To get a U.S. passport card, you’ll either apply in person like a first‑time passport, or (if you already have a valid passport book) send a short mail‑in form to add just the card.

What a passport card is (Quick Scoop)

  • It’s a wallet‑size ID for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean; it is not valid for international air travel.
  • It works as U.S. citizenship and identity proof, similar to a passport book, but with more limited use.

Path A: You already have a passport book

If you have a valid U.S. passport book issued in the last 15 years and you were at least 16 when it was issued, you can usually get a passport card by mail.

Steps

  1. Check eligibility window
    • Your passport book should be undamaged, issued within the last 15 years, and issued when you were 16 or older.
  1. Fill out Form DS‑82 (renewal by mail)
    • On the form, tick the box for “U.S. Passport Card” (you can select card only or book + card).
 * Even if you’ve never had a card before, if you meet renewal rules, DS‑82 is still used because your identity and citizenship are already on file.
  1. Gather what to send
    • Your current passport book (if required by the specific instructions for your situation).
 * One recent color passport photo that meets U.S. photo standards (2 x 2 inches, plain light background, neutral expression, no glasses).

 * The passport card **fee** (check or money order as instructed; DS‑82 method avoids the separate in‑person “execution” fee).
  1. Mail the application
    • Send DS‑82, your supporting documents, photo, and payment to the address listed in the official instructions.
 * Your card arrives by mail once processed.

Forum tip: People who already had a passport book report using DS‑82 to add just the card, paying about the card fee and skipping the in‑person $35 execution fee.

Path B: You do NOT have a passport book

Then you apply in person , just like getting a first U.S. passport.

Steps

  1. Fill out Form DS‑11 (first‑time application)
    • This is the standard form for first‑time passports and for those who don’t qualify for mail‑in renewals.
 * Do not sign it until instructed at your appointment.

 * Make sure you check the “U.S. Passport Card” box (card only, or book + card).
  1. Gather required documents
    • Proof of U.S. citizenship: certified U.S. birth certificate, previous full‑validity U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate.
 * Valid photo ID: typically a state driver’s license or similar government ID, plus photocopies of front and back.

 * Passport photo: one recent color 2 x 2 inch photo that meets State Department rules (plain white or off‑white background, no shadows, no selfies, no glasses).
  1. Pay the fees
    • You’ll pay the passport card application fee plus an additional in‑person “execution” fee charged by the acceptance facility (often around $35).
 * Payment is usually check or money order to the U.S. Department of State, plus a separate payment method for the facility fee.
  1. Apply in person at a passport acceptance facility
    • Common locations include post offices and some libraries or local government offices; many require appointments.
 * Bring your documents, unsigned DS‑11, photo, and payments; sign when the clerk tells you.
  1. Wait for processing and delivery
    • After acceptance, the application is sent on, and your passport card is mailed to you once processed.

Forum note: Some users emphasize that if a clerk insists you must mail in your valid book to get a card, it can help to confirm the rules with the National Passport Information Center beforehand.

Key requirements to keep in mind

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to get a U.S. passport card.
  • You need acceptable proof of citizenship and valid ID, plus photocopies.
  • You must provide a compliant passport photo; many delays come from photo rejections.
  • Lost, stolen, or damaged previous passport cards cannot be “renewed”; they are treated as fresh applications.

Quick “which path” guide (table)

Situation Form Where to apply Extra fee
Have valid passport book (issued ≤15 years ago, age ≥16) DS‑82 (check “Passport Card”) By mail No in‑person execution fee; pay card fee only
No passport book, or book too old / doesn’t qualify DS‑11 (check “Passport Card”) In person at acceptance facility Card fee + execution fee at facility
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Little story to make it concrete

Imagine Alex, who drives to Canada for work a few times a year. He already has a passport book issued six years ago but hates carrying it everywhere. He fills out DS‑82 at home, checks only the passport card box, includes a photo and check for the card fee, and mails everything in. A few weeks later, he tucks his new passport card into his wallet, leaving the book safely stored for air travel.

TL;DR:

  • Already have a relatively recent passport book? Use DS‑82 by mail and check the passport card box.
  • No passport book or not eligible for mail‑in? Apply in person with DS‑11 at a passport acceptance facility, bringing citizenship proof, ID, photo, and fees.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.