
You can track your application’s progress on the Department’s website using the application number. When you submit your application online, you are issued with an 11-digit application number. The passport card also uses state-of-the-art security features to prevent against the possibility of counterfeiting and forgery. There is no personal information written to the RFID chip. If you are going to use your passport card when travelling, you must use the passport card number when checking in online. The passport card contains vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, which points to a stored record in secure government databases. The passport card is valid for 5 years or until your passport book expires, whichever period is shorter. The personal details you provide when applying for a passport card must be exactly the same as those on your passport book.

If I apply for a passport book and a passport card at the same time, how many photos do I need to submit? Your valid passport card will be returned with your new passport book. The procedure and requirements to get a passport book would be just like a passport renewal, except you will submit your valid US passport card instead of an expired or expiring passport book. You would use form DS-82, the same form that is used for passport renewal. What government form would I use to get a passport book? I have a valid passport card, but don’t have a passport book. How long will my child’s passport card be valid?įor travelers age 15 or younger, US passport cards are valid for five years from the date of issue, just like passport books. Your passport card’s validity is not linked to the expiration date of your passport book. When you apply for a passport card, if you are age 16 or older, your card will be valid for ten years from the date of issuance.

Will my passport card expire at the same time as my passport book? My passport book expires in two years, but I want to get a passport card. Separate number formats are used for passport books and passport cards. No, your card will have a different number. Will my passport card have the same number as my passport book? We recommend putting a sticky note on the book’s cover that reads “Do Not Cancel – Passport Card Request.” Your passport book will be returned when your card is issued. Yes, you will have to send in your passport book when you apply for a passport card. If I already have a passport book, do I have to send it in to get a passport card?

Recently, we’ve had a lot of travelers inquire about passport cards, so we’ve compiled this article to answer the most popular questions. US passport cards are becoming increasingly popular… and that means that more and more travelers have questions about passport cards! At, we love answering your questions.
