Yes, you can order a U.S. passport card if you qualify, and it works for land and sea trips to nearby countries but not for international flights.
If you travel near the United States by road or ship, a passport card can be a document to carry. It fits in a wallet, proves your citizenship, and can work as ID at the airport security line inside the country.
Before you say can i order a passport card?, you need to know what it does, what it cannot do, and how the application fits with your travel plans. This guide walks through the rules, paperwork, timing, and common mistakes so you can decide whether a card, a book, or both match your trips.
What A Passport Card Is And How It Works
A U.S. passport card is a plastic, wallet sized version of the passport. It proves both identity and citizenship, and it stays valid for the same number of years as a regular passport book. The big difference lies in where and how it works for travel.
The passport card only works for entry to the United States at land borders or sea ports from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries. It does not work for any international flight, even to those same places. For air travel outside the country, you still need a passport book.
Inside the United States, the passport card counts as a Real ID compliant form of identification for federal purposes such as domestic flights or federal building access. That can help if your driver license is not updated or if you prefer to keep your main passport book at home.
| Feature | Passport Card | Passport Book |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Use | Land and sea entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries | All international travel by air, land, and sea |
| International Flights | Not valid for any flight outside the United States | Required document for almost all international flights |
| Size And Form | Wallet sized plastic card | Booklet with visa pages |
| Visa Pages | No visa pages | Multiple pages for visas and entry stamps |
| Best Use Case | Regular land or sea trips to nearby countries | Trips around the world by air, land, or sea |
| Typical Cost Level | Lower fee than passport book | Higher fee than passport card |
| REAL ID Use | Accepted at domestic airport security checkpoints | Also accepted at domestic airport security checkpoints |
For many travelers, the card works as a backup ID and a border document for nearby trips, while the book stays the main travel document for longer flights.
Can I Order a Passport Card? Online Or By Mail
The question about ordering a passport card can refer to more than one situation. The process you follow depends on whether you already hold a valid passport book, whether you are renewing, and whether you meet mail or online renewal rules.
The U.S. Department of State explains the steps for both the book and the card on its official passport card information page. In short, first time applicants usually apply in person, while many renewals can go by mail and some may qualify for online renewal when that system is open.
Ordering Your First Passport Card
If you have never had a U.S. passport book or card, you apply in person using Form DS 11 at an approved acceptance facility such as a post office or clerk of court. You can ask for a passport card only, a passport book only, or both together on the same form.
At your appointment you submit proof of citizenship, proof of identity, a passport photo, and the right fees. Staff review the paperwork, collect the fee, and send the application for processing.
Adding A Passport Card When You Renew
If you already have a valid or recently expired passport book and you qualify to renew by mail, you can usually add a passport card at the same time. In that case you use Form DS 82 and tick the box that shows you want a book, a card, or both.
You mail your old passport book, a new photo, the completed form, and the fee payment to the mailing location shown on the form. The old book comes back in a separate mailing, and the new book and card arrive once processing finishes.
Some adults can also renew online during limited test periods announced by the State Department.
Ordering A Passport Card For Land And Sea Trips
Many people ask whether they should order a passport card after booking a cruise, planning a road trip to Canada, or visiting family just across the border. In these cases the card can be a practical option.
For closed loop cruises that start and end in the same U.S. port and only visit nearby countries, a passport card often works for re entry to the United States by sea. Cruise lines still set their own document rules though.
For frequent short land crossings, such as weekend shopping trips or visits to relatives in Canada or Mexico, the card saves wear on your passport book and stays easy to carry in a wallet.
For itineraries that mix land and air, such as driving into Canada and flying home, you still need the passport book for the flight.
Costs, Processing Times, And Expedited Service
The fee for a passport card varies based on age and whether you order a card alone or a card plus book. The State Department posts the detailed costs and payment options on its passport fee information page.
Routine passport processing for both books and cards often takes several weeks. The State Department lists current ranges on its processing times for U.S. passports page.
If your trip is coming up soon, you can usually request expedited service for an extra fee. In truly urgent cases, such as travel within days, you may need an appointment at a passport agency instead of routine mail processing.
Because timing can change during busy seasons, it helps to start the order for a passport card months before you actually leave. That gives room for slow mail. That extra buffer lets you fix photo problems, gather missing documents, and relax instead of watching the calendar each day.
| Application Type | How You Apply | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|
| First Time Passport Card Only | Apply in person with Form DS 11 at an acceptance facility | Routine processing plus mailing time |
| First Time Book And Card Together | Apply in person with Form DS 11 and request both documents | Similar timing for book and card, mailed separately |
| Mail Renewal Adding A Card | Use Form DS 82 and select both book and card | Routine or expedited processing plus mailing time |
| Renew Card Only By Mail | Use Form DS 82 if you meet renewal rules | Routine or expedited processing plus mailing time |
| Upgrade From Card To Book | Apply with a new DS 11 or DS 82 depending on your case | Same timing as a standard book request |
| Urgent Travel Service | Agency appointment with proof of planned travel | Fastest processing, often within days |
| Online Renewal Pilot | Submit digital form and photo when the pilot is open | Published online processing window |
When A Passport Card Is Not Enough
A passport card has clear limits, and ignoring them can cause serious trouble at a border or airline counter. Any trip that leaves the United States by air needs a valid passport book.
Some countries outside the card list also require visas or special permits, which can only be placed in a passport book.
Children often use the same card rules as adults for land and sea trips, yet many families still pick a book because school trips, exchange programs, or sports travel can involve flights. Reading entry rules for each country you plan to visit removes guesswork.
Border towns in the north and south may have mixed travel patterns, and a spur of the moment flight deal or emergency could send you farther than the card allows.
Practical Tips Before You Order
Before you act on that question, step back and map your likely trips over the next ten years, which is the usual validity period for an adult document. If almost every trip stays within land or sea routes to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or nearby islands, a card plus driver license might be enough for you.
If you enjoy last minute trips, work in a role that could send you abroad, or might visit places beyond the card coverage list, a passport book, or a book and card together, keeps more doors open. The added cost of holding both documents often feels small compared with the cost of changing flights because your card does not meet entry rules.
Plan your application date with care. Line up a passport photo in advance, gather proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, and review the forms with fresh eyes before you head to a facility or seal an envelope.
Store your passport card with the same care you give a passport book or driver license. Report a lost or stolen card promptly, and do not post photos of it online, since the card holds personal data that identity thieves would like to see.
When you weigh all these points, you can give a clear answer to can i order a passport card? that fits your own travel plans. For many travelers the card works well as a compact, sturdy document for nearby trips and as a handy backup ID, while the passport book stays ready for flights across oceans for you and your future trips abroad.