How To Apply For A New Passport Card

The passport card is a valid federal ID primarily for travelers that visit Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean by land and sea. It is the size and shape of a driver’s license, and conveniently fits in your wallet. The passport card is valid only for certain types of international travel and cannot be used for international air travel. To apply for a new passport card, you will need to use one of the following procedures:

How to Get a Passport Card If You Already Have a US Passport

If you already have a US passport, you may be able to apply for a new passport card using passport renewal form DS-82. To use this option, your current US passport must be undamaged and in your possession. Also, it must be less than 15 years since it was issued, and if your name has changed in the interim, you need official documentation of the name change. Finally, in order to apply for a passport card by mail, your passport must have been issued when you were 16 or older. If you are eligible to apply by mail, fill out the form and send it in along with:

Your passport
Legal proof of any name change, if applicable
One recent passport photo
A check or money order for the government fee

If you don’t have a passport already or are otherwise ineligible to apply by mail, you’ll need to do the following:

How to Get a Passport Card for the First Time

Fill out form DS-11, Application for a New Passport.
Pay the fees: a $30 application fee and a $35 execution fee if you are over 16, and a $15 application fee and a $35 execution fee if you are under 16.
Submit passport photo.
Submit proof of identification and proof of citizenship.
Visit Passport Acceptance Facility for adjudication of your documents.

However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a US passport book. A US passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the USA. It cannot be used to travel to any other countries, and it cannot be used for international air travel at all. A US passport book may be a little more expensive and bulkier, but it can be used to travel anywhere, by any means and is the recommended passport to carry.

How to Get a Passport Fast

Standard passport delivery is 6-8 weeks. If you need your passport fast, you can expedite your passport application. Fast, easy, and convenient, an expediting service like RushMyPassport.com can help you with all the paperwork and will hand-deliver your passport application to the Department of State. Your new passport card could be on its way back to you in as little as 24 hours.

21 Responses

July, 19th 2022LUIS
I have a passport card only, at the time of renewal using form ds-82 can I ask for both passport types, card and book? THANK YOU.
- July, 22nd 2022Passport Editorial
  Yes, we recommend having both.
July, 17th 2022Janice
I currently have a passport card only. What process do I need to get a passport book?
- July, 22nd 2022Passport Editorial
  You will complete the passport renewal process.
July, 11th 2022lynn
If my passport book is current and I just want to add a Passport Card. How do I do that? I don't want to renew my passport Book. Is there a way around that?
- July, 15th 2022Passport Editorial
  You can apply for a Passport Card only by going through the passport renewal process. Consider including a written and signed statement explaining that you're only applying for the card, to ensure the DOS keeps your passport book current.
February, 10th 2022Joan
I have a current passport and wish to add a passport ID. I do not want my passport to be destroyed. In addition I do plan domestic travel within the next 4 weeks and use my passport, is there anyway that I can have the passport returned prior to the issuance of the passport ID?
- February, 11th 2022Russ V
  Joan, I would not risk that timeframe at this point. To add a passport card to a passport book, you must surrender it as it is considered a passport renewal. They will issue you a new book and card. They do this because they must be linked up and have the same photo.
January, 26th 2022Jeannette
I have a US passport already but with to also apply for the card. You stated that I have renew my passport to get the passport card and that I can write a signed statement stating that I like to keep my unexpired passport book, do I still have to pay the passport renewal fee or just for the passport card fee?
- January, 26th 2022Russ V
  Jeannette, You will still need to surrender the passport book to renew a book or a card. The DOS will return the expired passport back to you, but there will be holes put in it, to show it is no longer valid. That way you can keep it as a momento. There is no way around this part. Sorry!
June, 5th 2020George Cruz
I think it's great because I don't carrie the pasport book inside the country .
February, 16th 2020Jake
I have a current unexpired passport book that I use for international travel. I’d like to add a card for frequent border crossings that I make into Canada. If I mail my current passport book with my passport card application DS-82, will they void my book? How do I get a card but also keep my current unexpired book?
- February, 24th 2020David
  You will apply for a passport renewal. Include a signed statement explaining that you want the passport card issued and the passport book returned. If you're traveling soon, please call us and we can help you expedite the renewal so you're not waiting 6-8 weeks for your passport.
January, 16th 2020Gary
I'm flying from Boston to Puerto Rico, then boarding a cruise ship to the Caribbean; St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, back to Puerto Rico, back to Boston. Will the passport card be sufficient?
- January, 20th 2020David
  It sounds like you are doing a closed-loop cruise, in which case the passport card is sufficient. However, the Dept of State highly recommends a passport book in case you need to fly home for an emergency. Or if you get stuck on any of your stops, you would not be able to fly without the book.
  - January, 20th 2020Gary Atamian
    Thank you!
December, 13th 2019Sophia Mathew
Thanks for sharing this important information. Yes, the passport card can only be used to travel easily to and from nearby countries by land and sea. But if you travel by flight, it will not be valid and can leave you stranded.
December, 12th 2019Nathan
This site says passport card cannot be used for air travel, perhaps you should specify which kind of air travel; Seatac aiport site says it can be used as ID for domestic air travel.
- December, 12th 2019David
  Thank you for the request for clarification. We added some additional context to help travelers understand that the passport card cannot be used for international air travel. It can be used for all domestic air travel within the USA though.
May, 1st 2019Jean Bonderud
I had heard there were exceptions to where you can use a passport card besides what you mention. Can this be done at a DMV office?
- May, 15th 2019David P
  No, it cannot be done at the DMV. We are not aware of any other exceptions as we go by the information listed on the Passport Agency website.

How To Apply For A New Passport Card

How to Get a Passport Card If You Already Have a US Passport

How to Get a Passport Card for the First Time

How to Get a Passport Fast

21 Responses

Your Reply Cancel reply

Expedite Your Passport