A passport book is the ultimate key to international travel, but did you know it’s not the only form of ID that will let you travel abroad? The U.S. also issues a passport card, which can be used at land border crossings with Mexico and Canada, plus sea ports-of-entry in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. So, how do you know if a passport book or a passport card is better for you? Find out with this helpful guide.
Passport book: the classic
A passport book is the classic 28-page navy blue book that includes an ID page followed by blank pages for entry and exit visas. Passports for international travel have been issued by the U.S. Department of State since 1789, though the document has undergone many changes since then. The blue book was first issued in 1976 for the bicentennial; before that, the book was green or sometimes red. Passport books allow essentially unfettered international travel by all means of transportation, though sometimes you need additional visas, depending on the destination.
Passport card: the compact
A passport card is similar to a driver’s license in shape and size. It was introduced by the U.S. Department of State in 2008 to provide a cheaper alternative to the passport book for Americans traveling to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda by land or sea. It’s a less powerful document than a passport book, but it’s a useful document for certain types of travelers nonetheless.
Passport card vs book: the main differences
While both passport cards and books can be used for international travel, there are many differences between the two documents, not least of which is how and where you can use them.
Passport Book
Destinations
Anywhere in the world
Transportation mode
Air, land and sea
Cost for renewal
$130 application fee + $35 execution fee
Size
5 x 3.5 inches
Passport Card
Destinations
Mexico, Canada, Caribbean countries and Bermuda
Transportation mode
Land and sea only
Cost for renewal
$30 application fee + $35 execution fee
Size
3.3 x 2.1 inches
The destinations
Passport books are the more powerful document in terms of where you can travel; they are valid for all destinations in the world. Passport cards, however, can only be used in Mexico, Canada, Caribbean countries and Bermuda.
The transportation mode
Again, passport books are more powerful here, too. They can be used for air travel, land travel, and sea travel. Passport cards, on the other hand, can only be used for land and sea travel.
The cost
Passport cards are substantially cheaper than passport books due to their limitations. The passport card application fee is $30, while the passport book application fee is $130. Both forms of travel documents require a $35 execution fee in addition to the application fee.
The size
Passport books are much larger and thicker than passport cards; the former is a true booklet with pages (5 x 3.5 inches), while the latter is the size of a standard ID like a driver’s license (3.3 x 2.1 inches).
Do you need both the passport book and card?
No, you do not need both the passport book and card. A passport book provides more access than a passport card, so it’s the better document to have. That said, if you do not have plans to travel internationally by air, and instead you only plan to travel to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean or Bermuda by land or sea, the passport card is a much cheaper option, and might be a great fit for you.
In a nutshell, the passport card is primarily designed for Americans who live in border communities near Mexico or Canada and cross the border regularly, or seafarers who travel to the Caribbean or Bermuda.
Expert tip: You’re allowed to have both a passport book and passport card. So if you’re worried about losing your passport book when traveling to Mexico or Canada by land, you might want to consider adding a passport card to your wallet.
How to apply for a passport card
Applying for a passport card is the same process as applying for a passport book. If you’re a first-time applicant, you must fill out form DS-11, provide evidence and a photocopy of U.S. citizenship, provide a second form of ID and a photocopy of it and provide a passport photo, then submit all your documentation in-person at a passport acceptance facility.
Expert tip: You can apply for a passport card with your passport book application or renewal. If you’re a first-time applicant to both, you’ll save $35 in doing so, as you’ll pay just one execution fee for both documents.
Does a passport card qualify as a Real ID?
Yes, passport cards are Real ID–compliant, as are passport books. That means you’ll be able to use them to fly domestically, but not internationally.
Expert tip: If you don’t have a Real ID–compliant driver’s license or other form of ID (like a Global Entry Card), you can apply for and use a passport card instead.
Conclusion
Passport cards are beneficial for land and sea travelers to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda, but all other international travel requires a passport book instead.
How KAYAK knows what to put in this guide
As a travel writer, I must be familiar with international travel rules at all times. For this guide, I researched the details about both passport books and cards on the website of the U.S. Department of State, which issues both documents. I compiled that information into an easy-to-understand guide to best help travelers decide which travel document is best for them.
Frequent questions about the difference between passport card and book
It is better to get a passport book, as it is valid everywhere by all modes of transportation.
Yes, you can fly domestically with a passport card, as it is an alternative to a state-issued REAL ID. However, if you want to fly to another country than the U.S. you’ll have to carry your valid passport book.
Passport cards permit land and sea entry into Mexico, Canada, Caribbean countries and Bermuda.
The foregoing article was last updated on the 22nd of November 2023. It does not contain legal advice and is for informational purposes only. KAYAK does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any of the information contained in this article and/or any of the content linked to within it. Always check the official government website of your departure and arrival destinations prior to travel for up-to-date information.
Sources:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/passports/forms-fees/Passport%20Book%20vs%20Card%20_ENG_2022.pdf
https://www.archives.gov/research/passport
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/britain-s-blue-passport-storm-highlights-generational-divide-brexit-n832136
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/apply-in-person.html
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