So, you’ve been itching to get away on that tropical vacation, but your passport’s expired or you don’t even have one. Check out these great places for traveling without a passport.
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We all know that we can travel anywhere within the US without a passport. And, there are some great US destinations–even tropical and exotic ones. However, did you know there are ways of traveling without a passport abroad?
Documentation
There are various types of identity documents. While there are others, the main travel related ones for US citizens include: passport book, passport card, government-issued photo ID, enhanced drivers license, certified copy of a US birth certificate.
Passport Book
This is the most familiar and straight forward travel document. However, since this post is about traveling without a passport, suffice it to say that it’s also the most expensive and time consuming item on the list. Not only do you need the appropriate documentation, time, and fees, but if you’re applying (or renewing) for a minor then both parents need to be present. If that’s not possible, then you’ll need a notarized letter from the absent parent giving permission for the passport application.
Suffice it to say, there’s a reason you’re reading an article about traveling without a passport. Nonetheless, as of this writing, you can basically travel visa free to 186 countries with a US passport book. Some other restrictions may exist, though.
Passport Card
The passport card it probably the least familiar since it really has a very limited use. Its the size of a credit card and is only valid for travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
Since the processing time is generally much quicker than a traditional passport, and it’s much less expensive, this is a good passport option if you live near the border and cross it frequently by land. Or, if you plan to travel to any of these locations by land or sea and really don’t foresee any other international travel in the next 10 years (5 for children under 16), since that’s the length of validity.
Government Issued Photo ID
When traveling to [most] US territories, an approved government issued photo ID is sufficient. And this really is just because you need proof of ID anytime you board a plane. As of May 2023, your state-issued ID needs to be REAL ID compliant.
Enhanced Drivers License
These are drivers licenses that include bar codes and RFID chips. They provide proof of ID and US citizenship. Currently, they are only available in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington. They are limited to travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Certified Copy of a US Birth Certificate
This is something you probably have already–although you should confirm that it’s a “certified” copy. If you need to order a copy, VitalChek is generally the way to go. Fees and processing times vary by locale. Also, each locale has various rules for who can order an individual’s birth certificate and what forms of ID are required to do so.
Where to?
Here is a list of places you can go as a US citizen and the documentation you’ll need if you’re traveling without a passport.
US Territories
You can travel to most US territories just as you would between any of the 50 states–with just a government issued photo-ID as long as you are traveling from a US state or territory. The exception to this rule is American Samoa, which now requires a passport. This includes:
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
- St. John, US Virgin Islands
- St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Closed Loop Cruise
This may be an unfamiliar term. Basically it’s a cruise that starts and finishes at the same US port. Therefore, as an American there are many destinations that you can visit as a passenger on one of these cruises. If you were to arrive by plane, or on a non-closed loop cruise, you would need a passport. Always check with your cruise operator to confirm that their policy does not require a passport anyway.
A word of caution: just because you don’t need a passport does not mean that you shouldn’t bring one. If you have an emergency while on the cruise and need to remain at one of the stops or need to fly back to the US, you will not be allowed to do so without a passport.
Having said that, to travel on a closed loop cruise without a passport, you will need both a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate. Stops on these cruises can include:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Netherlands Antilles
- Panama
- Saint Lucia
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Turks and Caicos
By Land
When traveling over a land border without a passport, you will need a passport card. The US only shares a land border with:
- Canada
- Mexico
By Sea (non-closed loop)
You can travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean by sea, on a non-closed loop cruise, with only a passport card instead of an actual passport. This includes:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- The Bahamas
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten)
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Turks and Caicos
A word of caution: here too, just because you don’t need a passport does not mean that you shouldn’t bring one. If you have an emergency and need fly back to the US, you will not be allowed to do so without a passport. Passport cards are only valid for arrival by land or sea.
Other Ideas
If you’re just looking to get away, there are plating of destinations within the 50 US States that are worth visiting. Check out All 50 States–Now What? for some ideas.
Keep in mind, though, that even though Alaska and Hawaii are US states, if you pass through anywhere else on the way, the documentation rules listed above would apply. For example, if you fly through Canada on your way to Alaska you’d need an actual passport. But if you drive through or stop in Canada on a one-way cruise you could suffice with a passport book. And, if you were on a cruise that started in Bellingham, Washington stopping in Vancouver (in Canada) on the way to Alaska, and returning to Bellingham you’d only need both a state-issued ID and an original birth certificate if you didn’t have a passport book or card.
The option of traveling without a passport to any of these places opens up a world of opportunity. How are you going to take advantage?
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