How to Apply for a U.S. Passport Card for Domestic ID and Land or Sea Travel

What is a U.S. passport card used for?

The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized federal travel and identity document issued by the U.S. Department of State. It establishes U.S. citizenship and identity and provides a smaller, less expensive alternative to the passport book for specific purposes.

It is particularly useful for U.S. citizens who want federally accepted identification for domestic flights or who frequently cross qualifying land borders.

The most important limitation: a passport card cannot replace a passport book for international travel by air, including flights returning to the United States from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean.

Where can you travel with a passport card?

The passport card is intended for entry into the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean destinations. It does not establish that every destination, cruise itinerary, or transit arrangement will accept the card. Check the destination's entry requirements and the transportation provider's document rules before departure.

For example, a U.S. citizen planning to drive home from Canada may find a passport card sufficient for the U.S. border crossing. If that same traveler instead plans to fly home from Canada, the passport card alone is not valid for that international flight.

Can a passport card replace a REAL ID for domestic flights?

Yes. The Department of State identifies both passport books and passport cards as acceptable alternatives to a REAL ID-compliant driver's license for domestic air travel.

You do not need to obtain a REAL ID driver's license solely for domestic airport identification if you have a valid U.S. passport card that meets the applicable identification requirements. If you prefer to upgrade your state identification, see how to get a REAL ID.

Should you use Form DS-11, DS-82, or online renewal?

The application form depends on your previous passport, not simply whether you have owned a passport card before.

When is Form DS-11 required?

Use Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, if you are applying for your first passport or do not meet renewal requirements. A previous passport issued when you were younger than 16 does not qualify you for adult renewal.

Complete the application using the official Passport Forms and Form Filler instructions. Select the passport card option and print the form on single-sided paper.

Do not sign DS-11 before your appointment. You must sign when the passport acceptance agent instructs you.

Use the official adult passport application instructions to prepare the required evidence and confirm the submission procedure.

Can you get your first passport card using DS-82?

Yes. This is an important exception to the usual first-time application rule.

If you already have a qualifying adult U.S. passport book, the Department of State allows you to apply for your first passport card by mail using Form DS-82. You do not have to use DS-11 merely because you have never owned a passport card.

To qualify for the standard mail route, your existing passport generally must have been issued within the past 15 years, issued when you were at least 16, valid for 10 years when issued, undamaged apart from normal wear, and not reported lost or stolen. You must be able to submit it and meet the name requirements.

Follow the official DS-82 mail application instructions.

For example, a citizen who has a qualifying adult passport book but no card can select a passport card on DS-82, submit the passport book, and pay the $30 card fee without the $35 acceptance fee.

If you are renewing both a passport book and card by mail, submit both documents. If you have lost the card you intend to renew, do not assume the remaining book permits a DS-82 renewal of that lost card; follow the Department of State's lost-passport and new-application instructions.

Can you apply for a passport card online?

Yes, but only for qualifying renewals. The official online renewal service does not accept every passport card request.

To qualify, you must meet all applicable Department of State requirements, including:

• Be at least 25 years old.
• Have a passport that was valid for 10 years, expires within one year, or expired less than five years ago.
• Be physically located in a U.S. state or territory when applying.
• Not be changing personal information such as your name or sex.
• Have an undamaged passport in your possession that has not been reported lost or stolen.
• Have no travel planned for at least six weeks and request routine service.

Online renewal supports renewing a passport card when you already hold a qualifying card. However, if you have only a passport book and want your first card, you must use the mail route rather than online renewal. The reverse situation also requires mail.

Eligible applicants can use the official online passport renewal service. The Department of State identifies opr.travel.state.gov as the authorized application portal.

The online system requires a digital passport photograph and electronic payment. Your existing passport will be invalidated for international travel during renewal, even though you retain the physical document.

What documents do you need for a passport card?

For an in-person DS-11 application, prepare the following documents before visiting a passport acceptance facility.

1. Evidence of U.S. citizenship

Submit acceptable physical citizenship evidence. Examples include:

• A qualifying U.S. birth certificate.
• A full-validity, undamaged U.S. passport.
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad or another qualifying Department of State birth document.
• A Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.

You must also provide a photocopy of the citizenship document. Electronic birth certificates displayed on a phone are not accepted as physical evidence.

If you were born in the United States and need a certified birth certificate, consult the relevant state or local vital records authority. See also how to obtain a certified birth certificate.

2. Acceptable photo identification

Present a physical photo ID, such as an acceptable driver's license or another government-issued identification document listed by the Department of State.

Provide a photocopy of the front and back of your identification. If your identification was issued by a different state from the state where you apply, bring an additional photo ID.

Use single-sided 8.5-by-11-inch paper for the required photocopies.

3. Passport photograph and special documents

Provide one passport photograph that meets current Department of State standards. The acceptance agent will attach the photograph to your application.

Depending on your circumstances, additional documents may be required. For example, an applicant with a damaged passport may need to submit the damaged document and a signed explanation. A person renewing under a different legal name may need a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.

Applicants who qualify for DS-82 by mail generally submit their previous qualifying passport, the completed signed form, a new photograph, payment, and any required name-change evidence rather than repeating the entire DS-11 citizenship and ID presentation process.

How much does a U.S. passport card cost?

The Department of State charges different fees depending on the applicant's age and whether the application is a first-time request or an eligible renewal.

For DS-11 applications, the Department of State application fee and acceptance facility fee are two separate payments. The federal application fee is generally paid by check or money order payable to U.S. Department of State. Confirm accepted payment methods for the facility's separate fee before your appointment.

Optional expedited processing costs an additional $60 per application. The Department of State's faster return-delivery option applies to passport books, not passport cards.

For a personalized fee and form determination, use the official Passport Fee Calculator and Form Guide.

Where do you submit your application?

Applying in person with DS-11

First-time applicants and other applicants required to use DS-11 submit their documents to an authorized passport acceptance facility. These may include participating post offices, public libraries, and local government offices.

Use the Department of State's Where to Apply service to identify the correct submission location and check whether an appointment is required.

The acceptance agent checks your identification, administers the required oath, witnesses your signature, and forwards the application for processing. The acceptance facility does not itself issue the passport card.

Applying by mail with DS-82

Eligible adults complete and sign DS-82, enclose the required previous passport and supporting documents, and mail the application to the Department of State using the appropriate mailing address in the official instructions.

Do not pay a post office a $35 acceptance fee for an ordinary DS-82 mail renewal. Postal employees do not review or accept that renewal as an in-person DS-11 application.

Applicants living outside the United States should follow the instructions of the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate rather than assuming domestic mailing and online renewal routes are available.

How long does it take to receive a passport card?

The Department of State currently publishes the following processing estimates:

• Routine service: 4-6 weeks.
• Expedited service: 2-3 weeks, with an additional $60 fee.

These are processing estimates, not guaranteed delivery deadlines. Mailing time is additional: the Department of State advises allowing up to two weeks for an application to arrive and up to two more weeks for the issued document to reach you.

Passport cards are sent by USPS First Class Mail. You cannot purchase the Department of State's optional 1-3-day return delivery service for a card-only application.

If you have imminent international travel, consult the Department of State's urgent passport agency appointment instructions. Agency appointments require qualifying travel evidence and are not the same as routine acceptance-facility appointments.

Check the current passport processing times before making travel arrangements.

Can children get a U.S. passport card?

Yes. Children who are U.S. citizens can receive passport cards, but the application requirements depend on their age.

Children under 16 must apply in person using DS-11. Their passport cards are valid for five years and cannot be renewed using the adult DS-82 process.

Both parents or legal guardians generally must approve issuance. The Department of State requires evidence of the child's citizenship and the parent-child relationship, appropriate parental identification, and applicable consent documentation. Specific procedures apply when one parent cannot attend or has sole legal authority.

Follow the official child passport application instructions rather than submitting an adult renewal form.

Applicants age 16 or 17 follow the Department of State's separate teenage passport instructions. A passport issued at age 16 or older normally has a ten-year validity period.

What mistakes can delay or prevent issuance?

• Choosing the card for international flights: the card is not valid for international air travel, regardless of whether the flight is short or returns directly to the United States.
• Using online renewal for a first card with only a passport book: eligible applicants must use DS-82 by mail for this document change.
• Signing DS-11 too early: sign only when the acceptance agent instructs you.
• Using DS-82 for a lost or damaged passport: standard renewal eligibility requires an available, qualifying passport.
• Forgetting citizenship evidence or photocopies: DS-11 applications require the appropriate original physical documents and copies.
• Paying the wrong fee: first-time DS-11 applicants must account for both the application fee and the acceptance fee.
• Assuming a child can renew: children under 16 must submit a new in-person application.
• Ignoring passport issuance restrictions: certain unresolved child support obligations or seriously delinquent federal tax debts can prevent issuance.

If your passport card is lost or stolen, follow the Department of State's reporting and replacement process. If a card contains an official printing or data error, the correction route may be different from applying for a new card. See the related passport correction procedure.

What happens after you apply?

After submission, the Department of State reviews the application and supporting evidence. You can monitor progress using the official passport status service and email updates.

If additional evidence or a correction is required, follow the instructions in the Department of State's letter or email. For online renewals, the Department of State instructs applicants to respond within 90 days of the date on its request.

Use the passport processing and application status instructions to track the application.

Your new passport card and your previously submitted supporting documents may arrive in separate mailings. The Department of State advises that supporting documents can arrive up to four weeks after the new passport.

Before using the card, verify your name, photograph, date of birth, expiration date, and other printed information. A passport card is generally valid for 10 years when issued at age 16 or older and five years when issued before age 16.

Official application resources

The U.S. Department of State is the federal authority responsible for passport card applications and issuance. Its official services provide the application forms, fee calculator, submission instructions, eligibility rules, and processing estimates.

Start with the Department of State's passport card comparison and application instructions, then select the first-time, mail renewal, or online renewal route appropriate to your situation. Use only verified government application services when submitting personal information or payment.