The us state department uses different number formats for books and cards. Passport book numbers are 9 numerals long, and passport cards start with the letter c followed by 8 numerals. Difference between passport book and passport card. You have the freedom to choose which one you wish to have to depend on the country you are planning to travel to. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. A passport book provides valid identification for any national or international travel. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of. What is the differences between passport book vs passport. Do i have to apply for a passport book and a passport card at the same. Instead, each passport book number is unique to that specific book. Second, a good argument can be made that the passport card is more useful than the passport book for the limited circumstances in which it can be used.
See the chart below to decide which is best for you. Passport card is also valid for international travel but by land or sea only. Oct 07, 2017 wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. 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 can be accepted in any country unless theyve barred us citizens from entry, like north korea, and are valid for visa applications, while a passport card can only be used to enter countries by land or sea. If you apply for a passport card it will be issued valid for 10 years regardless of the expiration date of your passport book. The passport book allows for all travel, by air, land, and sea and youll need the passport book in order to receive a travel visa. The passport book allows the holder to travel worldwide with proper visa and documentation, while the passport card only allows the holder to travel to and fro neighboring countries such as canada, mexico, bahamas and the caribbean. Be aware of the fact that a passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. All american citizens are required to present a valid passport to exit and reenter the united states. 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. The passport book and the passport card are two different unique documents with unique number.
A passport book is required for all international travel by air. Our guide will show you the uses and advantages of each document, and will help you figure out which one is best for you, or if you should have both. Differences between a passport book and passport card. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. The passport book will cover you wherever you decide to go. The traditional passport book is still required for most travel purposes. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. It can be used for travel to 31 countries in the european union eu and european economic area eea plus switzerland. Passport card department of foreign affairs and trade. Since people abroad may not be familiar with every u.
I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. Both of these documents give you the ability to travel outside of the country. For uk and us passports the book number is the same as the passport number. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport. It fits in most wallets, and is more resistant to damage as it does not have any pages. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard passport book has 28 pages. Jun 16, 2016 passport book numbers are 9 numerals long, and passport cards start with the letter c followed by 8 numerals. State department issues two versions of a passport. You can use the passport card when traveling in the european union, the european economic area which includes iceland, liechtenstein and norway and switzerland. See below the differences between a passport book vs.
What is the difference between a passport card number and. However, the passport book is valid for all forms of travel. The irish passport card is a travel document that irish citizens can use for certain travel instead of the standard passport book. We may be compensated if you make a purchase via a link on this site. Whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. The passport card will match the expiry date of your passport book, if you have less than 5 years validity remaining. Your us passport book number can be found on the top right of the continue reading. Also, if you get a passport card separately from your passport, it has a different number and expiration date also costs a bit more. What is the differences between a passport book vs card with additional information and requirement for getting both a card and book. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is that passport cards are only valid to enter canada, mexico, bermuda, and. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card.
The difference between the numbers is two digits and the letter c. Finding the passport book number on each unique passport isnt too difficult. Dec 17, 2017 the passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. The us passport card 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. The passport card shares the same validity period as the passport book. Attaining one or the other will depend on how often you travel and the type of travel you plan to do. From passport cards to global entry, which trustedtraveler. Your passport book allows you to travel by land, by sea, or by air. What is the difference between a passport card number and a. The passport book has plenty of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps, while the passport card is a onepiece creditcardsized id card.
The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your visas. I was pretty sure it is, but im reading other posts that i found doing a search and seeing that it seems to vary from country to country so i wanted to make sure and no assume too much. Passport cards and passport books are no exception. 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.
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. Passport card vacation season is right around the corner, and as such, you will most likely be renewing or obtaining your us passport. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. When a passport card might be just what you need for travel there are few travelers in this world who arent interested in trying to save money while on vacation. There are several options when it comes to forms of identification for travel. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. Those nine digits distinguish this individual passport from all others. Passport number is on the first page where your picture is, book number is either at the back or engraved on each page. We want you to know about a few differences between the book. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Differences between passport book and passport card tweet key difference. Is there a way to search by social security number if i do have a passport.
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. The passport book is valid for all international travel. If you are traveling by air or to most countries, you will need a traditional passport book, with pages for your various visas. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. Each passport book and card has a completely unique number. Learn more about how a passport card differs from a passport book. If you have one, it will state so in your passport s identification page the page with your picture. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences. The difference between passport and passport card us. Whether you get the passport book card both are valid for 10 years. Firsttime passport card applicants who do not have a passport book traditional passport must go in person to a passport application facility, such as a post office or courthouse, and submit a completed passport application form, proof of us citizenship, one passport. A passport card can be used to enter the us states at land border crossing or seaportsof. The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to canada, mexico, and the caribbean.
Passport card the standard passport book covers all the bases. Every time a passport a issued, a new number is associated with it. However, people find a passport card more convenient and accessible when carrying. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book. You cannot use a passport card when traveling by air internationally.
Us passport book and passport card online application. Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. Passport book for reentry into the united states from any country. What is the difference between a passport book and passport card. Passport book vs passport card i f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. The numbers dont work like a social security number, though, which is also a unique number.
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. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry. Here is a table showing the principal differences between a passport book and a passport card. How to find passport book number on your us passport. Feb 12, 2019 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.
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. What is the different between passport number and passport. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport book. However, it has a great number of limitations, so clients requesting a passport card should give serious consideration to applying for a passport book as well. The last part states most recent passport book or pass port card. Unless you use the mobile passport app, youll have to. The last part states most recent passport book or passport card. In part, this is because the passport card is the size of a standard id card, meaning that it can be carried with the same convenience. However, each of these items comes with certain restrictions regarding when you can use them. This is a privately owned website and not a government agency. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book.
Whats the difference between a passport book and a. The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. What is the difference between a passport book and. You must have the original copies of all required documents. The us passport card is a credit card sized identification document. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison diffen.
A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land. 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. Differences between passport book and passport card. Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. For other countries it is not the same thing as your passport number. Furthermore, it is unlikely that information about your passport book is encoded in the 2d barcode or the rfid chip on the card. Since the passport card is apparently worthless, it is better to leave that than your actual passport. The passport book has lots of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps. The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. You can now apply for a passport book and a passport card. What is the differences between passport book vs passport card. That means you cannot use the passport card for air travel.
From passport cards to global entry, which trusted. The passport card is available to all irish citizens who hold a valid irish passport book. A passport card looks similar to an id and is about the size of a credit card. Can be used for international travel via land, sea, or air. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo and identifying information. 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. A passport card, which is similar to a passport book but limited to. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16. A passport book and a passport card serve the same purpose of attesting to your u. If issued for the full validity, they are both proof of your u. Both the passport book and passport card serve as proof of your u. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land. The number of the passport card can be found on both the front and the back of the card. You can use this credit card sized document to reenter the united states from mexico, canada, bermuda and the caribbean when traveling by land or sea.
How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. 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. Can anyone verify for me with the filipino passport, is the passport book number the same as the passport number. Enhanced drivers license many people may not know but depending on the state that you live in a third option is available to you. In a passport book, this can be found at the top of the personal information page. Validity of a passport book is 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors under age 16 the size of a passport book is approximately 5 x 3. Jun 20, 2019 passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document.
The us passport book number is certainly a 9 digit quantity on the biographical web page comprising your photograph and information onto it. I have the passport card, are the numbers the same. In this video we explore should you use a passport book or a passport card when you travel. If you find yourself frequently traveling to canada or mexico but not so much the rest of the world, a passport card is one way to help pinch some pennies. One instance could be, if you want to travel to jamaica, youll need a passport book. Aug 18, 2016 one is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. It is smaller and more convenient to carry than a passport book, and it is less expensive to obtain. Passport card frequently asked questions with answers.
Passport card for a reduced fee if you only plan to travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda, or the caribbean nations. If your cruise departs from florida but stops in jamaica before returning to florida, youll need your passport card. Start today by applying for or renewing your passport. In part, this is because the passport card is the size of a standard id card, meaning that it can be carried with the same convenience as any other. 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. Passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands. 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. The state department never reuses them after a number has been used once, it is never used again. Passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel.
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