Passport Cards are Now Valid for Land and Sea Travel

U.S. travelers can now use a new passport card for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico and some other countries.

More than 450,000 people already have applied for the passport card, said Brenda Sprague, deputy assistant Secretary of State for passport services, which federal officials started issuing last month. The passport card is cheaper than the traditional passport and intended to be useful to those who live close to the border and drive or take ferries between countries. It can't be used for air travel; a passport is required for all airline flights between the United States and other countries.

The new document — which looks like a driver's license — can be used by U.S. citizens returning to the United States from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land and sea border crossings.

The cost of the Passport Card is $45 for travelers 16 and older, and $35 for travelers under 16 years of age.

For passport/passport card info: www.travel.state.gov/passport/

Please note that the Passport Card CAN NOT be used for air travel. If you're on a cruise and you have one too many at Senor Frogs in Cozumel and get left behind you won't be able to fly back to the US without a passport.