How fast is a passport card?

How Long Does It Take to Get a Passport Card?

A passport card is a convenient and secure alternative to a traditional passport book. It allows U.S. citizens to travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean without needing a passport book.

Applying for a Passport Card

To obtain a passport card, you will need to:

• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship (e.g., birth certificate, naturalization certificate)
• Present a valid ID (e.g., driver’s license, state ID card)
• Submit a recent passport-style photo
• Pay the application fee

Once you have gathered the necessary documents, you can submit your application to a designated passport acceptance facility, such as a post office, library, or city/county clerk’s office.

Processing Times

After submitting your application, the processing time for a passport card typically takes 4-6 weeks. However, expedited processing is available for an additional fee. With expedited processing, you can receive your passport card within 2-3 weeks.

Factors Affecting Processing Time

Several factors can affect the processing time for a passport card, including:

• Volume of applications
• Time of year (peak travel season)
• Errors or missing information on the application

Tracking Your Application

Once you have submitted your application, you can track its progress online using the U.S. Department of State’s online passport status tracker. You will need to provide your application number and date of birth to access the tracker.

Note:

If you need to travel before your passport card is processed, you can still apply for a traditional passport book, which has a longer processing time but allows for international air travel.