Can you use a US passport card to travel to Europe?

No. A US passport card is not a safe document to take to Europe. US regulations say it is valid only for land and sea crossings between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Take the passport book. Getting one now also matters for ETIAS, which will be tied to your travel document.

Can I use a US passport card to fly to Europe?

You should not plan on it. The State Department rule that defines the card, 22 CFR 51.3(e), says it “is valid only for land and sea ports of entry between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda, and that it “is not a globally interoperable international travel document” (22 CFR 51.3).

US Customs and Border Protection draws the same line. On its land, sea and air document page, the passport card appears in the list for land and sea crossings. It is not in the list of documents for air travel. A flight to Paris or Rome is air travel, so the passport book is the document to carry.

Does the card work for a cruise that starts and ends in the US?

The card’s rule covers sea ports of entry into the United States from the Caribbean and Bermuda, so it can suit a Caribbean sailing. It does not cover a cruise calling at European ports. Carry the passport book for those, and see our cruise guide for how ETIAS is expected to apply to ships.

Why does this matter for ETIAS?

ETIAS will be linked to one travel document. The official ETIAS FAQ says you need “a travel document that is recognised by the European countries requiring ETIAS”, valid for more than three months after you leave and not older than 10 years. It also says the authorisation is linked to the document, so a new passport means a new application. The FAQ does not name the US passport card, and the card’s own rule says it is not an international travel document, so treat the passport book as the only document to use.

What should a US traveller do now?

• Check your passport book. It should be valid for more than three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area, and issued within the last 10 years.
• Do not pay anyone to apply for ETIAS today. It is not in operation, no applications are open and the EU has announced no start date. Press reporting points to 2027, which is reporting, not an official date.
• Expect to use the same passport for ETIAS. When it opens, the fee will be EUR 20 for adults, with under-18s and over-70s exempt.

The guide for US citizens and the status page keep the current position, and the requirements page lists the passport rules in one place.