Everything You Need to Know About A US Passport Card
When you’re getting ready to travel, have you ever heard about a passport book from one person or source and a passport card from another source or person?
Are passport books and passport cards the same thing, or are they different?
The passport card is valid when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at landed entry points. The passport card is not valid if the owner wants to use it for air travel.
However, a passport book is just the right document to use to travel around the world.
What Does a Passport Card Look Like?
A passport card looks like a driver’s license or credit card in size. The passport card has the applicant’s photo and data printed on them. There are many places in the US that can issue a US passport card; these are called Passport Application Acceptance Facilities. A passport book is larger and is most often in television shows or movies. It is somewhat larger than a postcard.
Where Can You Get a Passport Card?
US passport cards can be picked up at post offices, regional passport agencies, or through a private passport expediter. There are nearly 9,000 places in the US that make it more convenient to receive a passport card or a passport book. For more information on obtaining a passport card here.
What Documents Are Needed?
Because a passport card can be used to attest to United States citizenship and the identity of the person who is carrying it, the necessary documents to receive it are as stringent as most identification-proving documents.
An applicant has to prove their US citizenship, which includes their birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or a previously issued passport.
An identification document, such as a copy of a valid identification document and a passport photo is also necessary.
How Much Is a Passport Card?
The first passport card a person receives costs $55 for an adult; it can cost $40 for a child under the age of 16. The expense for the card has a $25 execution fee built-in. If an adult has received a passport card after they turned 16, they can get a card for $30 if their passport is valid or did not expire more than five years ago.
It can take from four weeks to three months to receive a passport from the United States Passport Service. As with many businesses, there are peak times when the service is slower because there is a backlog of others waiting to get a passport card.
The process of receiving a passport can be expedited. An expedited application costs an additional $60 but can still take up to three weeks. Some expedited services may be faster, from 8-14 days for $149, or $349 for next business day service.
It is even possible, in some situations, to get the passport in the same day as the application. For many people, these expedited services are worth getting their passport cards faster than potentially three months.
For those who are preparing to travel to another country that will not require air travel should consider using a US passport card. This card is easier to carry and often harder to lose because it will be in the owner’s wallet. Those who need a passport card can allow us to help get their passport in good time.
