It is well-known that a passport is required when traveling abroad. However, as a US citizen, do you know that there are 2 types of passport documents in the United States? They are passport books and passport cards. The first thing to fill out the passport application form is to select between them, which determines how much you will pay. Then here come some questions.
Which one should you choose?
What are they used for?
Are there any differences or similarities?
In this passage, we are going to make a thorough comparison between a passport book VS card.
What Is a Passport Book?
It is proof for international travel that contains a unique passport number, the holder’s personal information full name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, gender, issuance date, expiration date, biometric information, and some blank pages for visa stamps or stickers. As the internationally recognized proof of citizenship and identification, this booklet is the most common form of passport document around the world.
The standard US passport book measures 5 inches in height and 3 ½ inches in width. It has a navy-blue cover and 28 pages, valid for 5 years for travelers below 16 and 10 years for travelers aged 16 or older.
What Is a Passport Card?
It has been issued by the U.S. Department of State since 2008, allowing U.S. citizens to take a road or cruise trip to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries. Featuring the same size as a credit card, it is portable to fit your pocket or card slot in a wallet. By carrying personal information like full name, biometric photo, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, date of issuance and expiration, it is a cheaper alternative to a passport book. Moreover, the built-in Radio Frequency Identification not only secures your information but also accelerates passing through land borders from Canada and Mexico. However, this card is not recognized for international air travel no matter where you go.
Similarities Between Passport book and Passport Card
Both of them are issued to travel outside the United States. US citizens can apply for either of them despite of age and gender. Let’s see in what aspect they are the same.
Authority of Issuance
They are all valid passport documents issued by the passport office of the U.S. Department of State.
Period of Validity
Applicants aged 16 and above can gain a 10-year passport book/card while those below 16 obtain a 5-year one.
Requirements to Apply for
The application form for them is the same, known as Form DS-11, and they require the same supporting documents.
Alternatives to State-issued ID
By carrying comprehensive and true personal information, both these two passport documents are compliant with the Real ID Act. That is to say, you can use either of them to enter federal facilities or fly within the United States when you don’t have a standard state driving license.
Processing Time
There is no distinct difference between dealing with applications for either passport type. Routine services take approximately 10-13 weeks.
Difference Between Passport Book and Passport Card
We have been asked, “Do I need both the passport book and card?” In order to decide what you should apply for, let’s learn about how they differ from each other.
Appearance
This is the most obvious difference. A passport book which measures 5”x 3 ½”, is larger than a passport card which is as large as a standard credit card. The card is a rectangular piece of plastic while the booklet contains a few pages for the customs officer to stamp on it while entering or exiting a foreign country.
Travel Destination
There are no limitations for destination countries while traveling with a passport book. However, with only a US passport card, you can only travel to or return to the US from the following countries and territories by land or sea.
- Canada
- Mexico
- Bermuda
- The Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago
Method of Crossing Border
According to ICAO, every passenger must hold a valid passport book to board an international flight. The booklet allows you to enter a foreign country by land, sea or air, and to fly within a foreign country. However, a passport card is only accepted by land or sea travel.
Fees
A booklet is more expensive than a card no matter for the first application or renewal. Here are the specifications of US passport book and passport card fees.
| US passport book | US passport card | ||||
| Application fee | Renewal fee | Application fee | Renewal fee | ||
| for adults | for kids | for adults | for adults | for kids | for adults |
| $165 | $135 | $130 | $65 | $50 | $30 |
Do I Need Both the Passport Book and the Card
Whether you need a passport book or a passport card depends on your travel plan. The former is the most versatile no matter where you go and what kinds of transportation. The latter is more portable and cheaper, more suitable for those who live in US border areas and have to travel frequently for work or leisure activities, or who do not plan to visit foreign countries except for Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean in the next few years.
You are allowed to apply for both passport types at the same time. If you have both, we suggest you take the passport book with you even if you use a passport card to travel abroad in case you have to fly within Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, and the Caribbean countries in emergent conditions.
Summary
We bet that you have been clear about what a passport book is, what a passport card is used for, and their similarities and differences. Let’s summarize. As you can see, a passport book and a card are both government-issued proof for international travel, citizenship and identification. However, they serve for different purposes. You can use a passport book to reach any travel destination by any transportation while a passport card to arrive in limited countries by car or ship.
Dolores Xiao