Online passport card test program to begin

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department will begin a pilot program allowing U.S. citizens in the United States and Canada to apply online for a passport card, officials said.

The program, which begins Tuesday, allows customers to avoid mailing their current passport book and necessary forms, saving time and money, the department said in a release.

To participate in the 90-day pilot program, applicants must have a valid 10-year U.S. passport book, upload an acceptable digital photo and make an online payment in U.S. dollars via Pay.gov, officials said Monday. Accepted applications will be subject to the same adjudication standards as in-person or mail-in applications.

The State Department began producing the passport card in 2008 in response to travel document requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires U.S. and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other document that shows identity and citizenship when entering the United States. The wallet-sized passport card, a low-cost alternative to the passport book, is valid for land and sea travel to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, but not international air travel.

People interested in applying for the passport card may visit travel.state.gov.