The United States Department of State recently announced that they will now be offering passport cards as a convenient option for travelers. The passport card is a wallet-sized card that can be used for land and sea travel between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Many people are wondering if the passport card comes automatically with the traditional passport book, or if it needs to be applied for separately.
According to the Department of State, the passport card is actually a separate document from the traditional passport book. While both documents are valid forms of identification for international travel, they serve slightly different purposes. The passport book is required for air travel to any international destination, while the passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to certain countries.
For those who already have a valid passport book and wish to obtain a passport card, they will need to apply for it separately. The process for obtaining a passport card is similar to applying for a passport book, but with a few key differences. The application form for a passport card is different from the form for a passport book, and the fees for a passport card are lower than for a passport book.
The passport card is a convenient option for travelers who frequently visit Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda by land or sea. It is also a good option for those who do not have plans to travel by air internationally and do not want to carry around their passport book for domestic travel.
It is important to note that the passport card cannot be used for air travel to any international destination. If you plan on traveling by air internationally, you will need a valid passport book to do so. The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel to certain countries, as designated by the Department of State.
Overall, the passport card is a convenient and cost-effective option for travelers who frequent land and sea ports of entry between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. While the passport card does not automatically come with the passport book, it is easy to apply for separately and can be a valuable addition to your travel documents.
