Why passport book and card

How to Apply. Passport Help. Legal Matters. Apply in Person. Children Under Applicants Age 16 and Apply Outside the United States. Apply for a Passport Card. Application Status. Selecting your Gender Marker. Respond to a Letter or Email. Crossing the U. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your U. 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:.

Please see Passport Fees for more information. If you already have a passport book or passport card, you can renew by mail using Form DS But, the passport card can only be used for international travel by land and sea.

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. Any frequent traveler knows how pricey foreign travel can get. That price difference can be significant for trips across the different borders.

But, you have to keep in mind the limitations on a passport card. Also, you cannot use your passport card for international air travel, only as ID for domestic air travel.

The passport booklet represents a universal travel option for U. Yes, you can request expedited passport service when you submit the application. Expedited processing takes up to 3 weeks by mail. Will a passport card be sufficient for a child or adult traveling to Bahamas from the U.

Question: If we are traveling to Bahamas from US, will a passport card work fine for that, and will it last for 5 years like the passport book does for Should I get a passport card for my children instead of a passport book when traveling on a cruise to Bahamas?

Question: We are traveling with a 4 and 2 year old on a Disney cruise. We fly from Maryland to Florida where we board our ship and sail to the Bahamas Passport Card in addition to Passport Book Question: If my US passport book does not expire for 6 more years, can I complete the DS for a passport card without renewing my passport book? My son lost his passport card--NOT his passport.

What do we need to do? Question: My 12 year old son lost his wallet and it contained his small passport card, with the passport number on it. Can I get a passport card for my honeymoon so I don't have to pay the extra cost of a passport book? Question: My fiance and I are planning a honeymoon, but its based on whether we will have a passport. I have a passport card but need a passport book to travel to Barbados. Question: I currently have a passport card that was issued in June I will be needing to get a passport book within the next couple of years so Can you use the passport card instead of the passport book when traveling to Bahamas?

Question: Travel from metro Detroit to Bahamas do I need a book passport or card passport? Answer: The Bahamian government only requires proof of Can I renew a passport book that is not expired for a passport card and change the name? Question: I will be traveling this Feb. I have two children Click for expedited passport courier service in 24 to 48 hours! How can you get a passport when you're in a hurry? What exactly does a passport expediter do? Are passport expediting services legitimate?

How can I identify a reliable passport expeditor? Is expedited passport service worth it? Expedite Your Passport Now! Need more help? Visit our passport FAQ page or use the search box below. Important Due to Covid, processing times for passports are taking longer than normal for both standard and expedited services.

Passport cards are valid for 10 years 5 years for children. The biggest difference between a passport card and a passport book is that a passport book is valid for international air travel and any travel beyond the Western Hemisphere, while a passport card is not.

If you are flying from the U. Passport books are larger than passport cards and have multiple pages for customs officials to stamp or affix visas. They are also more expensive. Both passport cards and books are valid for the same length of time 10 years for adults, 5 years for children and can be used in lieu of other state-issued IDs. Either option requires a current photo.

If your cruise involves international flights, you will need a passport book — not a card — with no exceptions. Cruises out of U. Specifically, as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, closed-loop cruises — those that depart and return to the same U. Both passport cards and passport books are valid identifying documents for these sailings, but you also have a third option.

You do need to show proper identification, but that documentation is not required to be a passport. For example, Martinique requires cruise passengers to show a valid passport to come ashore. You would be allowed onboard your ship without a passport, but you would miss out on one of the ports of call. We recommend that whenever you are traveling to an international destination, you take a passport book, so you are more prepared for unexpected situations.

You might also want to have a passport on hand for certain excursions. Travelers of any age who are flying internationally to or from their cruise will need a passport book. This includes children and babies. For closed-loop cruises from the U.