LEARN
DO I NEED A
PASSPORT?
All American citizens or non-citizen nationals with plans to travel abroad need a passport. If you are an American citizen, you will need this travel document now more than ever. A passport is needed in order to fly to Europe or Asia or beyond as well as to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Children, including infants, must have their own valid passports in order to travel abroad. Expired passports cannot be used for travel by anyone. Depending on the country or countries you plan to visit, you may be required to have 3 to 6 months of validity remaining in your passport. This is especially true if the country requires an entry visa. Not all countries require additional validity in a passport buy many do. Please verify entry requirements early so that you can get the necessary documents in time for your trip.It is essential that you have the correct documents before you arrive at the airport. The airline you're traveling with or your travel agent should be able to assist you. If you plan to travel beyond the borders of the United States, the best thing you can do in order to avoid problems is to get a passport.
Before you travel, learn the entry requirements of the foreign country you are traveling to. Additionally, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires U.S. and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S. It is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA).
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.
To learn more about WHTI, travel document requirements, and Trusted Traveler Programs, please visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection’s WHTI homepage.
TRAVELING BY AIR?
All individuals, regardless of age, must have their own passport when traveling internationally by air.
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If you have never had a U.S. passport, you must apply in person, using the DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport.
Please visit our First Time Applicants page for information on application requirements, application fees, and where to apply.
If you have previously owned or currently own a U.S. passport, you may qualify to renew your passport by mail. -
Please visit our Renew a Passport page to learn more about the application requirements, application fees, and to find out if you qualify to renew by mail.
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You may also visit the US Postal service to apply for your passport - US Passport Service Guide
TRAVELING BY SEA?
All adult U.S. citizens arriving by sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean must have a passport.*
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Either a passport book or passport card may be used.
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All U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card.
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To learn more about the passport card including how to apply and the differences between the passport book and passport card, please visit our U.S. Passport Card page.
*Closed Loop Cruises:
A cruise that originates and terminates in the same U.S. city/port on the same ship, is referred to as a closed-loop cruise.
U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) traveling only within the Western Hemisphere, will be able to enter or depart the country with a government-issued photo ID along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents.
U.S. citizen children under age 16 arriving by sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean may present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate.
TRAVELING BY LAND?
All adults arriving by land from Canada or Mexico must have a passport.
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Either a passport book or passport card may be used.
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All U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card.
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To learn more about the passport card including how to apply and the differences between the passport book and passport card, please visit our U.S. Passport Card page.
U.S. citizen children under age 16 arriving by land from Canada or Mexico may present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate.
Apply for your passport now!