and card

A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, but cant be used for air travel and. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. You should always wear identification, so i would suggest bringing your passport its a must and carry you card in your pocket. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. How to get a passport card when renewing your passport. Carry both the passport card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home. If so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card.

Cant think of any reason that it would matter which way i went, so just want to get opinions. Differences between a passport book and passport card. You can use your passport card for travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean. Should americans have both a passport book and a passport card. Now, in terms of a passport book vs passport card, if you happen to be applying for a passport, you will need to consider which to get. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the state that you live in a third option is available to you. Once i get it back im going to apply for a passport card. Passport book vs passport card for kids the dis disney. You can imagine my surprise when i found myself putting an x in the checkbox on my u. Get a passport card with your passport renewal g3passports. Nov 04, 2014 did you know the term passport can actually refer to two different documents a passport book and a passport card. So is it really a competition between a passport book and a passport card.

As passport books allows more activities as compare to passport card so they tend to cost more as well. 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. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. The difference between passport and passport card us. Both countries would have to agree accept id cards from the other countrys citizens in lieu of passports. However, keep in mind that the book is more expensive than the card. The passport card is about the size of any credit card, and fits easily into your wallet for frequent travel. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. 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. Applying for passport book and card us immigration.

One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport. 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. 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. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. A passport book is what most people think of when you say a passport. If you already only have the passport book, you can get the passport card as well when you apply for your next passport renewal. Someone needing to take a flight to dubai, or hop a freighter to asia for work may consider applying for both a passport book and card at the same time and only take the one they need, leaving the other behind as a backup for their loved ones to forward in an emergency. When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. The passport card is valid for up to 10 years if you are an adult, and allows you virtually unlimited travel to the caribbean, bermuda, mexico, and.

Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. While a passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a name change. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card. All the information an embassy needs is coded on the card, they just swipe it and a replacement is issued. Aug 01, 2011 yes, it is much easier to get a new passport book with a pasport card over copies.

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. The primary justification i had for doing so was tha. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both. Conveniently, both the passport book and the passport card have the same renewal period. May 10, 2010 while traveling domestically, if my state drivers license is lost or stolen, i wont be able to get a new one until i return home.

Passport books are valid for all international travel, no matter what the mode of transit is. Of course, in theory its only officially valid for international land or sea travel between the united states, canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. You may have heard about the passport card that the united states department of state now issues. A passport book is the official bookstyle document that allows a us citizen to travel internationally by land, sea or air. Typically, youll get your passport book first in a. What is the difference between a passport book and. A passport card is an acceptable id for flying domestically, according to tsa. Can i renew my usa passport book and passport card separately. Your old passport card will be marked cancelled by having one corner clipped off. Its not tied to the validity of your passport book. Sometimes it makes life more convenient to have both a passport book and a card, and carry them both on your international travel. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one.

To enter canada, your passport book or card must be valid at the time of entry. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the u. If i apply for a passport card now, how long will it be valid. Minor children will need to have their passports renewed every 5 years until. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. Some countries require you to carry your passport with you at all times. 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. Whether you get the passport bookcard both are valid for 10 years.

For those of you who are about to get a us passport renewed or getting one for the first time, there is something called a passport card its biometric and usually only good between rail, boat and car in canadamexicobermuda etc but it is proof that you do own a us passport. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. The passport card is basically an individual credit cardsized id 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. Youll need to submit both documents when you do your next renewal. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. 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. If you lose your passport book you still have your passport card and vice versa. If you ever want to fly to another country or even do a cruise outside of the countries where the cards are valid, get the book. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag.

Can i renew my passport book to get a passport card and a. Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5. Department of state passport services recently began issuing the passport card as an alternative to the traditional passport book. The passport card should be a safe bet for them, but for other travelers, including cruisers, its foolhardy to do.

The state department always ships back passport books and passport cards in separate envelopes. I will be traveling this february to mexico cruise and would prefer to renew my passport just in case of an emergency. Your new passport card will be valid for 10 years from the date that it is issued. Adults will need to have their passport renewed every 10 years. Carry both the card and the passport book in case of an emergency and you need to fly home.

Jun, 2019 how to get a us passport book first time. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. In such situations, a passport card comes in handy because it is the size of a credit card and fits nicely in a wallet. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and. I just got my new passport book in the mail, but my passport card wasnt in the envelope. The passport book is much larger and it contains a series of pages for arrival and departure stamps, along with visas and so on. To start, you will need to know whether you want a passport book, passport card, or both. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. You have to go in person to present your application. Any frequent traveler knows how pricey foreign travel can get. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. Passport the application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time.

Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. Should you choose a passport book or a passport card. Once you know the differences between these documents, you can decide between requesting a passport card vs passport book. I applied for both a passport book and a passport card. Should i get a passport book, card, or both for a cruise. 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. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. That price difference can be significant for trips across the different borders. 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. You should have them both and protect them in your safety deposit box or a secure area in your home and when youre ready to travel internationally or domestically, dont leave home without them. 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. With paper copies, they need to spend some time verifying the information, all the while replacement passport books based on pasposrt card are being processed. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air.

The us passport card is less expensive to get then passport book, and is much smaller. Oct 05, 2018 if so, youve probably noticed the option for a passport card. While youre not absolutely required to have a government issued photo id to fly domestically, having one will surely make it. Jul 29, 2019 a passport book is what most people think of when you say a passport.

As stated, the passport book and the passport card are not the same. I have two children who will be needing passports as well and would like to get them passport cards. If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time. Normally, when a person obtains a passport, this is what he or she will receive. If not you should carry your passport book around, but that would be very stressful. The card is much cheaper, the full fees are below, but both documents are good for 10 years once youre over 16 years old and if you can. Its a small booklet with a semirigid dark blue cover and it allows for reentry anywhere. 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. 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. In a short period of time, passport services received over 350,000 applications for the passport card. Oct 07, 2017 whether you get the passport book card both are valid for 10 years.

The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. The passport book is the regular passport that youve seen before. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults, and five years for travelers under age 16. I recently got my very first united states passport, and i got a passport card at the same time. Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. 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. Jun 16, 2016 my passport book was issued two years ago and has eight years validity remaining. I like to leave the passport book at home where i know ill find it if and when i need to fly overseas. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not required that you obtain both.

If you are applying for a passport, youll need to consider whether to get a passport book or a passport card. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. If you have a passport book and you are eligible to use form ds82, you may apply for a passport card as a renewal by mail even if it is your first passport card. The passport book comes in both a standard, 24page version and a bigger, 52page version for those who travel frequently. Getting a passport isnt that difficult, but it can be a bit of a hassle as there are several steps to take. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u. Should i get a passport card and a standard passport. You cannot use the passport card for international air travel, nor can you use it for travel to other international destinations. Since i live near the canadian border, i see a good point in applying for both passport book and passport card. Difference between passport book and passport card. The department of state charges extra for a passport card, and you still must have a passport book if you are going to fly to an international destination, so you might think that you dont need the passport card. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. 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.