A passport is a travel document a country issues to its citizens and nationals for identity and travel purposes. In the United States, citizens and nationals have the option to apply for a passport book, a passport card, or both.
While both passport book and passport card permit their holders to travel, their use varies.
A U.S. passport book allows its holders to travel internationally by air, sea, and land. A U.S. passport card is not valid for international air travel, but its holder can use it for travel by land or sea to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
If you prefer to get a U.S. passport card, here are some of its advantages:
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts the passport card as identification for domestic flights.
- The U.S. passport card budget-friendly option for frequent travelers to Canada or Mexico by land or sea.
- The U.S. passport card has the same validity as the U.S. passport book.
Apply for a U.S. passport card in five steps.
Fill-out U.S. Passport Forms here.
Table of Contents
Step 1 of 5 — Fill out a form
You can apply for a U.S. passport card the same way as you apply for a U.S. passport book.
Using Form DS-11
If you are a first-time passport card applicant, you need to fill out Form DS-11, U.S. Passport Application, and submit the required documents.
Form DS-11 requires you to fill out two pages.
First page
Mark the U.S. passport card box to determine that you are applying for it. If you decide to apply for both a U.S. passport card and a U.S. passport book, mark the box that says “Both.” Then, answer the following fields:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Sex
- Place of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Primary Contact Phone Number
- Mailing Address
- List of all other names you have used legally
Second page
- Name of Applicant
- Date of Birth
- Parental Information
- Have you ever been married?
- Additional Contact Phone Number
- Occupation
- Employer or School
- Height
- Hair Color
- Eye Color
- Travel Plans
- Permanent Address
- Emergency Contact
- Have you ever applied for or been issued a U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card?
Using Form DS-82
If you already have a 10-year valid U.S. passport book, you can renew it and apply for a U.S. passport card using Form DS-82, U.S. Passport Application for Eligible Individuals.
Take note that you can only use Form DS-82 if all of the following statements are true:
- You have your passport in your possession to submit with your application.
- Your passport is undamaged other than normal wear and tear.
- Your passport was issued when you were age 16 or older.
- Your passport was issued within the last 15 years.
- Your passport was issued in your current name or you can document your name change.
Form DS-82 requires you to fill out two pages.
First page
Mark the U.S. passport card box to determine that you are applying for it. If you decide to apply for both a U.S. passport card and a U.S. passport book, mark the box that says “Both.” Then, answer the following fields:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Sex
- Place of birth
- Social Security number
- Primary Contact Phone Number
- Mailing Address
- Names you have used
- Passport Book and/or Passport Card Information
- Name Change Information
Second page
- Name of Applicant
- Date of Birth
- Height
- Hair Color
- Eye Color
- Occupation
- Employer or School
- Additional Contact Phone Number
- Permanent Address
- Emergency Contact
- Travel Plans
Get editable U.S. Passport Forms here.
Step 2 of 5 — Gather requirements
Using Form DS-11
Submit the following with Form DS-11:
Documents proving U.S. citizenship
You can submit one of the following:
- Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport — this may be expired
- Birth certificate, meeting the following requirements:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
- Lists full name and date and place of birth
- Shows the date filed with the registrar’s office — must be within one year of birth
- Has the registrar’s signature
- Has the seal of the issuing authority
- U.S. hospital birth record
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth
Identification documents
Establish your identity by submitting proof of identity — one that is a permanent ID card and not secondary. Some of the identification documents you can submit include:
- State-issued driver’s license
- Government employee ID
- Current and valid foreign passport
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Enhanced Tribal Card
- Trusted Traveler ID (Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS)
Photograph
There are passport acceptance facilities that offer photo-taking services; despite this, you can have your photo taken ahead of time. To avoid processing delays, observe the following requirements:
- Colored, high-resolution photo
- Use a plain white or off-white background
- Photo size must be 2×2” or 51×51 cm
- Wear regular clothes
- Do not wear any headdress or eyeglasses, unless for religious reasons
Using Form DS-82
Submit the following with Form DS-11:
- Most recently issued U.S. passport
- Name change document — Submit a certified copy of the legal name change document if you are currently using a different name from the name on your most recent U.S. passport.
- A photo of you — Your photo must meet the following standards:
- Colored and high-resolution
- Size is 2”x2” or 51×51 cm
- The background is plain white or off-white
Step 3 of 5 — Prepare the fees
Passport card validity and costs
| For Adults (Age 16 and Older) | For Minors (Under Age 16) |
| Validity: 10 years | Validity: 5 years |
For a U.S. passport card only:
|
For a U.S. passport card only:
|
Checks and money orders should be payable to the “U.S. Department of State.”
Step 4 of 5 — Submit the form and requirements
Using Form DS-11
Apply for a U.S. passport card at the nearest passport acceptance facility.
Using Form DS-82
Mail the completed application for renewal form and all the other requirements to one of the following addresses, depending on the type of service you prefer:
Routine Service
(If you live in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, or Texas):
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 640155
Irving, TX 75064-0155
Routine Service
(If you live in any other state or Canada):
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155
Expedited Service
(Additional fee applies. For any state or Canada):
Write “EXPEDITE” on the outside of the mailing envelope.
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
When mailing your application for renewal from the United States, you should use:
- An envelope large enough to fit the application form without folding it;
- A mailing service by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS); and
- A trackable delivery method, able to deliver to a P.O. box address.
Step 5 of 5 — Wait for your U.S. passport card
Using Form DS-11
You will receive your passport within four to six weeks. If you wish to receive your passport earlier, you may get it expedited at an additional cost. An expedited passport may take two to three weeks to receive.
Using Form DS-82
The time to receive your U.S. passport card depends on the type of service you choose. The following are the processing times:
- Routine — Six to eight weeks
- Expedited — Two to three weeks
- Expedited at an agency — Eight business days
Download and print U.S. Passport Forms here.