What’s the Difference Between a Passport Book and Card?

If you’re planning to travel internationally, you’ll need a passport. But what’s the difference between a passport book and a passport card?

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What is a passport book?

A passport book is the traditional type of passport. It’s a small booklet that contains your personal information and photo, as well as room for visa stamps. Passport books are required for international air travel.

Passport cards are newer and not as widely accepted as passport books. They look like credit cards and contain your personal information and photo, but they don’t have room for visa stamps. Passport cards can be used for land and sea travel between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

What is a passport card?

A passport card is a credit card-sized document that you can use in lieu of a passport book when traveling to certain destinations by land or sea. It’s valid for travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

How are passport books and cards different?

The passport book is the traditional form of a passport, and is required for international travel by air. The passport card is a newer document that was introduced in 2008. It is the size of a credit card, and can be used for land and sea border crossings between the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Which one should I get?

There are two types of U.S. passports: passport books and passport cards. Both are official U.S. travel documents, but they serve different purposes.

Passport books are required for international air travel. They have 48 pages (24 pages that can be used for visas) and can be used to enter any country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or that has a bilateral agreement with the United States allowing entry with a U.S. passport .

Passport cards are less expensive than passport books, but they can only be used for land and sea travel to certain destinations . If you plan to visit Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda , you can use a passport card as your primary form of identification .

How do I apply for a passport book or card?

If you’re a first-time passport applicant, you must apply for a passport book. You can also apply for a passport card as an addition to your passport book.

To apply for a passport book or card, you must:

-Complete an application (Form DS-11) in black ink or online.

-Pay the application fee with a credit/debit card, check, or money order.

-Have your photo taken.

How much do passport books and cards cost?

Passport books and cards cost the same: $110 for adults and $80 for children under 16. The only difference is how you receive your passport. If you choose to receive your passport by mail, you will automatically receive a passport book. You can only receive a passport card if you apply in person at a passport acceptance facility or renew by mail using Form DS-82.

How long are passport books and cards valid for?

Passport books and cards are both valid for 10 years.

What if I lose my passport book or card?

If you lose your passport book or card, you should report the loss or theft to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible so that a replacement passport can be issued. For more information, please visit the Department of State’s website on passports.

Can I travel with both a passport book and card?

Most people only need a passport book, which is required for international air travel. However, if you plan to travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermudas, you can use a passport card instead. You can also use a passport card if you’re a frequent border crossing into the United States from Canada or Mexico.

Frequently asked questions about passport books and cards

What’s the difference between a passport book and card?

A passport book is the traditional document that most people think of when they think of a passport. It is a booklet with pages on which your personal information and photo are printed. A passport card is a credit card-sized document that can be used for certain types of international travel, but not all.