There are two main proof of identity documents you can use to travel around as a U.S citizen. You can present a passport book or a passport card when you enter a foreign country. The two have slight differences we’re going to point out below.

Everything About the U.S Passport Book

A passport book is a regular passport that’s issued to U.S citizens by the government to travel.

  • As a U.S. citizen, you can use it to travel anywhere in the world
  • Passport book costs around $100 per application for an adult and $80 for a kid
  • It can be used for any kind of travel: by land, sea or air
  • It’s valid for 10 years for an adult and 5 for a child
  • Hard to lose thanks to the regular passport size
  • To apply for one you need to submit a request at a U.S Passport Acceptance Facility or at a U.S embassy if applying from abroad

What Is a Passport Card

A Passport Card or ID is issued along with the actual passport and is used by U.S citizens to travel by land or sea. The most common destinations are Canada, Mexico, and cruises to the Caribbean.

You can get a high quality photo for a passport card ready in no time by using an online service instead of going to a photo centre. It’s a foolproof method that is both faster and cheaper.

Benefits of the Passport Card

There are a couple of pros and cons to getting a passport card:

  1. It’s cheaper in price. For an adult, a passport card will cost only $30 and $15 for children.
  2. The application and obtaining process is faster than for the passport book.
  3. The passport card wins in size: it fits in your pocket and you can take it anywhere with you.
  4. You can use your passport card as proof of identity in a time of need.
  5. A passport card only covers travelling by land and sea. But that lets you visit about 20 countries including the Caribbeans.
  6. It’s valid for 10 years for an adult and 5 for a child.

Application Process for a Passport Card

If you need a passport card made or renewed, the conditions are similar to getting a passport book.

Getting a passport card requires:

  • Use a DS-11 form for the first-time applicants or a DS-82 to renew it and print it out one-sided
  • Present proof of citizenship
  • A photocopy of your citizenship document
  • An S. passport sized photo
  • The paid passport card fee

Add an expired card if you own one to your documents when applying.

Passport Card Photo Requirements

The requirements for a U.S passport card photo are the same as for your usual passport.

If you need to refresh your memory, here are a few points to keep in mind when taking a passport card photo:

  • 2x2inch or 51x51mm in size
  • The head should take up around 50-69% of the photo
  • The photo has to be sharp, have no visible pixels, and colored
  • It has to be current and taken to later than 6 months before the application
  • No head tilting in the photo
  • A plain white backdrop is required
  • No glasses are permitted
  • You can wear a headscarf for religious reasons; no other head coverage is allowed

By getting your passport photo digitally through a secure online service, you ensure the high quality of the photo that will meet all required conditions.

Take your passport card picture here and receive one digital US photo for online use and a template of 4 photos that you can print for as little as $0.23.