The passport card contains the same information as a passport book, with a size similar to a laminated stateissued drivers license. However, the card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of. Depending on your budget and travel plans, you can choose between a passport card or book. Passport book and passport card are two terms that are often used these days by many citizens of the united states who are applying for a passport for the first time. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. If you plan on visiting any of these destinations, you may need to file a passport application for this card. It has several pages for visas and travel documents. Check out the differences between the two types of passport.
The passport was based on the format agreed upon by the 1920 league of nations international conference on passports. The number of passports in circulation has increased every year since 1989. The passport card is not valid for international air travel. We have three kids and there is a pretty big price difference between the types of passports. The kenyan passport is issued to kenyan citizens in accordance with the constitution of kenya, 2010 and as provided for in the kenya citizens and immigration act that commenced on 30 august 2011. In 2010, the number of issued passports had reached to,883,129. Difference between passport and visa with comparison. Wondering whats the difference between a passport book and a passport card. Series a, version 1 was produced between 2006 and 2010, while an updated version 2 with technical changes and refreshed artwork was produced between 2010 and 2015.
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. The passport book has lots of pages for visas and arrivaldeparture stamps. In addition issuance process is regulated by legal notice no. Each type has a specific purpose and requires specific requirements be met in order to obtain it. If you are flying by plane, a cape, a giant eagle, or anything for that matter, you have to get the passport book. Difference between passport book and passport card. A passport book is valid for all types of travel land, sea or air to any destination.
Both documents are valid for 10 years for adults 16 and older, and 5 years for those under the age of 16. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. Can only be used in land and sea travels, not by air. The card is as small as a credit card it doesnt take as much to manufacture them.
What is the difference between a passport book and. Key differences passport book is valid for international travel by air, sea, or land. What is the difference between a passport and a passport. A passport card fits in your wallet, making it a more convenient form of id to carry on certain trips.
The identity and passport service issued the first biometric british passport on 6 february 2006, known as series a. A passport book is the more versatile travel document when comparing the two types. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. A visa is required to enter a country based a valid passport issued by the country of the bearer of that passport. The main difference between passport and visa is that while the passport is a document that is used to identify a person when heshe is travelling to another country, whereas visa is an official permission granted by the countrys representative to enter and reside the country.
What is the difference between passport book and card. A passport book commonly called a passport, is used for travel anywhere in the world by air, land sea. 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. While the passport card is more convenient due to its size, it is far more restricted in use than the passport book. Canada issues around five million travel documents a year. 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.
The passport card is a cheaper alternative to the passport book. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. What is the difference between a passport card or book. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your drivers license. The passport book is your typical passport, a bound, paged booklet that is issued by the us department of state verifying your identity and nationality, usually for the purpose of traveling internationally all international air travel for us passport holders, regardless of origin or destination airport, must be accompanied by a valid us passport book. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv.
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. Travel requirements with the growing threat of global terrorism, all traveling us citizens are required to possess more specific documentation than in the past. I f youve wondered what the difference is between a passport book and a passport card, youve come to the right place. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The cardformat passport is for international travel by u. The validity of the passport card is 10 years for an adult applicant and 5 years for minors under age 16. Passports are nontransferable identification documents that are issued by the united states state department for the purpose of travel and identification. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Types of us passport books get your passport book today.
The main downside is that it can only be used for travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermudanorth. The difference between passport and passport card us. Us passport books and us passport cards the differences. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. In the united states, there are four types of passports that can be issued, and they are regular passports, official passports, diplomatic passports and. Our guide to us passport books will teach you about the different types of passport books so you will understand which one you need and why. The passport card is far more convenientand cheaper due to its credit card size. Difference between a passport book and passport card. Adult passport cards remain valid for 10 years and cards issued to children under 16 years of age for five years. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands.
Whats the difference between a us passport book and card. You can apply for both the book and card with the same application but it is not requried that you obtain both. Passport card is a walletsize travel document that can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda, and the caribbean whereas a passport book can be used for international travel to all destinations by air, land, or sea. 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. 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. Passport book booklet style id travel document standard passport book. This type of passport is limited to land and sea travel to bermuda, canada, the caribbean region, and mexico. 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. What is the difference between a visa and a passport. Differences between a passport book and passport card. What is the difference between a passport book and a. The passport book is a thin cardboard cover with your picture and information inside it. T here are a variety of united states passport books that are issued to travelers for specific reasons.
Difference between passport book and passport card can be a new subject to you if you are not a citizen of the united states of america. The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. Passport book is a globally recognized travel document while passport card is not a globally recognized document. The us passport card is a small passport card, about the size of a credit card, that contains your photo. Start today by applying for or renewing your passport. If your cruise departs from florida but stops in jamaica before returning to florida, youll need your passport card. You are not limited to how or where you travel if you obtain a passport book. The united states government issues a few different types of passports to american citizens. This was the first british passport to feature artwork. Passport card is wallet sized document while passport book size is 5.
A passport is issued to a citizen of the country for travels overseas. As passport books allows more activities as compare to passport card so they tend. A passport book is a common source of identification for many travelers. The card is also acceptable as proof of compliance with citizenship requirements for certain types of employment. The difference between a passport book or card getaway usa. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or drivers license. One is a passport book, the traditional passport with the pages that get stamped. In the united states, passport books verify citizenship and right to reenter ones home country such as the united states of america. Any us citizen wishing to travel internationally via air must have a passport book. They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda. A passport is required for international travels issued by th. 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.
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. The passport book and the passport card are both valid passport that will attest to your identity as well as citizenship. The other is the passport card, which is just like a drivers license. If you still got any questions about us passport book and card, you can always contact travel visa pro. The passport book is the same as the original passport you need it when youre going to travel by airplane.
I called the passport agency at 8774872778 to confirm thistwice. The walletsized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. It comes with many blank pages to be stamped at customs. The information below provides details about the kinds of passports, who they are for and how they can be obtained. However, the british indian passport had very limited usage, being valid for travel only within the british empire, italy, switzerland, austria, czechoslovakia, germany, france, spain, norway, sweden and holland. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. There are very important differences between the passport card and the passport book.
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