If you’re applying for a US passport, you will need to choose between two options: the traditional passport book and the more compact passport card. While both are official travel documents issued by the US Department of State, they serve different purposes and are valid in different situations.
This guide breaks down the differences between the two—how they work, what they cost, and which one is right for your needs.
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What Is a Passport Book?
A passport book is an official document for international travel by land, sea, or air. For adults (age 16 or older), the books are valid for 10 (ten) years. Travelers under 16 get passports with 5 (five) years of validity.
The US passport book size is 5’’ X 3.5’’ when it is closed.
Your passport in book form can include visas and customs stamps that you acquire before and during visiting foreign countries.
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Passport book cost
First-time applicants aged 16 or older must pay a $130 application fee plus a $35 execution fee, totaling $165 for a passport book. Applicants under 16 pay a $100 application fee and a $35 execution fee, for a total of $135.
If you’re renewing your passport book by mail (and meet the renewal requirements), the fee is $130—no execution fee applies in that case.
If you need your passport book urgently, you can pay a $60 expedite fee to reduce the processing time to approximately 2 (two) to 3 (three) weeks.
Additionally, you can opt for 1–2 day delivery (after processing) for an extra $21.36, which is only available for passport books, not cards.
Standard processing takes 6 to 8 weeks.
Advantages of passport books
The passport book offers the most flexibility and is the best choice for travelers heading beyond North America.
Here are the key advantages:
- Valid for all types of international travel — including air, land, and sea.
- Includes 17 pages for visas and entry/exit stamps, with an option to request a larger book if needed.
- Accepted worldwide as the primary US travel document.
- More convenient for visa applications in countries that require them in advance.
- Serves as official proof of US citizenship and identity.
What Is a Passport Card?
The passport card is an official United States document that is used at land border crossings and seaports for several countries.
US passport cards cannot be used for international air travel, but they are alternatives to state-issued ID documents.
The validity of the US passport card is 5 (five) years if you are under 16. Your United States passport card will be valid for 10 (ten) years if you are older than 16.
The US passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to a limited number of destinations. These include:
- Canada
- Mexico
- Bermuda
- Some countries and territories in the Caribbean
Note: The passport card cannot be used for air travel or entry into many Caribbean nations such as Cuba, Haiti, or Trinidad & Tobago. Always check with your travel provider or the US State Department to confirm whether your destination accepts the passport card for entry.
Passport card cost
US passport cards are cheaper than passport books.
First-time applicants older than 16 pay only $65 to get an American passport card. If you are under 16, you have to pay $50 as the passport card fee.
US passport cards can be renewed online or by mail for $30. You can also opt for First Class mail, and your card will be delivered faster.
The processing time is usually 4 (four) to 6 (six) weeks and 2 (two) weeks for the expedited passport card.
Advantages of passport cards
The passport card is a convenient, low-cost alternative to the passport book—ideal for travelers staying within North America or cruising to nearby destinations.
Here’s why it might be the right choice for you:
- Compact and wallet-friendly — similar in size to a driver’s license.
- Valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and select Caribbean countries.
- Accepted ID on closed-loop cruises, in place of a birth certificate.
- Can be used for domestic flights as a Real ID-compliant form of identification.
- Less expensive than a passport book, both for first-time applicants and renewals.
- Useful for children and non-drivers who need a government-issued ID.
A Passport Book and a Passport Card—Differences
Many people are unsure of the difference between a passport book and a passport card.
The key difference between a passport card and a book is that the latter is the only document approved for international air travel. Passport cards, on the other hand, are mainly issued for northern and southern US border residents who often exit and enter the country by land or sea.
Passport cards obviously can’t include visas or stamps; however, they’re very convenient for those who often cross the border(s) with Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, or Bermuda by land or sea.
Another difference between a passport in book and card form is the size. The US passport card is smaller than the passport book. However, just like the US driver’s license, both passport cards and passport books are Western Hemisphere Travel-Initiative approved documents.
Do I Need a Passport Book and Card?
Wondering whether you need a passport book, a passport card, or both? If you want to travel internationally by air, you will need to have a traditional passport book. If you have a passport book, you won’t need to get a passport card.
The passport card is more suitable for people who frequently cross the Canadian or Mexican border by land, for citizens who don’t hold a driver’s license and need an ID document, for children who don’t have another identification card, as well as for sailors that sail in international waters between the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada and the US.
Still, note that cruise passengers are encouraged to have both: a passport card and book (in case of an emergency). Sometimes it’s convenient to carry both your passport card and book for international travel.
Get Your Passport Photos with Passport Photo Online
No matter which type of document you choose, you will need to fill out a passport application and prepare a suitable passport photo. Here is where Passport Photo Online comes in handy.
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Our tool will thoroughly verify your ID photo, making sure that it’s compliant with all official government requirements before sending you the final version. That way, you’ll know that your passport card (or book) photo is 100% accurate and meets the official US standards in terms of size, composition, and light distribution.
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See what people say about Passport Photo Online:
Passport Book Versus Passport Card – Wrap-Up
Choosing between a passport book and a card comes down to where—and how—you plan to travel.
A passport card is enough for land and sea travel to nearby countries like Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and parts of the Caribbean.
If you’re flying internationally, you’ll need a passport book.
For added convenience and flexibility, carrying both documents can be a smart choice.
FAQ
Can passport cards be used as a form of identification when traveling to Europe by ship?
Do I need to bring my birth certificate with me on a closed-loop cruise if I have a valid passport card?
Can I use my passport card for domestic flights?
What is the cost of a passport card versus a book?
What foreign countries can I visit with a passport card?
Do you need a passport book <em>and</em> card?
Do I need a passport card if I have a passport book?
Why would you need both a passport book and a passport card?
Sources
- [1] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html
- [2] https://nl.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/apply-passport-card/
Karolina’s passion for law, technology and photography led her to PhotoAiD S.A., where for the past 3 years she has been an expert in the implementation of passport photo compliance procedures in +80 countries around the world.
