Passport Card Checklist (2026)
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Your printable checklist
- Form DS-11 in person for a first-time card
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Valid photo ID plus photocopy
- One 2×2 photo
- Card application fee plus execution fee
Steps at a glance
- Confirm you only need a card for your travel plans.
- Gather the same citizenship and ID documents as a book application.
- Apply in person at an acceptance facility.
The passport card is a wallet-sized travel ID for some land and sea crossings. It does not replace a book if you plan to fly internationally.
First-time card applicants use DS-11 at an acceptance facility with the same identity and citizenship pile as a book application.
Card-only applicants skip choosing book versus card in our fee calculator because the document type is fixed.
What happens if you are missing a document
If you show up expecting a card-only fee but also want a book later, you may need a second appointment. Decide before you pay.
Fee estimate: passport card cost. Full hub: passport documents.
FAQs for this scenario
Can I fly with a passport card?
No for international air travel. You need the book to fly.
Can I renew a card by mail?
Only when DS-82 eligibility rules are met for the card. Many first-time paths are in person only.
Should I get the book too?
If you might fly, yes. See book and card combined cost for one appointment.
Is the photo the same as a book?
Yes. Same 2×2 rules apply.