NEW TRAVEL DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS: VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION! PLEASE READ!
New Requirements for Travelers – You may also CLICK HERE for the U.S. Department of State webpage!
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
- Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
- As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI
Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:
- U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).
- The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.
- DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.
Background
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administration’s proposed plan to implement this mandate.
The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.
Media Notes
Flyers & Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Regulations
Other Relevant Links
How Do I get a passport?
U.S. citizens may CLICK HERE FOR THE PASSPORT website for information on how to apply for a U.S. passport.
You should allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing of U.S. passport applications.
Peak U.S. passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December.
Passports are good for ten years for adults and five years for children under 16. Currently passports cost $97 for an adult passport and $82 for a child's passport with photo processing and mailing costs extra. For the stereotypical family of four, this equates to $358 plus expenses.
Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports.
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION! PLEASE READ!
Remember, it is YOUR responsibility to know what documentation you need in order to travel to/from your destination! If you are denied boarding due to lack of documentation or incorrect documentation, you will NOT be entitled to ANY refund!
For tips for going through security, click on the logo above or go to www.tsa.gov.
Please read the following guidelines for more information:
**** FORMS OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION ****
** DOMESTIC TRAVEL **
For domestic (within the United States) travel by U.S. citizens, a government issued photo I.D. (such as a current driver's license or state I.D.) is required and must match the name on the reservation. If your I.D. is expired, you will not be allowed to travel. If your I.D. expires while you are traveling you may NOT be allowed re-entry into the United States.
** INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL **
For international travel, acceptable forms of proof of citizenship for U.S. Citizens are:
* A VALID PASSPORT (Required for Europe, Great Britain, Central America and Belize). - OR -
** CURRENTLY ALSO ACCEPTED – ONLY VALID FOR RETURN FLIGHTS ON 12/30/06 AND PRIOR **
* A CERTIFIED STATE-ISSUED (NOT HOSPITAL-ISSUED) BIRTH CERTIFICATE and a GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO I.D. Both are required!! - OR -
* A CERTIFIED NATURALIZATION CERTIFICATE and a GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO I.D. Both are required!!
Married or divorced women traveling under any name other than what is printed on their documentation must supply a marriage license and/or divorce decree (a copy is acceptable).
To check to see what you need for travel to a specific destination, go to: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/travel/foreign/foreignentryreqs.html.
For travel to or travel from Central America and Belize, a visa may also be required. Please contact the local embassy/consulate for further information. To look up the nearest consulate, go to http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/directory.htm.
** INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS **
International travelers, see your local embassy/consulate for travel requirements. To look up the nearest consulate, go to http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/directory.htm.
Know Before you go!