Starting as early as the end of 2005, US travelers returning from certain countries will be required to show passports in order to re-enter the United States. (The aim is to improve US border security.) The first travel zones affected are the Caribbean islands and Bermuda.

If you're planning a family vacation to the Caribbean next spring, BE SURE TO GET YOUR PASSPORTS EARLY! There's sure to be a last-minute rush.. continued below...

New Passport Requirements for US Travelers

In the past, US citizens traveling to several countries in the Caribbean plus Canada and Mexico have been able to travel, and to return to the US, with only a birth certificate and/or photo ID such as a driver's license. Often, children hardly needed to show that much.

Times have changed since Sept. 11, 2001. In order to improve US border security, US citizens will soon be required to show passports when they RETURN from international destinations. (The country you're traveling TO may require that you show a passport, also.)

Note that all members of your family will need passports: children, too.

The proposed timeline for new travel ID requirements is as follows:

• December 31, 2005: Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America.

• December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.

• December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

It's possible that some of these dates may change. But family travelers should be prepared EARLY, to avoid a last-minute rush -- and possible backlog-- for passport applications, as the date for the new requirement gets close.

--Read more, and see updates, at the US Dept. of State site--