The us passport office told me to speak to the british embassy to find out what the entry requirements are for bvi. The good news is a passport card is generally valid for the same time and has the same application process as a 26 or 52page passport book. The passport book and the passport card have the same validity which is 10 years for children 15 years old or younger, the validity is only 5 years. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. As passport books allows more activities as compare to passport card so they tend to cost more as well. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. How a passport card differs from a passport book using passport books vs.
There are, however, some key differences that need to be considered. I need to renew my passport and was thinking about just getting the passport card. Passport cards requested by mail are always shipped back. So far no one has responded to me through these resources. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. The us passport card is less expensive to get then passport book, and is much smaller. 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. If you are traveling outside the united states via air travel, you will still need a traditional passport book as a passport card is not valid for air travel. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. Differences between a passport book and passport card. Whether you get the passport bookcard both are valid for 10 years. 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. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both.
This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16. The difference between passport and passport card us. The cost difference is understandable, however, as passport books also can be used for air travel. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences. Visa, mastercard, diners club international and american express cards are accepted. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. 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. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. 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. Minors under 16 will need to renew their passport every 5 years. To begin with, passport cards can not be used for air travel.
Whats a passport card, and can it replace a real id. If you apply for a passport card it will be issued valid for 10 years regardless of the expiration date of your passport book. As it turned out, he was the one in for the unpleasant surprise. It is imperative to understand what the is the difference between a passport book vs card. Be aware of the fact that a passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. The us passport card allows you to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at sea ports of entry, land border crossings and is more convenient and cheaper than a passport book. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. All you have to do is mark the passport application to show you are requesting both the passport book and passport card. Aside from the size, a passport book and a passport card difference is that the latter cannot be used when traveling abroad via air, the passport book is required.
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. Difference between passport book and passport card. Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5. Only available for passport book applicants in the united states not canada. The passport card is a fully valid passport that attests to the u. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the. Check out the differences between the two types of passport. Applicants must provide documents which attest to their u.
Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. Here is a table showing the principal differences between 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. They are valid for five years from the date of issue, just like a minor passport book. 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. Passport card also known as a pass card is a less expensive, walletsized version of a traditional passportwith a few traveluse conditions. You must have the original copies of all required documents. Only one execution fee is charged for an individual applying for both a card and book at the same time. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. The passport card is about the size of any credit card, and fits easily into your wallet for frequent travel. Register log in traveltalkonline forums british virgin islands passport cards vs passport book.
In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. Processing times for passport cards and passport books routine processing times for the passport card or passport book range from 46 weeks or longer. The us passport book vs passport card salon prive mag. 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. If youre a frequent traveler to canada or mexico by land or sea, then the passport card can be a budgetfriendly option. If you do not have upcoming travel plans, you can visit your post office or county clerk to start the application process.
The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. Passport cards are also only valid in mexico, bermuda, canada and the caribbean. The passport card will match the expiry date of your passport book, if you have less than 5 years validity remaining. A passport card is a plastic walletsized card similar to a drivers license, while a passport book measures 5. 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. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only.
There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. Which one you must get completely depends on how you are going to travel and how much you. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your 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. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. As such, the passport card is adjudicated to the exact standards as the passport book. 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. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. You should know there are restrictions on a passport card. If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry.
You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. First of all, the passport book contains many pages designated for visa stickers and stamps, while the passport card, on the other hand, is a credit cardlike id. 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. Like the book, passport cards are good for 10 years if you are 16 or older. Passport book vs passport card norwegian cruise line. For flight travel abroad you will need a new passport book by mid 2009. The passport card is basically an individual credit cardsized id. Passport cards are easier to carry than a passport book and they have some hidden benefits. 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. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air. The passport book has lots of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps.
The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. This is because a passport book is the booklet containing information about the person to whom it has been issued, which is in addition to a number of blank pages that can be used for travel visas as well as the stamps when said individuals enters and exits a country. 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. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is that passport cards are only valid to enter canada, mexico, bermuda, and. Pass cards come equipped with a microchip that assigns a distinct number to its owner. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card. The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. If you dont want to spend the money for the full passport i would save what you would have spend on the card and use it toward a full passport book in the future. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. Whats the difference between a passport book and a.
In general, everyone must have a passport book or a regular passport to travel from one country to another. The 4 kids need their passports renewed before our fall cruise. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the. Generally speaking, when someone is thinking about a passport, chances are good that they are thinking about a passport book. If youre not inclined to take the time to get a real id, heres a lesserknown alternative. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. After he confirmed that his spouse could cruise with just a passport card, he booked their tropical vacation. These come in the form of a traditional passport book, along with a passport card. Validity and application process of passport cards. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land. This number, through vicinityread radio frequency technology, matches up with a customs. This service is not available for passport card applicants. In july of 2008, due to requests from residents along us borders for a more portable and easier application process than a regular passport, the united states department of state began issuing passport cards, a wallet sized identity card usable for international travel by land and sea, valid only for travel to canada, mexico, the.
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