Do I need both passport book and card?

You do not need to have both a passport card and a passport book. You can choose which one suits your situation best. For example, your passport card will suffice if you are a frequent traveler across Canada and Mexico. But, if you are planning to travel to other international countries, you can get your passport book.



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Passport books are required as identification verification for international air travel. Passport cards serve that purpose but can only be used for land travel into the U.S. from specific destinations. Travelers can apply for one or both documents, as they both are acceptable as U.S. citizenship identification.

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Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

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The American Citizen Services Section wants to remind all U.S. citizens not to travel outside the United States without a valid U.S. passport. While dual citizens may be able to travel abroad with alternative documentation, all U.S. citizens are required to present a U.S. passport to re-enter the United States.

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A valid passport book is required to enter Mexico by air, and those attempting to enter at an airport with a U.S. passport card only may be denied admission.

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You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason (e.g., for an emergency evacuation, you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States.

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Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are two Caribbean countries that do not require a passport for American citizens when traveling by air or sea. Essentially, these countries are regarded as domestic travel within the United States.

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No-Passport-Required Destinations
  • U.S. Virgin Islands. A Caribbean vacation isn't out of reach without a passport if you stick to the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. ...
  • Vieques, Puerto Rico. ...
  • Culebra, Puerto Rico. ...
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico. ...
  • Whistler, British Columbia. ...
  • Quebec City, Canada. ...
  • Toronto, Canada. ...
  • Cape Breton Island, Canada.


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In the United States, you need a valid U.S. government-issued photo ID or a passport from your country of origin to travel through security. You must show that the name on your boarding pass matches the legal name on your unexpired government-issued ID.

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