U.S. Territories
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Travel to and from the United States and any U.S. territory does not require a passport. This includes air, land or sea travel to countries like Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. Driver's licenses or state-issued photo identification cards for non-drivers should be carried where passports are not needed.
Passport Fees
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An estimated 91 million Americans have a passport and are strongly encouraged to carry it while traveling outside of the United States. The U.S. Department of State is proposing a fee increase to process new or renewed U.S. passports and passport cards. New passports would climb from $100 to $135 and passport cards would increase from $45 to $55. The rate increase would take effect sometime in late March or early April 2010.
WHTI Travel Documents
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Since 2009, travel between the U.S. and WHTI countries by air requires a passport or other valid travel document. Entering these countries by land or sea, U.S. travelers must possess a passport, passport card or WHTI-valid document. Children under 16 years old may still present only an original U.S. birth certificate to enter these countries at land or sea entry points.
WHTI-approved travel documents:
• Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)
• State enhanced driver's license
• Special groups: e.g., U.S. military, Native Americans, Merchant Marines.
Travel Visas
Countries issue visas for work, travel or school reasons and vary in duration. Visa requirements also vary between countries and within regions. Some countries that do not require American citizens to obtain a visa to visit their nation, as of March 2010, are: Argentina, Austria, Guatemala, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The U.S. Department of State advises all travelers to review country-specific entry and exit requirements on their website prior to departure, as requirements may change.
Passport Card
More than 1 million U.S. passport cards have been issued. Smaller and cheaper than a passport book, these cards are best suited for U.S. travelers who frequently travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean region by land or sea.
