How to Renew or Add a U.S. Passport Card

The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized, plastic document that proves your citizenship and identity. It is cheaper than a passport book and handy for people who drive or cruise to nearby countries. Renewing it follows the same rules as renewing a book, with a few twists about which combinations you can order online. This guide is based on the State Department's card, fee and renewal pages as checked on October 7, 2026.

What the passport card is valid for

According to the State Department, the passport card lets you enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, some Caribbean destinations and Bermuda by land or sea. It is not valid for international travel by air. It can be used to cross land borders faster from Mexico and Canada at Ready Lanes, and it is valid for domestic air travel as an alternative to REAL ID.

If you fly abroad, even once, you need a passport book. Many people hold both: the book for flights, the card as a backup ID or for road trips across the border.

Passport book vs passport card

Fees and features as listed by the State Department on October 7, 2026.

Renewal options for a passport card

Renewing online

Online renewal accepts passport cards. The State Department's online renewal page lists these combinations:

All the normal online rules still apply: you must be 25 or older, the card must have been valid for 10 years and expire within 1 year or have expired less than 5 years ago, no name or sex change, you are in a U.S. state or territory, and you are not traveling for at least 6 weeks. Check each one in the online renewal eligibility checklist.

Renewing by mail with Form DS-82

Mail renewal handles every combination. The DS-82 lets you:

• Renew a card, a book, or both.
• Get your first passport card if you have a passport book, by submitting your book. The State Department treats this as a renewal even though it is your first card.
• Get your first passport book if you have only a card, by submitting your card.

The usual mail rules apply: the document you submit was issued within the last 15 years, when you were 16 or older, valid for 10 years, not damaged and never reported lost or stolen. One catch from the State Department's FAQ: if you are renewing both a book and a card, you must provide both. If you lost your card, you cannot renew the card with Form DS-82. Compare both routes in online vs mail renewal.

Step by step: renewing a card by mail

1. Fill out Form DS-82 with the State Department's Form Filler or the PDF, and select passport card (or both).
2. Print it single-sided, then sign and date it.
3. Staple one 2 x 2 inch photo taken in the last 6 months to the form, using four staples in the corners.
4. Enclose your most recent passport card, passport book, or both, depending on what you are renewing.
5. Add a check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State": $30 for a card, $160 for both, plus $60 if you want expedited service.
6. Mail it with USPS to the address listed for your state and service level. A trackable service is recommended.

Fees for passport card renewal

• Passport card only: $30.
• Book and card together: $160.
• Expedited service: $60 (mail renewals; online renewals cannot be expedited at submission).
• 1 to 3-day return delivery: not available for cards. The State Department sends cards by First Class Mail only.

Online, you pay by credit or debit card. By mail, you pay by check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State." There is no acceptance fee for renewals. More detail in our guide to passport renewal fees.

The photo is the same as for a passport book

There is no separate card photo. The State Department uses the same forms for books and cards, and the same photo requirements apply. The image is printed small on the card, but it is reviewed against the full rules:

• Taken in the last 6 months, in color.
• Plain white or off-white background with no shadows or texture.
• Face the camera directly, eyes open, neutral expression or natural smile without showing teeth.
• No glasses, no hats; religious head coverings are allowed under the State Department's rules.
• No filters, retouching or other digital changes.

For mail renewal, submit one printed 2 x 2 inch photo with the head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to top of head. For online renewal, upload a JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC or HEIF file between 54 KB and 10 MB. The full rule list is in our passport photo requirements guide.

If you order a book and a card on the same application, one photo covers both. A rejected photo holds up both documents, so it is worth checking it with the free passport photo checker first.

Is the card worth adding?

Adding a card to a book renewal costs $30 more. It may be worth it if you:

• Drive or walk into Canada or Mexico and want to keep your book safe at home.
• Take cruises that start and end in the United States and visit nearby destinations covered by the card. Check your cruise line and destination rules first.
• Want a REAL ID-compliant alternative for domestic flights that fits in your wallet.
• Like having a second proof of citizenship.

It is less useful if you mostly fly internationally, since the card does not work for international air travel.

One limit to keep in mind: the card has room for a limited number of letters in your given names. The DS-82 instructions say the maximum is 24 characters for your first and middle names, so very long names may need to be shortened on the form.

Delivery and what to expect

If you order both documents, they may arrive separately. The State Department says passport books come by a trackable delivery service, while cards come by First Class Mail. Your supporting documents, including any previous passport card you mailed in, are returned separately and may arrive up to 4 weeks after your new card or book. When you renew online, you keep your old card, but it is cancelled once you submit.