You know what documents you need to get on an airplane. For most people in the U.S., you show your driver’s license to the TSA agent at the checkpoint. If you’re taking an international flight, you’ll have your passport with you and might use that instead. The TSA currently allows many different forms of identification to get past the security checkpoint. Here’s the list from tsa.gov:
- Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.
- State-Issued Drivers License or State-Issued ID
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
I’ve seen U.S. passport cards before but never thought they were good for much. What can you use a U.S. passport card for, anyway?
We’ve established you can use a U.S. passport card to get onto a domestic airplane flight. What else? As per the U.S. Department of State, here’s a list of the uses for a passport card:
Entering the United States at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from:
- Canada
- Mexico
- The Caribbean
- Bermuda
So, if you’d like to drive into Canada to see Niagara Falls, all you’d need to bring is your U.S. passport card.
One important point not to be overlooked is that the U.S. passport card is REAL ID compliant. This means it’s a valid ID for the TSA to get you onto a domestic flight, allow you into a federal building, and even get you a drink (maybe).
So that leaves the question – should you get one? Personally, I didn’t. For one thing, a U.S. passport card isn’t free, but it does cost less than a passport book.
Passport Fees
So, a passport card will cost $30, whether you get it alone or along with a passport book.
If you’re only planning to travel between the U.S. and Canada and/or Mexico via land, or to the Caribbean on a cruise ship, then you can save a significant amount of money by getting a U.S. passport card instead of a passport book (heads up: if you’re sailing on Virgin Voyages, they still require a passport book. Other cruise lines may, as well; check with your cruise line).
If you’d rather use the U.S. passport card as your REAL ID to board a plane instead of a state-issued drivers license or ID, it might make sense for you to get a U.S. passport card.
If you make infrequent trips between the US and Canada and/or Mexico by land and are not a frequent cruise passenger to the Caribbean, yet travel internationally by plane, it would make sense to get a passport book and not pay the extra money for a passport card.
It’s all up to you and where/how you tend to travel. So, as always, Your Mileage May Vary.
Featured Image By U.S. Department of State [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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29 comments
I’ve had my passport card for 4-5 years. I carry it with me at all times and use it as my ID instead of my driver’s license, which displays a lot of personal info that the passport card does not, such as height, weight, eye color, hair color, and address.
I also use my passport card as a National Identity card whenever I feel the need to prove my citizenship status (legal right to be in USA) such as when I’m within 100 miles of any US Border and I get approached or stopped by border patrol.
I feel there are many other uses for a passport card other than for travel.
A passport card is a horrible idea because no matter where you are, if you are seriously injured or ill and need to be flown home for medical care you must have a passport to fly international and that would be an international flight. Even if you got the US state department to issue a waiver for the patient, the family would still be stuck on the ground and would have to wait for their cruise to end or drive back to the US to catch a flight to be with the patient…
If you are already out of the country you have obviously used your passport book to get there. Having the card is domestic proof or Canada, Mexico travel as noted above if you have read it. Horrible idea? Really? There are hospitals outside the US too…insert eye roll here
Irrelevant comment.
Basically, I would say passport card is simply designed for those people who plan to cross the land border or enter a sea port, for example, there are many Americans who only travelled to Canada in their whole life. For,these people, it is just a wasting of money to get a passport book. On the other hand, if you travel somewhere outside North America, a passport card is definitely a wasting of money.
It’s just an option, and I like it very much.
My family lives internationally and travels extensively. Our passports are frequently tied up in embassies waiting on visas to be issued, and we still need to fly domestically within our country of residence. We have 5 children and use their passport cards as a valid, internationally recognized form of ID. These cards have been extremely useful for us to prove citizenship, age, and verify their identities for domestic travel. Obviously, we’re not crossing any international borders here in Asia using passport cards, but they’ve been extremely valuable to us simply because our kids still have a valid form of ID when their passports are tied up and out of our possession. Officials in our country of residence view them as a form of national ID card, which everyone here has, while state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards are treated with suspicion .
When we go to renew our kids’ passports, there’s invariably some well-intentioned person there to tell us that we shouldn’t get passport cards because they’re worthless for our purposes. They couldn’t be more wrong. On many occasions, these things are the only reason we haven’t been stranded and unable to travel within our adopted country.
Yes, very good point. I leave my Passport in safe with hotel when traveling internationally. So carrying Passport card helpful. Also good when shopping and charging clothes ect.
Thanks
I live in San Diego and should really get one of these so that they stop wasting pages stamping my passport on day trips
Hi Joe,
Great post! I think that is a good idea to have passport cards.
I got them for my kids. We commonly use them when we travel out of the country, we like to keep some kind of ID with us in case that something happens without having to carry the passports all the time. They can be placed in the wallet so for sure its more convenient.
Thanks
I carry it around instead of my passport when I’m in foreign countries. If I lose the passport card or it gets stolen then I still have my original passport to leave the country. I have never had foreign police stop me but it does come in handy when paying with a credit card at a grocery store in another country as it looks more official than a driver’s license
MAYNARD…Yes, I use it the same way. Carrying around a passport book is often not ideal. The card is much better.
Also, my state decided not to be complaint with the real ID rule until we were at the federal deadline. BUT we were ready with our passport cards.
We got the passport cards & I use mine for proof of citizenship to work. When you use a state issued drivers license, even with Real ID they want multiple forms of identification.
Also, yes while abroad I’ve found places prefer the passport card, because it’s a national form of ID & proof of citizenship, vs State issued. Again, not actually for travel but as a National ID card it’s valuable. As well as easier to keep on your person than a passport book.
Exactly — the card fits the form and look of what other countries have for national ID. So we put passports in the safe and carry the cards. Can be used anywhere as valid ID. Have used when buying phone SIMs, at hotels, you name it. In case of lost passport it can also be handy when going to the consulate or embassy to prove identity.
Does this work for countries like Japan who stipulate that you need to carry your passport with you at all times?
I carry the passport card in my wallet. My family drives to Mexico many times a year- 3 hr easy drive from my hometown. It is way easier to carry in the wallet & is never left behind. We do also have the passport book but the card is same size as a drivers license – a lot more portable & not easily damaged
I like my passport card as a good ID to take with me at cruise ports because it’s waterproof and provides some proof of a passport if you had to go to an embassy, etc.
If I have a passport, how do I apply for the passport card?
As J Smith notes, a card can be used as ID in many countries so it is a no brainer to buy one in conjunction with a passport renewal. For $30 you get an ID that your kids can carry when they fly alone and avoids waiting hours in line at my local DMV to prove who I am for a real ID.
The best place for your passport is a hotel safe. You carry the ID instead of a passport and don’t have to worry about passport theft. And if your passport is stolen at least you have some ID to use until a replacement can be secured.
The better question is: why would you NOT get one?? To save $30 over 10 years? Really? When you are spending thousands to travel internationally.
Another recycled article from 3 years ago. But anyway, the passport card comes in handy when you are at a store like Target, RiteAid, Walgreens, etc. that reflexively scans your drivers license to capture (supposedly only) the birth date when you buy cold medicines, alcohol or other age restricted items. That 2D barcode contains all the information printed on your ID. We all know what happened with Target’s little data breach. The only places I permit my drivers license to be scanned is a bank, brokerage, car rental or TSA.
Washington state is pro-illegal alien so they refused to have RealID. Instead, they met the government requirement by designating the Enhanced DL as the RealID compliant ID. The Enhanced DL costs works out to be $7 per year more or $70 per decade. This is more than double the passport card costs. Therefore, if one is a Washington resident and doesn’t want to have to carry around a bulky passport for domestic air travel, then a passport card is cheaper than getting RealID (in the form of a Washington Enhanced DL).
Washington state is becoming crazy. In about 15 years, it will be fully crazy.
Given you have a Global Entry card (which many of us in this hobby can get for free via certain credit cards covering Global Entry membership fee), is a Passport card of any use? Does a Passport card do anything that a Global Entry card does not?
We have a two year old and use the passport card as ID for her. Otherwise we would have no govt approved photo identification outside of a passport.
Totally worth it. Domestically, my wife used to use it when flying every week for work because she was concerned about losing her license at TSA or misplacing it in a pocket vs her wallet and not being able to rent a car. Abroad, we use it a LOT. Lock passport in hotel safe and carry the passport card to use as ID if ever needed. It looks and feels like a normal national ID card, which for political reasons America doesn’t have, but everywhere else in the world they see my card and know what to do. We can walk around with the passport card as valid ID and not be afraid of losing passport theft, etc. Also, in case of a lost passport he card is handy to help expedite things at the embassy.
Passport card has multipurpose use. It’s a proof of U.S. citizenship, a government ID card, a real ID that can be used for domestic travel, an ID to board Caribbean and Bermuda cruise as well as driving to Canada and Mexico. Take note: it cannot be used to fly abroad. You will need a passport for that purpose.
Here we go with all the know it all comments. It’s simple….you like it or don’t. No need to tell about all your travels!!!
Ed, why did you read the comments if you did not want to come out and play?
No, shade, I am just curious about people who post negative comments. What drives it.
Be VERY careful when applying for a passport. My elderly Aunt had “assistance” from the USPS and they checked the “passport card” box instead of “passport” and we endured a nightmare trying to get her a passport in time. Elderly people need help and she was given wrong info and we had to contact MN Senator Klobuchar for assistance but ONLY within 2 weeks. She got it the last possible day she could.
For privacy activists, the passport card is a good privacy tool for domestic flights and other ID requirements. It does not have your address listed on it, unlike Real ID driving licenses.