A passport ID card is the ideal replacement for traditional passport books that wear out after a while to makes border travel more convenient for those who cross them regularly. A passport card is perfectly sized to fit in the card compartment of a wallet and is suitable for anyone traveling on a Caribbean cruise or to a border country. Unfortunately, the passport card is prohibited for international travel when using an airplane to get to the destination.

This slim line passport device is a great alternative to standard passports for people who live on or near the Mexican or Canadian border and travel back and forth to the United States. The cards have a radio frequency ID chip, otherwise known as an RFID, installed in the card. Border patrol agents are specially trained to read information on the chip that is connected to a database that contains the cardholder’s passport information.

The radio frequency ID is safe because there is no personal information about the cardholder on it. Only border personnel who have the skills and permission to read the database information are allowed access. The card comes with a blocking sleeve to keep it from being damaged or being scanned when no one is using it.

The card may be obtained by any U.S. citizen whether or not they have ever had a passport before. This can be done by filling out the required passport application form, a DS-11, and submitting it along with ID and photos. A current passport holder may apply for these as a renewal and they receive a discount in the overall cost.

Fees for passport cards are very economical compared with the cost of a regular passport. A standard card for a first-time adult purchase is $45.00 and children under 16 pay only $35.00. The passport book is more than twice the price at $100.00 for adults buying a passport for the first time. Individuals who want to switch from a paper book to a passport card only have to pay a modest fee of $20.00.

Passport ID cards last the same amount of time as a standard passport book. The adult card is valid for 10 years from the date of purchase and a child’s card can be used for five years using the same criteria. The cards don’t need to be renewed before the time period is up, so makes them very convenient to use.

While people can apply for cards by mail, they will not get them any faster through rush delivery methods. New cards are only sent to cardholders by way of first class mail. If cardholders want to get their cards as soon as possible, they need to choose another method to get their card during the preferred time frame.

Private passport agency vendors are available on the Internet that can help people obtain a Passport ID Card faster. Online providers know how to navigate through the passport process quickly and issue the card in a day or two with an added cost for speedy delivery. The additional fee in on top of any other costs the government receives for USA passport agency costs.