What Do You Need to Get a Passport Card
- As of April second, 2018 Passport Fees have gone up. Please run across our updated content on how much a passport costs for the most up to engagement information.
How to Go a Passport Card
Have y'all ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet? It can! You tin can get a The states passport bill of fare, whether or not yous currently hold a passport book. A passport card is the same size as a driver's license, and is official proof of your identity and US citizenship. They are particularly useful as identification for children who are too young to get a commuter'due south license.
The main deviation between a passport card and a passport book – other than the concrete size and format – is that the carte du jour can non be used for any international travel by air. Any time you lath an international flight, y'all volition demand a valid U.s. passport book.
Passport cards, like passport books, are valid for 10 years from the date of issue (or 5 years, for children age xv and younger). If you already hold a passport book, your card will be issued with a different number. You do not need a valid passport book in order to apply for a passport ID card, and you can apply for either the carte du jour only, or yous can utilise for a passport book and a passport carte du jour at the same time.
You lot'll find all the details you lot'll need to employ for a passport bill of fare in our guide, including the requirements and how to go it fast.
Did You Know?
You can get your passport in as little as 24 hours with expedited service!
Expedited Renewal
Who is Eligible for a Passport Card?
All US citizens are eligible to obtain a passport card. It does not matter if you currently take a valid passport volume or not. You tin become the card even if you have never been issued a passport before.
Where Can You Get With a Passport Menu?
US passport cards tin be used to enter Canada or Mexico by state or sea. That means you tin can use a passport card if yous are going to Mexico or Canada by motorcar, bus, railroad train, ferry, yacht, or even on foot! Your passport card tin besides exist used to enter most Caribbean nations by ocean. The Caribbean area island nations that accept the US passport bill of fare include Bermuda, Jamaica, Aruba, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, and Dominican Republic. No matter where you lot are going, you lot will demand a passport volume if y'all are traveling internationally by air. Virtually cruise lines besides volition desire you to take a valid passport volume, in case you have to fly dwelling house in an emergency.
What Is a Passport Menu Used For?
You can employ your valid passport ID card for all of the following purposes:
- Y'all tin travel to Canada, Mexico, or nigh Caribbean nations by land or sea.
- You can use your passport card equally Real ID to lath domestic flights in the United states or enter U.s. military facilities or federal buildings.
- Your passport card tin can be used as an ID carte du jour for purposes like buying booze, getting a driver's license, or checking in at the doctor.
- If yous always lose your passport volume, you tin utilise your passport bill of fare as proof of citizenship.
- While you are traveling overseas, you can carry your passport card in your wallet so you lot can evidence your identity and citizenship. You can keep your passport volume safety at the hotel if y'all as well have a passport card!
Gather all required documents
The documents you volition need will vary depending on whether you currently concur a valid passport book. You can apply in any one of the following scenarios:
- Applying for a menu lonely when you already have a valid passport volume
- Applying for a carte alone when you have never held a Us passport
- Getting a carte at the same time yous are applying for a new passport book (either for an adult or a small-scale under age 16)
- Getting a card at the aforementioned time y'all are applying for a renewal of your passport book (adults whose passport was issued afterward they turned 16)
Requirements for Passport Card – Applicants who hold a valid Passport Book
- Your electric current US passport – This must be the bodily volume, not a photocopy
- Passport Awarding Course (DS-82), completed offline or filled out online at https://pptform.state.gov/, printed and signed. Y'all volition need to select on this application whether you lot are applying for just a passport carte or for both a passport card and a passport book renewal.
- One passport photograph
- Photocopy of your driver's license or other land-issued ID (front and back)
- Passport card fee – A check for $30 ($90 if you lot demand expedited service) made payable to "US Department of State."
- Flight itinerary or other proof of travel plans (but required if yous demand expedited service for a passport card.)
Once you have collected these items, y'all tin can proceed to Step Ii.
Requirements for Passport Carte du jour – Applicants who accept non been issued a The states Passport (or Minors under age sixteen)
- Proof of US Citizenship (birth certificate)
- New Passport Application Form (DS-eleven), completed offline or filled out online at https://pptform.country.gov/. You will need to specify on the awarding whether you are applying only for the passport bill of fare or for both a passport book and a passport card.
- One passport photo
- Photocopy of your commuter's license or other state-issued ID (front and back). Minors under age 16 volition need to submit copies of both parents' passports or commuter'southward licenses.
- Flying itinerary or other proof of travel plans (only required if you need expedited service for the passport card.)
- Passport card fee – y'all will demand two checks, one for $25 for the Passport Acceptance Agent fee and ane made payable to "US Section of State" for $30 ($xv for applicants under age 16.) Add $60 to the US Section of Country bank check if you need expedited service for your passport card.
You will demand to appear in person at a Passport Acceptance Agent in order to have your documents reviewed and sealed into an official envelope before you proceed to Step Two. Children under age 16 will need to appear at the Passport Credence Agent with both of their parents. (See our Passport for Minors folio for more details.) Passport Acceptance Agents are usually constitute at major post offices or at Clerk of the Courtroom offices. You can find a convenient passport location.
Have your passport awarding processed in one of three ways:
- By Mail service – Your passport card application can be sent in by postal service to be processed at the National Passport Center.
- At a Passport Agency – If you demand expedited service for your passport ID bill of fare, you tin visit a US Passport Bureau in person.
- By a Passport Expediting Company – If you lot really need to get your passport menu fast, you tin ship your awarding to a reputable passport expediting company for service in as petty as 24 hours.
Applying for a passport menu by mail service will take upward to eight weeks. If you are besides applying for a renewal of your passport volume and you opt for expedited service by postal service, your passport volume will arrive in 2-three weeks, merely your passport card may arrive in a separate envelope several weeks later. Passport cards requested by mail service are e'er shipped dorsum to you via First Form Mail (regular mail). If you need your passport card in a hurry, the best way to practise information technology is to use the services of a passport expediting visitor. These companies can get you a passport bill of fare in as trivial as 24 hours. Yous tin asking expedited service by actualization in person at a Passport Bureau, only not all Passport Agencies brand passport cards on site. You may nonetheless need to wait two or more than weeks for your passport carte du jour to be sent to you by mail. There are 26 Passport Agencies beyond the US, and you lot must call the National Passport Data Center at 877-487-2778 to make an appointment. Many Passport Agencies volition non allow you to appear in person unless you have proof of very urgent travel.
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Source: https://passportinfo.com/passport-card/