Alternative Travel Documents
The U.S. State Department offers an alternative to using a passport to travel between the U.S. and the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada: the U.S. Passport Card. This card is marketed as a cheaper, smaller, and more convenient alternative to carrying a passport when traveling to these destinations by land or sea. However, many travelers may still prefer to apply for a full passport, as the Passport Card is not valid for international air travel.
Application Process Overview
Here’s how to apply for a U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card:
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Up to four weeks from application to receipt
Steps to Apply
- First, determine whether a full passport or the Passport Card meets your travel needs. If you frequently travel to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, or Canada by land or sea, the Passport Card may be suitable. Conversely, if you intend to travel internationally by air, you will require a real passport. (Note: No passport or passport card is necessary to travel to overseas U.S. possessions and territories, such as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
- Consider the cost difference between a passport and a Passport Card. Currently, the fees for a new passport are $135 for adults and $105 for children under 16. In contrast, fees for a Passport Card are $55 for adults and $40 for children. While the Passport Card is cheaper, a full passport allows travel to all international destinations, including by air, sea, or land. (You can apply for both a passport and a passport card together for $165.)
- Gather the necessary documents to apply for either a passport or Passport Card. Applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, such as original (or certified) birth certificates or naturalization certificates. Additionally, two 2×2-inch passport photos and the required application fees are necessary. If you already possess a valid passport, you can submit it when applying for a Passport Card, and vice-versa.
- Complete the appropriate application form(s) for the passport and/or the Passport Card BEFORE bringing them to an Application Acceptance Facility for submission. However, ensure that you do not sign the forms until you are in front of a passport agent. The application form for new requests is DS-11, while the renewal form is DS-82. Both forms can be downloaded from the State Department’s Passport website.
- Applications can be submitted at any of 9,300 Passport Application Acceptance Facilities, which typically include U.S. Post Offices, town halls, and courthouses. Personal application is required (renewals may be processed by mail). Thirteen regional passport agencies and a Gateway City Agency process urgent applications by appointment for those needing to travel within two weeks.
- Your passport or Passport Card will be mailed to you in approximately four weeks. However, expedited service is available for an additional $60, allowing you to receive your passport or Passport Card in about two weeks. To obtain a passport within this timeframe, you must make an appointment at a regional passport agency; this appointment incurs no fee.
Tips and Requirements
Useful Tips:
- Both the passport and the Passport Card are valid for 10 years for adults, while minors have a validity of 5 years.
- The dimensions of a U.S. Passport are 5×3-1/2 inches, while the Passport Card is wallet-sized, making it easy to carry.
- If you wish to apply for both documents simultaneously, the combined cost is $165 for adults and $120 for minors.
What You Need:
- Passport application
- Proof of citizenship
- Two 2×2 passport photos
- Application and processing fees
