Where a Passport Card Works for Travel

A passport card is a valid travel document for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. You can use it to cross the border by car, bus, or boat without needing a full passport book. It fits in your wallet and costs less than a passport book, which is why many people get one for frequent short trips to nearby countries.

The passport card does not work for air travel anywhere, including flights to Canada or Mexico. If you plan to fly internationally, you must have a passport book. Domestic flights within the United States do not require a passport at all—a driver's license or state ID is enough.

For cruises, the rules depend on where the ship goes. If your cruise departs from and returns to the same U.S. port without stopping in a foreign country, you can board with just a passport card or even a real ID driver's license. If the ship stops in any foreign port, you need a passport card or passport book.

Key Takeaways

  • A passport card is valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries, but not for any air travel.
  • You cannot use a passport card on international flights, even to countries that border the United States.
  • Closed-loop cruises that return to the same U.S. port accept a passport card, but open-loop cruises that visit foreign ports require one.
  • A passport card costs less and takes up less space than a passport book, making it useful for frequent land border crossers.
  • You can hold both a passport card and a passport book at the same time, and they share the same expiration date.

How a Passport Card Differs From a Passport Book

The passport card is a wallet-sized document that looks like a driver's license. The passport book is the traditional booklet with pages. Both are issued by the U.S. State Department and both prove your citizenship and identity. The card is smaller and cheaper, but it has one major limitation: the State Department does not accept it for air travel under any circumstances.

The passport card also has a different process process than the passport book. If you already have a passport book, you can request a passport card by mail without going to an acceptance facility. If you have never had a passport, you must explore in person for either document. You cannot get a passport card without first establishing your citizenship and identity in the system.

Land Border Crossings With a Passport Card

At the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico land borders, a passport card is the standard document for most travelers. You can drive across, walk across, or take a bus across with just the card in your pocket. Border agents will scan it the same way they scan a passport book. The card is also accepted at the land borders with Bermuda and the Caribbean, though most people reach those destinations by air or cruise.

If you cross the border frequently for work or family visits, a passport card is faster to carry and renew than a passport book. The card is valid for 10 years if you are an adult, the same as a passport book. When it expires, you renew it the same way you would renew a passport book—by mail if you still have it, or in person if it is lost or stolen.

Sea Travel and Cruises

Cruise lines have different rules depending on the itinerary. A closed-loop cruise means the ship leaves from a U.S. port and returns to the same port without stopping anywhere else. For these cruises, you can board with a passport card, a passport book, an enhanced driver's license, or even a regular state ID. You do not need a passport at all.

An open-loop cruise means the ship stops in foreign ports or departs from one U.S. port and returns to a different one. For these cruises, you must have either a passport card or a passport book. A regular driver's license is not enough. Some cruise lines also accept an enhanced driver's license, which is a state ID with a radio frequency chip that proves citizenship. Check with your cruise line before you book, because requirements can vary.

Ferry travel to Canada or Mexico also requires a passport card or passport book. Ferries to Bermuda and the Caribbean follow the same rules as cruises—closed-loop ferries accept a passport card, but ferries that stop in multiple foreign ports require one.

What You Cannot Do With a Passport Card

You cannot use a passport card for any international air travel. This includes flights to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or anywhere else outside the United States. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the State Department do not accept passport cards at airport security for international flights. If you show up at the airport with only a passport card for an international flight, you will not be allowed to board.

You also cannot use a passport card for travel to countries that require a visa. Even if you are traveling by land or sea, you must have a passport book to explore for and receive a visa. Some countries will not issue a visa on a passport card, and border agents in those countries may refuse entry if you only have a card.

A passport card does not work for travel to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam if you are flying there. You need a passport book for air travel to any destination outside the 50 states, even if it is U.S. territory. For sea travel to these territories, a passport card is accepted.

Getting a Passport Card if You Already Have a Passport Book

If you already hold a valid passport book, you can request a passport card by mail without visiting an acceptance facility. You will need to fill out Form DS-11 or DS-82 (depending on whether your passport book is still valid), include a new photo, and send it to the address listed on the State Department website. The card will be mailed to you separately from your passport book, and you will have both documents.

The passport card costs less than a passport book—roughly half the price—and takes about the same time to arrive as a passport book renewal. If you need the card faster, you can pay for expedited processing. The card and passport book share the same expiration date, so when one expires, both expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a passport card to fly to Canada?

No. You cannot use a passport card for any air travel, including flights to Canada. You must have a passport book to fly internationally. A passport card is only for land and sea travel.

Do I need a passport card for a cruise to the Caribbean?

It depends on the cruise itinerary. If the ship departs from and returns to the same U.S. port without stopping in a foreign country, you do not need a passport card—a regular ID is enough. If the ship stops in any foreign port, you must have a passport card or passport book.

Can I get a passport card without a passport book?

If you have never had a passport, you must explore in person for your first passport document, whether you want a book or a card. You cannot skip the in-person step. Once you have a passport book, you can request a card by mail.

How long does a passport card last?

A passport card is valid for 10 years if you are an adult (18 or older) and 5 years if you are a minor. It expires on the same date as your passport book if you have both.

What if I lose my passport card while traveling?

If you lose your passport card abroad, you cannot use it to return home by air. You will need to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to get an emergency travel document. If you lose it at a land border, tell the border agent when ready. Report the loss to the State Department when you return home.