Passport Book vs Passport Card: Fees, Validity and Uses
22 CFR 51.3(e) says a passport card is valid only for departure from and entry to the United States through land and sea ports of entry between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda, and is not a globally interoperable international travel document. For an adult applying in person, the card totals $65 and the book totals $165 under 22 CFR 22.1; both are valid for ten years unless the Department limits the period. Add up your own case in the passport fee calculator.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Passport book vs card side by side
| Passport book | Passport card | |
|---|---|---|
| Valid for, age 16 or older | Ten years from date of issue, unless the Department limits it (51.4(b)(1)) | Ten years from date of issue, unless the Department limits it (51.4(b)(1)) |
| Valid for, under 16 | Five years from date of issue, unless the Department limits it (51.4(b)(2)) | Five years from date of issue, unless the Department limits it (51.4(b)(2)) |
| Signature | Valid only when signed (51.4(a)) | Valid without the signature of the bearer (51.4(a)) |
| Application fee, age 16 or over | $50 (Item 2(a)) | $30 (Item 9(a)) |
| Application fee, under 16 | $20 (Item 2(b)) | $15 (Item 9(b)) |
| Security surcharge | $80 (Item 2(g)) | No card row in the schedule |
| Execution fee | $35 (Item 1) | $35 (Item 1) |
| Adult total with execution fee | $50 + $80 + $35 = $165 | $30 + $35 = $65 |
| Adult mail-renewal total (no execution fee) | $50 + $80 = $130 | $30 |
| Under 16 total with execution fee | $20 + $80 + $35 = $135 | $15 + $35 = $50 |
Item 1 applies to first-time applicants, others who must apply in person, and minors, who must appear in person under 22 CFR 51.28. An adult applying for both in person: $50 + $80 + $30 + $35 = $195. The current section does not say whether someone applying for both pays Item 1 once or twice, and this page counts it once (see the 2016 proposed rule wording on the passport cost page).
What each one is valid for
“A passport card is issued to a national of the United States on the same basis as a regular passport.”
“It is valid only for departure from and entry to the United States through land and sea ports of entry between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. It is not a globally interoperable international travel document.”
Those limits are stated in 22 CFR 51.3(e) for the card. This page quotes no matching limit for the passport book.
How long each lasts
“A regular passport or passport card issued to an applicant 16 years of age or older is valid for ten years from date of issue unless the Department limits the validity period to a shorter period.”
“A regular passport or passport card issued to an applicant under 16 years of age is valid for five years from date of issue unless the Department limits the validity period to a shorter period.”
“A passport book is valid only when signed by the bearer in the space designated for signature, or, if the bearer is unable to sign, signed by a person with legal authority to sign on his or her behalf. A passport card is valid without the signature of the bearer.”
What we checked
When we checked on November 2, 2026, the fees and the wording above matched the eCFR text of 22 CFR 22.1, 51.3 and 51.4 that was up to date as of October 29, 2026. The passport cost page shows each fee row, expedited service and the no-fee cases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a passport book and a passport card?
22 CFR 51.3(e) says a passport card "is valid only for departure from and entry to the United States through land and sea ports of entry between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda" and "is not a globally interoperable international travel document." The fee schedule also prices them differently: a book carries the Item 2(g) security surcharge and a card does not.
Which costs less, a passport book or a passport card?
For an adult applying in person, the card totals $65 ($30 + $35 = $65) and the book totals $165 ($50 + $80 + $35 = $165). Without the Item 1 execution fee, the figures are $30 and $130.
How long is a passport book or card valid?
22 CFR 51.4(b) says a regular passport or passport card issued to an applicant 16 or older is valid for ten years from date of issue, and for five years when issued to an applicant under 16, in both cases unless the Department limits the validity period to a shorter period.
Does a passport card need a signature?
22 CFR 51.4(a) says a passport book is valid only when signed by the bearer (or by a person with legal authority to sign if the bearer is unable to), and a passport card is valid without the signature of the bearer.
What does it cost to get both a book and a card?
For an adult applying in person for both, the schedule items add to $195 ($50 + $80 + $30 + $35 = $195). Item 1 is one row for "Passport Book or Card". A 2016 proposed rule (81 FR 64088) worded it with "Applicants applying for both the book and card simultaneously on the same application pay only one execution fee". The final rule (83 FR 4428, January 31, 2018) adopted Item 1 without that sentence, and the current section does not say whether someone applying for both pays it once or twice, so this page counts it once.
What does a child pay for a book or a card?
With the Item 1 execution fee, a child's book totals $135 ($20 + $80 + $35 = $135) and a child's card totals $50 ($15 + $35 = $50). Both are valid for five years unless the Department limits the period.
Where do these figures come from?
The fees are from 22 CFR 22.1 and the validity and card wording from 22 CFR 51.3 and 51.4, all in the eCFR. When we checked on November 2, 2026, the eCFR text was up to date as of October 29, 2026. FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, and the State Department's own site and forms are authoritative.
Sources
Reviewed November 2, 2026. Every fee and quotation on this page comes from the eCFR text of 22 CFR 22.1 and Part 51, up to date as of October 29, 2026, and from two Federal Register documents on the execution fee (81 FR 64088 and 83 FR 4428). travel.state.gov is the State Department's own fee page.
- 22 CFR 22.1, Schedule of fees (eCFR)
- 22 CFR 51.3, Types of passports (eCFR)
- 22 CFR 51.4, Validity of passports (eCFR)
- 22 CFR 51.21, Execution of passport application (eCFR)
- 22 CFR 51.28, Minors (eCFR)
- 22 CFR 51.56, Expedited passport processing (eCFR)
- Federal Register, 81 FR 64088 (Sept. 19, 2016), proposed rule, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (FR Doc 2016-22215)
- Federal Register, 83 FR 4428 (Jan. 31, 2018), final rule, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (FR Doc 2018-01809)
- U.S. Department of State, Passport fees (travel.state.gov)