All About Passports

Did you know that somewhere around 50% of Americans hold a valid passport? Maybe you’re one of those people! Or maybe you’ve never even considered applying for a passport. Do you know when you need a passport in order to travel? Buckle up, because here is a super quick passport overview answering some very common questions!

Question: When do I need a passport to travel?

Answer: Anytime you travel abroad, you need a passport. 

Question: Do I need a passport book or a passport card?

Answer: Passport cards are cheaper than passport books, but passport cards can only be used for land or sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. They cannot be used for international air travel or for visas. Only a passport book can be used.

Question: How long is a passport valid?

Answer: A passport is valid for 10 years past its issue date.

Question: Where do I apply for a new passport?

Answer: Start at usa.gov/passport . You’ll find all of the information regarding where to go, what identification documents to bring when you apply, what to do if you need to change the name on your passport, and more.

Question: Do I need a passport for a cruise?

Answer: In short, most cruises that start and end in the U.S. (also called a closed loop cruise) do not require you to have a passport. Normally, you have the option to bring a state issued identification card—like a drivers license—and an original or certified copy of your birth certificate instead. However, a passport can be vital in case of an emergency while you’re at sea. I always highly recommend that my clients obtain a passport before cruising! Always check the required document rules for your cruise line before booking.

Question: How long does it take to get a passport?

Answer: Currently, travel.state.gov says estimates the processing time for passports to be at 10-13 weeks. It can sometimes take up to 2 weeks for your application to reach a passport center and up to 2 weeks for your passport to be delivered back to you, so always give yourself plenty of time to receive your passport if you have a trip planned in the future. There is also an (more expensive) option to expedite your passport application and this currently takes an estimated 7-9 weeks with up to 2 additional weeks to receive your application and up to 2 additional weeks to receive your passport. Emergency and same day passport services are available under certain circumstances, but you may have to drive hours from order to reach a passport center in those situations. This should be a very last resort.

Question: I currently have a passport. When should I apply for renewal?

Answer: It’s recommended that you begin the renewal application process 9 months before your passport expiration date.

I hope this answers many of your passport questions! If you have any additional questions, let us know and we’ll try to answer them in a future post.