The passport card is a fully valid passport that attests to the u. Birth certificate with photo id used to be enough, and is enough to get into canada, but not recommended or enough for the return trip. Cheaper passport cards can only be used for land and sea travel between the u. Menu icon a vertical stack of three evenly spaced horizontal lines. Crossing the border before you visit canada, visit tripadvisor for. For the 2011 alaska cruises everyone had to have a passport since the cruise began outside of the united states the only way i see around that is if someone flew into seattle and crossed into canada by land or ferry then possibly was able to use a passport card instead.
The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Youll use the same form that you would use to apply for a passport book either a ds11 or ds82. Your passport card can also be used to enter most caribbean nations by sea. The passport card is a wallet side document that will be used to expedite document processing from the u.
The main advantages of the passport card are its cost and practicality. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. If you live outside canada or the united states, visit the canadian passports website. I tried to fly to london on a fake passport bbc news duration. It was designed for people who travel frequently between the us and canada, mexico, bermuda or the caribbean by land or sea. Do passport cards work the same way as traditional passports. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions, even for children. Told cant drive into canada with passport card on work. Starting june 1, 2009, youll be required to carry a passport or passport card to return home after sea and land travel with some exceptions. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Your passport book allows you to travel by land, by sea, or by air. Passport card is a limited travel document issued by the united states federal government in the size of a credit card. What you need to know about passport cards fastport passport.
The passport book is accepted for any form of international travel and is also the document that holds your visas. The passport card has benefits, but does not offer the same list of privileges as a traditional passport. If you plan to travel by air or wish to visit a country other than canada, mexico, bermuda or one of the other caribbean island nations, you should apply. Should i get a passport card to go along with my passport. You can get a us passport card, whether or not you currently hold a passport book. Find uses and advantages of a passport book and a passport card and figure out which one is. As far as i can tell, the edl and passport card give the same travel rights. Will a passport card work as identification to get you on. Domestic flights within canada require a valid piece of government issued photo identification. A passport card is cheaper to get but is only valid for travel to canada, mexico and the caribbean islands. Does canada have plans for a canadian passport card. How to get a passport and how to renew a passport in the. Do you need a passport card and book to go from the us to.
You cannot use the passport card for international air travel, nor can you use it for travel to other international destinations. H ave you ever wished your passport could fit inside your wallet. During your cruise, keep your passport card or book in your cabin safe, and simply carry a photocopy of it when walking around in port, in case of an emergency. If you meet certain criteria, you can renew your passport using the simplified renewal application process. Passport cards are valid for land and sea travel to and from canada, mexico and the countries of the caribbean. Canada border services agency staffers will accept a valid passport book for entry into canada by bus. Documents needed for air travel bringing the right identification to the airport will help with a quick identity verification and checkin process.
Does a passport card work to go to canada by train. What documents will i need in order to apply for a passport card. A few weeks after moving, my parter was driving into canada osoyoos, bc with just her us passport card. If any of the following apply to you, you may want to obtain a passport card. On the form, you indicate that youre applying for a passport card.
What is the difference between a passport book and. Service canada offers passport services in over 300 locations on behalf of the passport program, giving canadians broader access to passport services across the country. The passport card is designed to be a less expensive and more. It wont work for flying, and you need a full passport book to do that. The us passport card is a credit cardsized identification document.
Learn more about how a passport card differs from a passport book. Canadian passport issuing system is modelled after the united kingdom, where all firsttime passport applications are required to be countersigned by a person who has known the applicant for a minimum of 2 years and if issued outside of canada the guarantor may be someone who works in a. S citizens that want to travel by land or sea to canada, mexico, and the caribbean. We already have nexus passes for frequent crossers i. Documents needed for air travel public safety canada. A passport card is a smaller version of a passport book and fits inside a wallet. The card provides a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or sea. If you already have a passport book and are eligible to use form ds82, you may apply for the card by mail. It was introduced on july 18th, 2008 and over 7 million passport cards have been issued since then. Canadian law requires that all persons entering canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. It is also accepted for entry by land or sea into canada. That means you can use a passport card if you are going to mexico or canada by car, bus, train, ferry, yacht, or even on foot. Passport requirements by bus to canada getaway usa.
The department of states ds82 form is incorrect in stating that u. What is a us passport card, and how can you get one. Hi lynn, im assuming youre traveling by land into canada. Even if you are traveling by land or by sea, its a good idea to use a passport book in. 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. Please check the frequently asked questions on the canadian passports website. 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. Canadian travel documents no longer have a preprinted digital signature on page 2. You need a passport book, as the passport card wont cut it. Unlike other countries, canada does not require your passport to have a minimum period of validity.
For a list of the different fees for passport services, please visit the state departments website. The passport card is more convenient than the book but there are restrictions on forms of travel. Passport books and cards are alternatives to a stateissued id. 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. Passport book the passport book is designed to be used for all types of international travel. In some cases, it is possible to present evidence of u. In addition to a regular passport, the passport book, u. All new canadian passports are 36page books that have a data chip in them. Differences between a passport book and passport card.
Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the. People who frequently cross the mexican or canadian border by car or train. A passport card is the same size as a drivers license, and is official proof of your identity and us citizenship. Children who are too young for a drivers license or other state id, or other nondrivers who want a wallet sized id document, can also use the. Now, if you traveling to canada by plane, the rules are different. The passport card is good only for land and sea border crossings, and as such is good enough for going to and from canada. Practical travel safety and security issues told cant drive into canada with passport card on work visa we recently moved to canada as us citizens on work permits. How a passport can help you fly domestically state. You can now apply for a passport, or renew it, at over 300 service canada centres. But you will need a passport book if traveling by air, or passport card if. In general, a passport is required to enter canada and return to the united states but there are some exceptions. A passport card also could be useful for alaska cruises, as long as all border crossings into canada are done by land or sea. The passport card is best for those who travel to canada or mexico frequently by car or train.
Passport cards and passport books are no exception. Tsa accepts the passport card as id for domestic flights. It was designed for the people who live near the border and cross it frequently, with a lower cost and a handy size that fits in a wallet like a drivers license. They can be used for land or sea travel to canada, mexico, bermuda, and the caribbean, but. The passport book and passport card are both proof of your citizenship and identity while traveling outside of the us. The passport card contains a radio frequency identification chip as well as the traditional photograph and personal information found in a passport book. Children too young to get a drivers license or other stateissued identification card. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to indicate that you would like to apply for both products. The passport card can be used for entering the united states at land border crossings and sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. A passport book provides valid identification for any national or international travel. Whats the difference between a passport book and a. Passport cards are particularly useful for some people. You can use your passport card for travel by land or sea to and from canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean.
If you are flying by plane, a cape, a giant eagle, or anything for that matter, you have to get the passport book. Remember that the name on your identification must match the name on your airline ticket and boarding pass. Currently, all citizens of the united states need a one or the other for international travel, even to neighboring countries such as mexico and canada. I called the passport agency at 8774872778 to confirm thistwice. It is smaller and more convenient to carry than a passport book, and it is less expensive to obtain. When i looked at the website for the consulate i found that passport applications should be made online, but the official u. The passport card is a walletsize travel document that can only be used to reenter the united states at land bordercrossings or portsofentry by sea from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. I will be in this situation in two year and therefore have clicked want answer, but in the meantime here is something ive found in the instructions to the ds82 passport renewal form pdf submit your most recently issued emp.
The caribbean island nations that accept the us passport card. As an adult, you can get into canada with a valid u. Passport card basically a limiteduse passport enhanced drivers licenseacts both as a driver license and a travel document, but also with limits well walk you through the basic differences of each of these documents, and help you determine which one is right for you. There is no reason to ever get a passport card, unless you only travel to canada, mexico or caribbean. We break down how to get a passport, how to renew a passport, and how you can travel without a passport in the us. The signature block on page 3 of your childs travel document doesnt need to be signed if your child is under 16. The only distinction i can think of that might make you want to have both an edl and a passport card is the information on the face of the cards. Department of state since 2008, and can be used to enter and exit 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. You can renew your passport by mail if your adult passport expired less than 5 years ago and you currently reside in the united states or canada.
155 57 1398 1614 426 832 44 1334 89 577 1186 1110 1406 812 1257 1225 197 633 313 305 892 1614 216 75 1167 1478 1396 870 1261 976 41 1629 852 535 1291 996 1028 1446 1080 194 329 397 1203 28 558 13