Passport Requirements for US Citizens

- info for family travelers

The Big Change in Passport Requirements
Before January 2007, US citizens were able to take trips to Canada, Mexico, and many countries in the Caribbean without needing passports. Birth certificates and photo id were sufficient.

Passport ID is now required to re-enter the US, as part of a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" that the US is implementing for border security. (Read more at the US State Dept. site.)

For travel to Canada, see updates for Canada Passport Requirements in general, and Passport Requirements for Kids. For Mexico, see updates for general travel, and see also "Does my child need a passport to travel to Mexico?"

Basically -- at time of writing-- all US citizens traveling by air outside the US need to present a passport, to re-enter the US. However, "Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate" or other form of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate. Check Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative page for updates.

Also of interest to families: some exemptions are made for "U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 16 through 18 traveling between the U.S. and Canada with school, religious, cultural or athletic groups" -- read more at About.com's Canada Travel site.

An alternative to passports can be used in limited circumstances: wallet-sized and lower-priced Passport Cards "can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings or sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda."

Passport and documentation requirements continue to change-- always check for updates!

Getting Your Passports: Points for Family Travelers

Start Early
Using normal procedures, getting a new passport has typically taken up to six weeks. A number of Expedited Services are available, but at a price.

Note too that for some types of travel you need to have your passport far in advance of the actual departure date. Some cruise lines, for example, ask that you provide passport numbers at least 75 days prior to travel dates.

Where to Apply
You can apply at one of 14 Passport Agencies; in addition, over 7000 public places accept passport applications. Find the nearest location by entering your zip code at the Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page at the US Department of State site. (Renewals may be done by mail if certain conditions are met.)

Note: when filling in your passport form, remember that the form must be signed in the presence of a Passport Acceptance Agent.

Special Requirements for Children
When applying for a passport for kids under age 16, personal appearances are required by both parents, and by the child; and you'll also need to show several types of documents.

As stated in the Online Application Form for a US Passport*:

• both parents or the child's legal guardian(s) must appear, and each minor child applying must appear as well
• for documents, you need to show evidence of the child's US citizenship, and also evidence of the child's relationship to parents/guardians, and parental identification as well. Check which documents are acceptable.