The passport book allows the holder to travel worldwide with proper visa and documentation, while the passport card only allows the holder to travel to and fro neighboring countries such as canada, mexico, bahamas and the caribbean. All countries use red, black, blue or green for standard passports, although theres a lot of variation in shades. Ds11 only has options under have you ever had either a passport card book for no, loststolen, or submitted with application. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo and identifying information. A passport card is only valid for land and sea travel from countries that border the united states, as well as bermuda and the caribbean. The traditional passport book is still required for most travel purposes. The standard passport comes with 28 pages only 17 are for visas and the large passport comes with 52 pages i assume only 44 pages are for visas. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u.
Start today by applying for or renewing your passport. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or drivers license. Oct 16, 2017 the passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Passport or passport card number exactly as it appears on the document. Difference between passport and visa with comparison. 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. The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is that passport cards are only valid to enter canada, mexico, bermuda, and caribbean countries and territories see the full list. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u.
The passport card is a walletsize card and is meant to be used only when reentering the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at landborder crossings or sea portsofentry. Aug 18, 2016 today, united states citizens need a passport to travel to neighboring countries such as mexico and canada. There are, however, some key differences that need to be considered. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard passport book has 28 pages. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips. The passport card is not valid for international air travel. A us passport card can be used for ground border crossings between the us and canada and the us and mexico, and for some water entries between the us, canada, and some nearby sovereign islands. Passport card the standard passport book covers all the bases. The passport book and the passport card are two different unique documents with unique number.
T here are a variety of united states passport books that are issued to travelers for specific reasons. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. 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. In this article, well go over the differences between the u. Immigration compare the difference between similar terms. I called the passport agency at 8774872778 to confirm thistwice. If your cruise departs from florida but stops in jamaica before returning to florida, youll need your passport card. Normally, when a person obtains a passport, this is what he or she will receive. Apply for a passport card bureau of consular affairs us.
Can be used for international travel via land, sea, or air. The passport card is a walletsize card and is meant to be used only when reentering the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean. The current standard us passport has 28 pages, 18 of them blank. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard. You will not be able to travel to another country with just your new id card. If you are flying by plane, a cape, a giant eagle, or anything for that matter, you have to get the passport book. What is the difference between a passport card or book. The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. If you want a 52page passport book, be sure to check the appropriate box on form ds82.
There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry. If you plan on traveling by air or anywhere outside of canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean nations youll need the u. Getting a 52page passport international travel news. Whats the difference between passport book and passport card. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. What is the difference between a passport card number and. A passport is an official document that allows you to leave your country and go abroad.
But the passport book that most americans are familiar with isnt the only kind of travel document available in the us theres also the passport. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. A passport card can only be used to travel by land or sea. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. You only need a passport book if you travel by air. Whats the difference between a passport and a passport card. New passport card for usa jamaica forum tripadvisor. We want you to know about a few differences between the book. Will my passport card have the same number as my passport book. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped.
Are passport number and passport card number the same. Difference between passport book and passport card. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. The biggest difference between a passport card and a passport book is that a passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. Air travel tofrom these locations and all other international locations requires a full passport. The passport card contains the same information as a passport book, with a size similar to a laminated stateissued drivers license. 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. Mar 28, 2010 a passport card can be used for surface travel land or sea tofrom mexico, canada and the caribbean. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel. It can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, and many caribbean islands, but it is not valid for any international travel by air. Differences between passport book and passport card.
Passport cards are also only valid in mexico, bermuda, canada and the caribbean. 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. The passport card can also be used for domestic air travel. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16. 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.
What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. The passport card is about the size of any credit card, and fits easily into your wallet for frequent travel. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. The passport card is used to enter the united states u. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. The difference between the two is that one is a card and one is a book. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. Yes, you can use your passport card in order to apply for a passport book. 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. Oct 07, 2017 wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a 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. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. One of the most important differences between the two is that passport book has been in use for longer time than the passport card. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard passport book. The card is only valid for overland travel between the us and canada and mexico. Feb 21, 2008 the passport book is the same as the original passport you need it when youre going to travel by airplane.
They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. Frequent travelers between the united states and canada can apply for different documents that allow them to cross from one country to the other without a passport book. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. In fact, these are the only two options for getting a passport in any case. An adult applying for a us passport renewal or firsttime passport can receive a card valid for ten years. Passport card difference between passport book and passport card u. The main difference between passport and visa is that while the passport is a document that is used to identify a person when heshe is travelling to another country, whereas visa is an official permission granted by the countrys representative to enter and reside the country. No, your book and card will have two completely different numbers. To begin with, passport cards can not be used for air travel. I recently found out that the us passport comes in two sizes. The difference between a passport book and passport card. I lost my passport card, and i would like to apply for a new one to make use of the expedited rfid lanes at the mexican border.
The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to barbados. Today, united states citizens need a passport to travel to neighboring countries such as mexico and canada. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences.
Differences between a passport book and passport card. The difference between the numbers is two digits and the letter c. 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. So it is a convenient alternative for, say, people who frequently take the cartrainbus into canada.
Us should i get the standard or large passport book. Passport card is not a globally recognized travel document like the traditional u. You cannot use the passport card for international air travel, even when you reenter the u. However, people find a passport card more convenient and accessible when carrying. As with a passport book, a nonexpired passport card can serve as your proof of identity and citizenship. Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place.
Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. The cardformat passport is for international travel by u. The color of the cover is one of the most obvious differences between passports. 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. The us passport card is less expensive to get then passport book, and is much smaller.
Note that renewing your passport will cause any travel visas you have to be nullified, so plan your trips. 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. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Aug 10, 2012 a passport book is bigger than a passport card. If you are traveling by air or to most countries, you will need a traditional passport book, with pages for your various visas.
What is the differences between passport book vs passport card. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. 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. What is the difference between a passport book and. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. This means that if you were to fly domestically and do not have a new id, you can use your passport as a type of identification.
Passport card is a walletsize card that can be used only for land and sea travel between the united states and canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. The passport card is a cheaper alternative to 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. The standard passport is 28 pages, and the nonstandard book is 52 pages. The passport book is the same as the original passport you need it when youre going to travel by airplane. Passport book and passport card are two terms that are often used these days by many citizens of the united states who are. A passport card can access the us database that has everything that a full passport has as far as information on the traveler. You can also use it as your id for domestic air travel. The walletsize passport card is convenient and less expensive than the passport book. The difference between passport and passport card us. Adults who already have a fully valid passport book may apply for the card as a passport renewal.
Additionally, passports are required to fly internationally. What is the differences between passport book vs passport. 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. Passport card was designed for the specific needs of the traveler between the northern and southern borders of the united states. Our guide to us passport books will teach you about the different types of passport books so you will understand which one you need and why. Nov 20, 2017 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 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. Wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. Difference between a passport book and passport card. Effective march 24, 2020, the issuance of passport books and cards has been suspended until further notice. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. Passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. What is the difference between a passport card number and a. One instance could be, if you want to travel to jamaica, youll need a passport book.
When you apply for a passport card, youll spend less money than you would when. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land. 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. Types of us passport books get your passport book today. A passport book is the official book style document that allows a us citizen to travel internationally by land, sea or air. 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. Regardless, the passport card that is issued in the united states still has select uses under select circumstances. Difference between passport book and passport card compare.
I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so i can travel to barbados. I currently have a passport card that was issued in june 2009. If you still got any questions about us passport book and card, you can always contact travel visa pro. 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.
See below the differences between a passport book vs. 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. In this case, you would apply for a passport renewal by mail. 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. Differences between passport book and passport card tweet key difference.