Passport card or book and traveling to Canada?

[FloydCoVa]

I have searched through "On The Road" and have not seen this addressed. When traveling to Canada has anyone used a passport card rather than a passport book? Are there advantages to paying more for the book?

Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.

[OTRA15]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United..._Passport_Card

See "Use" section about 1/2 way down.

[azflycaster]

We have been using the card for the past 5 years for numerous trips into Canada and Mexico. I carry mine in my wallet so it is always with me.

[YippieKiYa]

We used the cards until we got NEXUS for the kids. We traverse Ontario monthly, hence the upgrade. The cards are completely suitable and suggested for land crossings and Caribbean cruise usage. Comparison table below.

https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...port/card.html

[moosetags]

We have the Passport Card and not the book. The only foreign travel the we do is to Canada. We find the card easier to carry, and it costs less. You can also get the book at any time by paying the extra fee.

Brian

[DRBusse]

The card is fine for US-Canada border crossings as long as they are done by road or sea. What if you are in Canada and suddenly have to return to the states for a family emergency, etc., by air?

Yoy’ll need the book to clear customs at the airport.

Also, I suspect hardly anyone here would have the concern about taxes, but several friends who are expats living outside the US insist on carrying the passport book and getting it stamped each and every border crossing as official evidence of their entry to and departure from the US. It’s for tax purposes and not worth explaining other than these folks need the evidence for the same reason the rest of us save certain receipts.

[ZOZ]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

I have searched through "On The Road" and have not seen this addressed. When traveling to Canada has anyone used a passport card rather than a passport book? Are there advantages to paying more for the book?

Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.

My advice is to get both a passport and a pasport card.

As people have already told you, the pasport card can authenticate your entry into Canada by land or sea. The passport book can authenticate your entry into Canada by land, sea or air.

We use the passport card to fly domestically. It gets us through TSA fast. We cannot use it to fly internationally. We use our passport to fly internationally. If you lose one passport document, you'll have the other to use while replacing the lost one.

Additionally, Virginia is not Real ID compliant for use of their basic driver license as ID to fly according to Homeland Security. Some states continue to get extentions into compliance. Don't assume your state will pass TSA scrutiny at every airport. When you update your Virginia driver license, opt for the Real ID compliant one. Then you can use either your Virginia driver license or the passport card to fly domestically.

zoz

[Jekerrville]

We use our passport card for all domestic identification. It fulfills the government photo ID requirements for everything except driving a motor vehicle.

The book is required for international travel. Don't expect the card to work flying into or out of Mexico. It won't. Just did it and because I take both there was no issue.

New systems in the Yucatán allow only the passport book such that you scan it, your boarding info and answer a few questions, get your boarding passes, bag checks and fly!

Coming into the States, pull up the US Customes/Homeland Security app, click your picture, key in you passport ID (not your passport card ID #, they are different) and you blow by everything except the final gate into the county. Slick.

Regulations changed on pre-renewal of your passport as well. Plan on renewal at least 120 days in advance of expiry date.

Safe travels.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by DRBusse

The card is fine for US-Canada border crossings as long as they are done by road or sea. What if you are in Canada and suddenly have to return to the states for a family emergency, etc., by air?

Yoy’ll need the book to clear customs at the airport.

Also, I suspect hardly anyone here would have the concern about taxes, but several friends who are expats living outside the US insist on carrying the passport book and getting it stamped each and every border crossing as official evidence of their entry to and departure from the US. It’s for tax purposes and not worth explaining other than these folks need the evidence for the same reason the rest of us save certain receipts.

^^ Best reply ever. I've spent decades in each country, and I wouldn't do it any other way, for the reasons stated.

[FloydCoVa]

Thanks to everyone for your real world experiences. We have not traveled to Canada since mid 80s and are rusty on such things.

[Wolfe]

i drove into canada on my card, had a med prob and had to fly in to lax had to have book
for flight. The way it worked out was NO BOOK-NO FLY- YOUR DEAD. it was just that close, gull stones.

[Rocinante]

We carry our full Passport and we also have Nexus, so crossings are relatively quick and easy.