What is the difference between a passport book and card?
Short answer
What is the difference between a passport book and card?
A passport book is valid for all international travel by air, land, and sea. A passport card is valid only for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. The adult book costs $130 and the adult card costs $30. Both are valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children.
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Key takeaways
- The book works for all international air travel.
- The card only works for land and sea entry to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
- Both are valid 10 years for adults and 5 years for children.
- Getting both costs $130 plus $30 for adults.
- Frequent flyers should get the book. Border crossers by land may choose the card.
Full answer
The passport book is the standard travel document and is required for all international flights. It has visa pages for entry stamps and visas from foreign countries.
The passport card is a wallet-size alternative designed for travelers who frequently cross land borders or take closed-loop cruises to nearby countries. It cannot be used for international air travel.
You can apply for both at the same time. Many travelers choose the book and card combination so they have a backup document and a convenient card for land trips.