The State Department is now issuing passport cards in addition to traditional passports. They’re wallet-size pieces of documentation that are far handier than the alternative. But before applying for them, travelers should understand exactly what foreign travel the cards do and do not authorize. First off, they can be used by Americans traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. They are not valid for international air travel of any kind and not valid for travel to any other destination.
It is the size of a credit card or driver’s license, and has a photo and identification information printed on it, like a driver’s license. It also contains a chip with a random number that allows border officials to instantly retrieve your data.
A passport card costs $45 for adults, or $20 if you already have a regular passport. The card is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for children 15 and younger.
For those acquiring their first international documentation, a traditional passport is recommended, if only because you never know when you might want to travel farther afield. But if cost is an issue, the card can be a good value, particularly for children. (It’s $35 as opposed to $85 for a regular passport.) Remember that as of June 1, 2009, Americans will be required to provide a single document that proves both citizenship and identity at border crossings; for most people, that will mean a passport or passport card.
Details on how and where to apply for the cards can be found at www.travel.state.gov/passport.
Associated Press
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