Can You Have More Than One Passport?

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you have a keen interest in travel. It follows that you’re also likely to have a passport — or at least be thinking of renewing or applying for one. But did you know that while most Americans will hold a single U.S. passport, it’s actually possible to have two? Before your next trip, explore the circumstances in which you might qualify for a second passport and why it might be necessary. 

More Americans Have Passports Than Ever Before

If the number of passport holders is anything to go by, international travel has become increasingly popular. According to official figures published by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, over 160 million valid passports were in circulation in 2023. That total represents about 46% of the American population and is the highest proportion of passport holders at any point in the country’s history. It’s a considerable increase from 1989, when that figure was a comparatively paltry 7.3 million.

What Are Passport Cards?

Not all U.S. passports are created equal, however. When applying for a passport, travelers can opt for a card or a book. (Or you can possess both at the same time.) The passport card is considerably cheaper, costing just $30 compared to $130 for a passport book. Unlike a passport book, however, a passport card cannot be used for international air travel. It proves your identity and your citizenship, so it’s good for cross-border journeys by car, such as those between the U.S. and Canada or Mexico. A passport card also covers travel by sea to the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Applying for a Second Passport Book

Americans already in possession of a passport book can, in certain circumstances, be issued a second U.S. passport (for a maximum of two). Asking for a second passport book isn’t a guarantee you’ll get one — as part of the application process, you’ll need to supply a signed statement explaining your reasons for needing it.

Additionally, you won’t be able to use a second passport book for as long as your first one. It has a maximum validity of four years instead of the usual 10 years for a standard adult passport. It also contains exactly the same personal information as the first passport; you can’t obtain one in a different name or gender, for example. Finally, second passport cards (as opposed to passport books) cannot be issued.

Why Might You Need a Second U.S. Passport?

The U.S. State Department will only issue a second passport in a limited number of circumstances, such as when travel is to countries with political differences. For instance, if your first passport already contains an Israeli visa, or an entry or exit stamp in certain countries in the Middle East, some other countries may deny you entry. To get around the situation, a second passport can be issued. 

Frequent travelers may also have to submit their first passport to a country’s embassy so that a visa can be processed. This can be a time-consuming ordeal, as some consular departments require many weeks to assess an application. In the meantime, the passport holder might need to travel to a different country, and by having a second passport book, they can do so until their first one has been returned.

Another possibility could be that the passport holder is preparing to embark on a lengthy trip requiring multiple visas from different countries. If there wasn’t sufficient time to be able to secure these when the first passport has to be sent away and returned by various consular divisions, this may be a valid reason for requesting a second passport. Increasingly, however, visa applications can be done online by uploading a photograph of the relevant document, so this is becoming less of an issue.

Finally, there might also be a situation where the first passport is still in date and contains a valid visa, but it doesn’t have sufficient blank pages to satisfy another country’s border officials. Renewing the first passport in this circumstance would effectively waste that visa, so applying for a second passport may turn out to be cheaper — particularly if the holder has been issued a work visa for a foreign country that isn’t due to expire for some time.

Dual Nationality

Finally, another instance where you may legally possess two passports — albeit ones from different countries — is if you hold dual nationality, as is permitted under U.S. law. Those with dual nationality are bound by the laws and subject to the obligations of both countries. It’s important to note, however, that when exiting and entering the United States, it is a legal requirement to use your U.S. passport rather than that of the other country.