USA Passport Card

No. Bring your passport.

No, not as far as I know. Maybe someone else has experience with this but I always thought it wasn't because it's not good for international travel (except for Mexico, Canada, Caribbean travel). See the gov't website about the passport card, but that still may not be the definitive answer regarding when you're on the streets of Europe. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html

Can only use card for Canada and Mexico, I believe. Bring passport and a copy of it.

Just to clarify I am talking about walking around on the town.

Where will you be? Maybe check the official country (or EU) website about what ID is acceptable.

The passport card, which is the size of a credit card, was created primarily for the convenience of Amcits living near the US-Canadian or US-Mexican borders to use in lieu of a passport. It is only valid for land crossings into those countries. It also can be used for some Caribbean countries, in which case it would be sea-only entries. It does prove American citizenship, however, in the case of European travel, buying one would be an additional, unnecessary expense. Carry your passport or a copy of your passport's ID pages, depending on the country you're in.

According to the US passport FAQ page, “A passport card serves the same purpose as a passport book - it attests to your United States citizenship and your identity.”

However, I imagine the card being considered ‘acceptable’ might be subject to whomever is making that determination in a case where ID is requested. Since I have a passport card, I carry that when out and about in Europe along with a copy of my passport. It’s not been tested as I’ve not encountered a request for ID (yet).

Although, what country I am in would definitely weigh in on my personal assessment of whether it would be best to have the passport book.

OP, as far as walking around a city, it will likely depend on the location. And if someone asks for it.

I just spent two weeks in 4 countries. After hotel check-in I put my passport in the hotel safe and just carried my Passport Card.

If crossing into another country I had it with me in my pocket. Seriously, how often do you need a passport when walking around a city? Unless there is a serious incident and police are called, how often will you be asked for your passport. And it is likely you can talk most locals into believing it is a legal document. The card has the exact same information as actual passport.

Benefits: My credit card, my Passport card, my cash and my cell phone -- all carried in my front pockets. No pick-pocket worries.

If you are inclined to follow regulation to the absolute, carry your passport.

It is no substitute for a passport, but it probably is a bit better form of ID than a state driver's license in a foreign country -- at least I've always thought so. One plus: the passport card meets the Star ID requirements for flying in the U.S. if you haven't upgraded your driver's license to be a Star ID.

One possible plus: If you lose your passport and have to get a temporary one from an embassy or consulate, I assume getting the replacement would be easier if you could show your passport card rather than a state driver's license.

@Paul - it's not just 'star' DLs that are REAL ID compliant, flag DLs from those states that allow for Enhanced DLs, are also REAL ID compliant (as are other things, like TWIC cards, etc)

Tom, tell the Moldovan police that. Most countries (many?) require you to carry something, and I would suspect most (many?) police are expecting to see your passport as opposed to a card they never heard of. Its all about risk management. But I suppose better than nothing if you do run into trouble.

Tom, I'm bad about carrying my passport, but don't advise people to be wreckless like me. I do carry my Global Entry card, but just cause its in my wallet. I called Moldova, gotta be a passport.

Well, Moldova is not on the way or on the bucket list, but I think the local reg is typically some kind of federally issued ID.

Most of Europe will require foreign nationals to provide their passport as proof of identity. The passport card may be considered proof of identity in the US but that doesn't mean that it is elsewhere.

In the UK it might be different as there is no requirement for anyone to carry identification. When I was a police officer I most likely would have accepted the passport card as proof of identity but that would simply be pragmatism on my behalf and also because there were no rules surrounding what would be acceptable as proof of identity if stopping someone on the street. Personally, National ID cards, driving licences etc would have been sufficient for me, as long as it was a formal, photographic document. Elsewhere in Europe the rules are more stringent.

We constantly have this discussion with the same responses. Some do, some don't. Some have been challenged, others have not. Having traveled extensively in Europe since '72, always carrying a passport (had to present it twice in unexpected situations.) with no problems. Always carry a drivers license even when not driving a car in the US. So what is the problem or concern about carrying a passport daily since it is often a requirement of the local government? Your passport with entry stamp is the only thing that proves you are a legal visitor. Cannot stamp a passport card.

Well, I didn’t even get an entry stamp at Heathrow last month, just scanned the passport at the e-gates. Don’t even remember if they flashed the enter for six months and no access to funds or employment message that used to be on the stamp.

I don’t carry mine with me unless I’m certain it’s needed. I haven’t yet seen the ridiculous check ID for everyone including octogenarians for an alcoholic drink that is far too common in the USA. I may have shown my USA driver license at a nightclub a couple times years ago , but it wasn’t like it was scrutinised since I’m well over 18.

The passport card might be accepted as proof of ID to enter government buildings or anywhere else a form of ID is required for security.

Next time I get my passport renewed, I’ll probably get the card as well as I do plan on more time in Mexico over the next few years.

We constantly have this discussion with the same responses

Until they change the rules, lets enjoy it.

I don’t carry mine with me unless I’m certain it’s needed.

If you walk around a corner in Sarajevo and find yourself smack in the middle of a pro-Russian rally, and the police nab you; be certain at that moment the passport will be needed.
Actually, happened to me with a pro-Communist rally in Rome back in the 1970’s; forgot about that until just now. A young lady handed me a red carnation and I walked a little closer to see what was going on and ……….

I was on a day trip from Paris to Strausborg and the conductor wanted to see not only my ticket, but my carte advantage, and my passport. I guess he was just in some kind of mood, couldn't believe I was clever enough to get a discount.

Hey I've got an idea, let's also argue about the IDP!

the conductor wanted to see not only my ticket, but my carte advantage, and my passport.

Well indeed, if you have a carte avantage, a part of using the card and getting the discounted fare is that you have to prove that you are the person whose name is on the carte avantage. The conductor would ask the French person for their carte d'identité in this case.

"...a card they never heard of." How true. The Bavarian police guys asked me for my "Reisepass" (ie, passport) , not a form of ID, which they would not know anyway. The most recent trips when out and about, even staying in the city, let alone doing a day trip to another town, I have the passport on me snug in my inside jacket pocket. No way will it get lost, stolen or picked. It's not going to happen.

Bottom line ....have the passport on you.

I’ve used the passport card if a museum, etc wants to hold ID (for headsets). Rather lose passport card than passport or driver’s license

When out and about in a big city eg, Paris, Hamburg, Vienna, etc I know the chances of being stopped and asked to produce the Passport are just about zero, in 25 trips this never took place. I have seen that happen to others, when the police stopped "them" to check for ID. Obviously, out on a day trip to another town, the Passport is sure to be on me. Better to have that on me than leaving it in the room safe, even if it's not the law.

There is a test I apply to a number of things and situations. The old Type 1 or Type 2 research errors. Is it better to have it and not need it or to need it and not have it. I always vote for the first and I am very comfortable with that for sixty years.

Saying that you have never had to show a passport proves nothing other than you have not had to show it. Doesn't mean that is always true. Over the last sixty years I have had to show it three times. Only proves that on three occasions I have had to show it. Maybe 1% of the time. All I can conclude is that it happens, rarely, but I was glad I had it each time. Only you can decide the degree of risk you are willing to assume.

We’re back to Clint Eastwood again:
“Do you feel lucky?”