Passport Requirements for US Citizens
Here are the passport requirements for US
Citizens traveling outside the United States. The source of
these rules is the US Department of State. (Refer to US
Department of State Travel Documentation Requirements
below.)
A passport is an official government document
that certifies one's identity and citizenship and permits a citizen to travel abroad.
Only the U.S. Department of State and its U.S. Consulates abroad
have the authority to issue a passport.
Apply for a
US Passport as soon as possible (at least two months in
advance, more time if Visas are required.) For details, click on the
U.S. Department of State's Passport Application.
Many countries mandate strict passport requirements: it must be valid at least six months past any trip dates. Contact
the closest consulate of the host countries for any other passport requirements.
Check to see if visas are required by the host
countries. For a detailed list of foreign embassies and consulates,
click on the U.S. Department of State's Web Sites of Foreign Embassies in the U.S.
If your passport is lost or stolen, report it
immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. Consulate.
A consulate can issue a replacement, often
within 24 hours. Be sure to have photos of your passport with you.
For details click on the U.S. Department of State's Passport - Lost or Stolen.
Better yet scan your passport, credit
cards, plane tickets, rail pass, driver's license and other
important documents into a Word file. Give it a password that you
can't forget and email them to yourself.
That way you can get a copy of your
documents anywhere in the world at a moment's
notice.
For more information - Passport Application page for US Citizens
For more information - Visa Requirements page
The following information is found
on the U.S. Department of State's Website concerning Travel Document and Passport Requirements.
The easiest way to meet the following Documentation and Passport Requirements is to apply for and
receive a valid US Passport as soon as
possible.
Also remember, it is necessary to have a valid US Passport
BEFORE you can apply for any visas that might be required by a
foreign country. -
Uncle Dan
US Department of State Travel Documentation and Passport Requirements:
Source: U.S. Department of
State
Please Note: The WHTI-compliant documents
described below are acceptable for entry or re-entry into the
United States. You may be required to present additional or
different travel documents when entering foreign countries,
including countries in the Western Hemisphere. Before you travel,
make sure you know the entry requirements of the country you plan to
visit.
AIR
TRAVEL
ALL PERSONS
traveling by air outside of the United States are
required to present a passport book or other valid travel document
to enter or re-enter the United States.
LAND AND SEA
TRAVEL
ALL PERSONS
traveling by land and sea outside of the United
States are required to present a passport book/card, or other valid
travel documents to enter or re-enter the United States.
The following summarizes
information available on the Department
of Homeland Security’s website:
- Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are now required to
present a passport book, passport card, or WHTI-compliant
document when entering the United
States.
Please Note: Children under
age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders
using only a U.S. birth certificate (or other form of U.S.
citizenship such as a naturalization certificate.). The original
birth certificate or a copy may be used. See the Department of
Homeland Security's Know Before You Go! for more information on the changing travel
requirements.
The passport
requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or
returning directly from a U.S. territory.
U.S.PASSPORT AND WHTI
COMPLIANT DOCUMENTS:
- U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens
may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or
sea.
- The
Passport Card: The passport card is
only valid for land and sea travel between the
U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
- WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen
travel via land and sea, as of January 31, 2008:
- Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
- State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
- U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction
with official maritime business
- Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
- Form I-872 American Indian Card
For further information see
U.S.
Customs and Border protection.
ABOUT WHTI
The Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a
passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship
when entering the United States.
Please Note:
The WHTI-compliant documents described above are acceptable
for entry or re-entry into the United States. You may be
required to present additional or different travel documents when
entering foreign countries, including some countries in the Western
Hemisphere. Before you travel, make sure you know the entry
requirements of the country you plan to visit.
The goal of WHTI is to
strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S.
citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized
documentation that enables the Department of
Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.
Here are some important planning tips:
Go to the Page on Get Organized
Choose a Good Guidebook
Go to the Library Travel Section.
Passport Requirements
Passport Application
Visa Requirements
Travel Itinerary
What to Pack for Your Next Trip
Choose a Travel Companion
Change Course - Follow Someone Else's Idea of a Good Trip
Last Minute Travel Bargains
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
- Click on the HTML link code below.
- Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,
your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.