Passport Card

Want to travel, but not necessarily outside North America?  Then the passport card is for you.  This passport is the size of a credit card and is more convenient to carry.  It works just like a passport book, with a few exceptions, and is less expensive.  The passport card can only be used for re-entry into the United States by land boarder crossing or sea port-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.  Just like the passport book that we are all familiar with, the passport card needs to be renewed every 10 years.  The application process is just the same as the passport book.

Can’t decide which to apply for?  No need!  You can apply for and obtain both the passport book and the passport card.  The book enables you to fly internationally and re-enter the United States and the card can be used as mentioned above.  Both are valid for 10 years unless under the age of 16 and both can be used as proof of citizenship and identity.  For those under the age of 16 the passport book and passport card are only valid for 5 years.  You can have the convenience of the card with the expanded travel of the book!

Unfortunately to obtain both the passport book and the passport card, you do have to pay for them individually.  If you are new to travel and don’t want to jump right in with international travel overseas, try the passport card.  For me, I like keeping the options open!  For information on the process and the forms required, check out this website:  https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/card.html