Passport Book vs Passport Card
If you’ve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, you’ve come to the right place. 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!
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What are Passport Books and Passport Cards?
Passport books are likely what you think of when you imagine a passport – a booklet-style identification and travel document. Most US passports have a dark blue cover, and contain 28 pages. Of the internal pages, 17 are blank pages marked “Visas” that are meant for travel visas and country entry and exit stamps. They can be used for all international travel purposes as well as for proving your identity and citizenship.
Passport cards are a form of US passport that are the size of a credit card or driver’s license. They have been available to US citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. They can be used for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, but they cannot be used for any international air travel or for visas.
Advantages of Passport Books
- Can be used for international travel to all destinations by air, land, or sea
- Can be used to acquire travel visas
- Proof of your identity and US citizenship
Advantages of Passport Cards
- Convenient – It fits in your wallet
- Less expensive than passport books (passport cards cost $30; passport books cost $110)
- Can be used for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean
- Excellent form of official identification for children or non-drivers
Disadvantages of Passport Cards
- Cannot be used for international air travel
- Cannot be used to acquire travel visas
Who Should Get a Passport Book?
Anyone who will travel internationally by air must have a passport book. It’s that simple!
If you have a valid passport book, you do not have to get a passport card as well. Your passport book can be used in any situation where a passport card could be used, but you may find that it is convenient for you to also have a passport card.
Who Should Get a Passport Card?
Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card.
- People who frequently cross the Mexican or Canadian border by car or train.
- Children too young to get a driver’s license or other state-issued identification card.
- Non-drivers who want a card-sized identity document.
- Sailors and yachtsmen who sail in international waters between the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. (Please note that cruise lines recommend that all cruise passengers hold a passport book in case an emergency requires that you be returned to the US by air.)
Ready to Apply?
Please see our pages on New Passports, Passport Cards, and Passport Renewal.
