Whats the difference between a passport book and a. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally. I have the passport card, are the numbers the same. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. 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. As such, the passport card is adjudicated to the exact standards as the passport book. 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. As far as i can tell, the edl and passport card give the same travel rights. You must have the original copies of all required documents. The passport services information card is different from another walletsized card, called a u. The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book.
All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. Applicants must provide documents which attest to their u. Is the passport book number the same as a passport number. 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. 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.
What is a passport card, and what should you know when youre. Every time a passport a issued, a new number is associated with it. 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. While governmentissued identification might seem to provide the same information, each id has unique characteristics. Whats the difference between passport book and passport card. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. Differences between a passport book and passport card. 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. Generally speaking, when someone is thinking about a passport, chances are good that they are thinking about a passport book.
You can use form ds82 to renew your passport book at the same time you apply for your first passport. With this tax id number the are eligable to work in the us and pay taxes to the us. From passport cards to global entry, which trusted. The united states passport card is an official identity and limited travel document issued by the.
Passport cardbasically 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. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. 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. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. A passport book is required for all international travel by air. 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. Passport number is on the first page where your picture is, book number is either at the back or engraved on each page. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. As previously mentioned, both the passport book and the passport card are passports.
The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. Is the passport serial number and the passport number the. The us passport card is less expensive to get then passport book, and is much smaller. Wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. What is the difference between a passport card number and. American citizens can apply for a passport card at the same time they apply for a passport book. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. The difference between the numbers is two digits and the letter c. If you apply for a passport card it will be issued valid for 10 years regardless of the expiration date of your passport book.
From passport cards to global entry, which trustedtraveler program is right for you. Passport cards and passport books are no exception. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison diffen. Passport card frequently asked questions with answers. Passport card the standard passport book covers all the bases. You have to go in person to present your application. One instance could be, if you want to travel to jamaica, youll need a passport book. Here are the countries and territories where a us passport card is valid.
Speaking of the rfid chip, the passport cards chip only has a serial number on it which may or may not be the same as the passport card number printed on the face. 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. Ive heard, however, its better to apply for them separately because if you apply at the same time, both the book and the card will have the same number and if you lose one of them, the other becomes invalid when you report the loss. A passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book, but it cannot be used for international travel by air. Will my passport card have the same number as my passport book. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. The us passport card is a credit cardsized identification document. The difference between passport and passport card us. Us passport book and passport card online application. For the love of physics walter lewin may 16, 2011 duration. Passport card can be used to reenter the united states at land borders or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda, according to the u. The passport card is about the size of any credit card, and fits easily into your wallet for frequent travel.
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. No, your book and card will have two completely different numbers. Thus, its useful only if the reader has realtime access to the us governments database. Instead, each passport book number is unique to that specific book. The passport card is a fully valid passport that attests to the u. Passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. Apply for a passport card bureau of consular affairs us. If your cruise departs from florida but stops in jamaica before returning to florida, youll need your passport card. 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. This number will tell the story of the passport, including the years in which it was valid and where in the country it was issued. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card.
Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. However, it has a great number of limitations, so clients requesting a passport card should give serious consideration to applying for a. Passport book numbers are 9 numerals long, and passport cards start with the letter c followed by 8 numerals. If you still got any questions about us passport book and card, you can always contact travel visa pro. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. The card provides a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or sea.
Start today by applying for or renewing your passport. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. 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. It is not the number at the back of the passport book with the barcode beneath although it appears that for more recent passports, this barcoded number may, in fact, be the same number as your. As stated, the passport book and the passport card are not the same.
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. So if they are paying taxes to our country, stimulating the economy by working and purchasing. Should you choose a passport book or a passport card. The state departments website offers complete details and an online application form. Learn more about how a passport card differs from a passport book.
Proof of social security number ss card, a w2, or a pay stub with full ssn. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a 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 a walletsize card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the united states and canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. The application process is the same for either the passport book or card, even if you want both at the same time. The illegal immigrants must have and tax id number issued by the the government to get a credit card with us. Be aware of the fact that a passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda.
It fits in most wallets, and is more resistant to damage as it does not have any pages. Residency document rental or lease agreement, mortgage or utility bill, etc. You can use the passport card when traveling in the european union, the european economic area which includes iceland, liechtenstein and norway and switzerland. 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. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a. Difference between passport book and passport card. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. What is the different between passport number and passport. Us passport book vs us passport card us visa connection. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the u.
The us state department uses different number formats for books and cards. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences.
It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard passport book. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands. We do not use 12 day delivery services for passport cards. It contains several pages like the passport details page which provides the holders.
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