A U.S. passport card is a wallet-size document that proves U.S. citizenship and identity. It can be used to return to the United States at land borders from Canada and Mexico and at sea ports of entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries.
The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. Travelers must also meet the entry-document requirements of the destination and the rules of the cruise line or transportation provider.
The card is REAL ID-compliant, so it can be used for domestic flights and access to federal facilities that require identification. It is also an acceptable List A document for Form I-9 employment verification.
Need to Get a Passport Card Fast?
If you need your passport card in under two weeks, you must apply at a Regional Passport Agency.
You can either make an appointment and attend yourself or hire a registered passport expediting service to manage your passport card application process and go on your behalf.
For more, visit our step-by-step guides:
What Is a Passport Card?
A passport card is a U.S. passport document issued by the Department of State. Like a passport book, it proves the holder's U.S. citizenship and identity. It has its own document number and expiration date.
A card issued to someone age 16 or older is valid for 10 years. A card issued to a child under 16 is valid for five years.
The same passport photo requirements apply to passport-card and passport-book applications.
The card can be used in Ready Lanes at eligible U.S. land borders. A Customs and Border Protection officer still completes the inspection.
What Does the Passport Card Look Like?
The examples below show the front and back of a passport card before the holder's photo and personal data are printed.
Passport Card vs. Passport Book
| Feature | Passport Card | Passport Book |
|---|---|---|
| International air travel | No | Yes |
| Eligible land travel | Canada and Mexico | Yes |
| Eligible sea travel | Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries | Yes |
| Domestic flights | Yes; REAL ID-compliant | Yes; REAL ID-compliant |
| Visa pages | None | Yes |
| Adult first-time application fee | $30, plus the $35 acceptance fee | $130, plus the $35 acceptance fee |
| Adult renewal fee | $30 | $130 |
Check the current amounts and optional service charges on our passport fees page.
Choose a passport book if you may need to fly internationally. A card cannot be used to board an international flight, including an emergency flight home from a foreign cruise port.
How to Apply for a Passport Card
The correct application route depends on the applicant's age and passport history.
First-Time Applicants and Adults Who Cannot Renew
Apply in person using Form DS-11. Bring proof of citizenship, acceptable identification, one passport photo, and the required fees.
Use our directory to find a passport acceptance facility near you. Some facilities require appointments.
Adults Eligible to Renew
Apply by mail using Form DS-82. Follow the complete passport renewal instructions.
If You Already Have a Passport Book
An eligible adult can use Form DS-82 to apply by mail for a first passport card while submitting the current passport book. Follow our guide to adding a passport card when you already have a passport book.
If You Have a Passport Card but Need a Book
An eligible adult may apply for a passport book by mail using Form DS-82 and submitting the card. Other applicants use Form DS-11.
See how to get a passport book when you already have a passport card.
Online Renewal
Eligible adults can use online renewal to renew a passport book, a passport card, or both.
- If you have a passport book, you can renew the book and add a passport card.
- If you have a passport card, you can renew the card and add a passport book.
- If you have both a passport book and a passport card, you can renew both.
You cannot use online renewal only to add the other document without also renewing the passport book or card you already have. For example, a book holder who wants only a first passport card must apply by mail using Form DS-82.
Online renewal is available only with routine service and cannot be expedited. See our online passport renewal guide for the current eligibility requirements and application steps.
Children Under 16
Children under 16 must apply in person using Form DS-11. Both parents or guardians generally must authorize issuance, but the State Department provides alternatives when one parent cannot appear.
Passport Card Fees
| Applicant | Application Fee | Acceptance Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Adult using Form DS-11 | $30 | $35 |
| Adult eligible to renew | $30 | None |
| Child under 16 | $15 | $35 |
The State Department charges an additional $60 for expedited processing. Fees can change, so confirm the total on our current passport fee chart before submitting the application.
Passport Card Processing and Delivery
Passport cards and passport books use the same routine and expedited processing estimates.
Routine processing currently takes 4 to 6 weeks.
Expedited processing currently takes 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing time is separate.
It may take up to two weeks for the application to reach the State Department and up to two more weeks for the completed document to arrive.
Passport cards are sent by First Class Mail. The optional faster return-delivery service applies to passport books, not passport cards.
If you have qualifying travel within 14 days, review the urgent passport appointment process. You will need to make and attend a regional passport agency appointment. The agency determines when and how the document will be provided.
If you cannot attend a regional agency appointment on your own, a registered courier can help with document review, submission logistics, tracking, pickup, and return delivery for an eligible application. Compare providers in our passport courier directory or go with one of our most recommended expediters.
✈️ Need Your Passport Fast?
Save 10% on VIP expedited courier service with processing as fast as 2–4 business days. For a more affordable option, choose the popular Priority Service with 7–9 business day processing. Check current available processing speeds.
Who Should Get a Passport Card?
A passport card is useful for:
- People who cross the Canadian or Mexican land border regularly
- Travelers taking eligible cruises or other qualifying sea trips
- People who want a wallet-size, federally accepted form of identification
- Travelers who want a backup proof of citizenship and identity
- Workers who may use it as a List A document for Form I-9
Get a passport book instead, or apply for both, if you may travel internationally by air.
Passport Card Advantages and Limitations
Advantages
- Lower cost: The application fee is lower than the fee for a passport book.
- Wallet size: The card is easy to carry for routine identification and border crossings.
- Domestic identification: It is REAL ID-compliant.
- Employment verification: It is an acceptable Form I-9 List A document.
- Eligible land and sea travel: It can be used for designated routes involving Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries.
Limitations
- No international flights: A passport book is required.
- No visa pages: The card cannot hold foreign visas or entry stamps.
- Limited routes: It does not replace a passport book outside its approved land-and-sea uses.
- Emergency return: A traveler who must fly home from another country will need a passport book.
Passport Card FAQs
These answers cover the application questions, travel limits, and document problems that come up most often. Select a question to open the answer.
Eligibility & Basics
U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card. The required form and submission method depend on the applicant's age and passport history.
Yes. Children under 16 apply in person using Form DS-11. Both parents or guardians generally authorize issuance, but alternatives are available when one parent cannot appear.
A card issued at age 16 or older is valid for 10 years. A card issued to a child under 16 is valid for five years.
Yes. You can request both on the same application or apply for the second document later. Applying for both together avoids paying a second acceptance fee when Form DS-11 is required.
Yes. A U.S. passport card is a Form I-9 List A document that establishes identity and employment authorization.
Federal regulations prevent passport issuance when an applicant owes more than $2,500 in past-due child support. Work with the state child-support agency to resolve the debt before applying.
Application & Replacement
The correct form depends on when the card was issued and when the legal name changed. Review the passport name-change instructions before applying.
A badly damaged card cannot be renewed with Form DS-82. Apply in person using Form DS-11 and bring the damaged card. See the damaged passport replacement guide.
Report it immediately using Form DS-64 or the State Department's online reporting system. To replace it, apply in person using Form DS-11. Review our lost or stolen passport instructions.
There is no automatic upgrade. An eligible adult may apply for a book by mail using Form DS-82 and submitting the card. Other applicants use Form DS-11.
See how to get a passport book when you already have a passport card.
Processing & Status
Yes. Expedited processing currently takes 2 to 3 weeks, plus mailing time. Travelers with qualifying international travel within 14 days may request a passport agency appointment. Issuance on a particular day is not guaranteed.
Request expedited service when the current estimate fits your schedule. If qualifying travel is within 14 days, use the urgent passport appointment process. Confirm that a card is valid for the planned route before applying.
It may take up to two weeks after applying before the first status appears. Use the State Department's online passport status system.
Travel & Identification
Yes. The passport card is REAL ID-compliant and accepted by TSA for domestic flights.
No passport is required for a U.S. citizen flying directly between the mainland United States and Puerto Rico. A passport card can be used as REAL ID-compliant identification for the flight.
A passport card may be used to return to the United States by sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries. Cruise-line and destination requirements vary. Carry a passport book if there is any chance you may need to fly to or from a foreign port.
A passport card may work for an eligible sea route, but it cannot be used for flights to or from The Bahamas. Check the cruise line's document rules and carry a passport book when an international flight may be necessary.
No. The passport card is not valid for international air travel and does not replace a passport book for travel to Europe or Asia.
No. The card has no visa pages and does not receive entry or exit stamps.
Choose the card for eligible land and sea travel and wallet-size identification. Choose the book for international air travel and wider use. Apply for both when you want the card's convenience without giving up the book's travel coverage.
Official references: passport card and book comparison, passport fees, processing times, and online renewal rules.
Compare Your Fast Passport Options
If routine service is too slow, you may need an agency appointment or help from a registered courier. Compare your options before you decide.
