Passport Card Facts

The cool little passport card is smaller, cheaper and more convenient than the traditional passport book but it’s not for everyone. Who is it for? How do you obtain one? What does it look like? These and other questions are answered below.

What is a passport card?

A passport card serves the same purpose as a passport book. However, it is similar in size to a credit card. It attests to your United States citizenship and your identity. The passport card is a fully valid passport. The passport card contains a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

Who is the passport card for?

The passport card was created to facilitate the frequent travel of Americans living in border communities. It can only be used for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

When will the passport card be available?

You can already apply for a passport card. Production of the passport card began on July 14, 2008. Over 1,000,000 cards have already been issued.

Where can a U.S. citizen apply for a passport card?

If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you can do so at one of the 9,300 Passport Application Acceptance Facilities across the country. Fill out Application for Passport Form DS-11 and take it with you. Do not sign it until the acceptance agent requests that you do so. For renew passport, you can request the passport card by mail. Download the Passport Renewal Application Form DS-82 and send it with the required documentation.

What documents will I need in order to apply for a passport card?

The passport card is a fully valid passport that attests to the U.S. citizenship and identity of the bearer. As such, the passport card is adjudicated to the exact standards as the passport book. Applicants must provide documents which attest to their U.S. citizenship and identity such as birth and naturalization certificates.

For specific instruction on how to apply for your U.S. Passport card, see how to apply for a passport. If you are a previous passport book holder and you are eligible to submit Form DS-82, you may apply for a passport card as a Renewal by Mail - even if it is your first passport card!

How much does the passport card cost?

Your first passport card will cost $45 if you are an adult and $35 for any child under the age of 16. This includes the $25 execution fee. Adults with fully-valid passports issued within the last fifteen years can apply for the card, at a cost of $20.

How long does it take to receive your passport card?

It takes the same amount of time for the U.S. Department of State Passport Services to process and issue a passport card as it does for a passport book. This can take from 4 weeks to 3 months depending on the demand at the time you apply.

What does the passport card look like?

Can a passport card application be expedited?

There is no expediting of a passport card at this time. This service is expected to be made available very soon. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, you should apply for a passport book and request rush passport expediting.

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