A U.S. passport can be used for travel by air, land and sea. As of December 2010, passport books for individuals aged 16 and older are valid for 10 years, and passport books belonging to children under 16 years of age are valid for five years.
A U.S. passport card is a more affordable alternative to a passport book and only allows travel by land or sea between the United States and Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda. A passport card for a person aged 16 or older is valid for 10 years. For passport card holders younger than 16, the travel document is valid for five years.
Applying for a new passport should ideally be done within nine months of your current passport's expiration date. This allows plenty of time to get the renewal passport application filled out and processed. Applications for passport renewals can be found on the U.S. Department of State website and can be submitted by mail or in person at an acceptance facility or passport agency near you. If your passport has already expired, you can apply for a new passport as long as your expired passport was issued less than 15 years ago and you were 16 or older at that time.
