Passport Card or Passport Book: What is Best for You

Planning a trip this summer? Thinking about heading out of the country? Getting your passport in the United States isn’t difficult, but it’s not a fast process either. If you’re planning on international travel in the near future, you should start working on getting your passport at least four months before your planned departure.

Even if your upcoming trip is domestic and you don’t need a passport right away, having one is a good option. They are great as second forms of identification. And, if you’re a traveler, you definitely want to have one so you are ready to go anytime.

So which passport is right for you?

Passport Card or Passport Book

There are two forms of passport available for Americans. Whether you’ll need the book or card depends on how you are getting to your destination and where that destination is.

• The passport card is less expensive and fits in your wallet. It permits you to enter or leave the United States from crossings by land or seaports only and restricts your travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean.

• The passport book is more flexible and is valid for all travel destinations or if you are traveling internationally by air to one of the locations mentioned above for the passport card.

Because of the limitations of the card, you will probably be better off if you get a passport book regardless of your destination or whether you’re traveling by land/sea vs air. You can choose to get both!

Both the passport card and the passport book are applied for in the same way. You begin the process of getting your passport by going to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, the official website of the Department of State, which handles passports for Americans.

NOTE: Any website offering passport services other than www.travel.state.gov is going to charge you fees that could be very high. It’s even possible that the site might be a scam.

Obviously, not all these sites are out to rip you off. Many legitimate services exist, but please avoid unofficial sites unless you have specific knowledge that the site is legitimate and efficient.

How to Apply for your Passport

With your passport application, you will also need –
• proof of citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate or a naturalization certificate
• proof of identity, such as a valid state-issued photo identification, driver’s license, or other current government-issued identification
• 2”x2” color passport photo

NOTE: Be aware that you will need date and place of birth for both your mother and father.

Once you have all your documents ready, call your post office to make sure they handle passport handling there. Most larger towns will do so.

Be prepared to pay the fee for your passport upon submission of your documents. Fees vary depending on which type and the age of the individual. Check the site link above to find out what your fee will be and the acceptable form of payment.

NOTE: If you already have your passport and then get married after you have already have it, make sure to book your airline ticket in the name that matches your passport. They must match.

NOTE: When traveling internationally, you will need to carry a copy of your passport on your person at all times. If your hotel room has a safe, you should keep your original passport in the safe and carry only a copy.

Now that you know the difference between the passport card and passport book you can get your process going and be ready for summer travels. Or whenever the bug hits you!