FORGET waiting around for your passport to arrive, you can still travel off the mainland US without one.
Several destinations welcome US citizens with just a government-issued photo ID and a certified birth certificate.
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That includes a handful of tropical getaways in the Caribbean and Pacific.
American Samoa, a US territory, can be accessed by Americans who carry a valid ID and a certified birth certificate proving their citizenship, according to USA.gov.
While a passport isn’t mandatory with those documents, it is required if travelers don’t have their birth certificate in hand.
However, US citizens do need a passport to visit nearby Freely Associated States – the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.
Guam, located in the western Pacific, is another passport-free destination, but only under specific circumstances.
Travelers must fly through Honolulu to qualify for entry without a passport.
If you travel through any other international hubs like Tokyo or Seoul, you will need the document.
Otherwise, a state issued ID and an original or certified copy of your birth certificate can get you in.
The Northern Mariana Islands, a group of 14 islands northeast of Guam, also fall under the same rule.
US citizens can access them without a passport, but again, they must fly through Honolulu.
Puerto Rico offers one of the easiest entry options, no passport or birth certificate required for US citizens.
Visitors only need to show their government-issued ID to fly in.
It’s considered domestic travel, just like flying to another state.
The US Virgin Islands, comprising St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, require both an ID and a birth certificate.
Passport rules for US travelers
No Passport Needed (for U.S. citizens):
- Puerto Rico
- Guam*
- US Virgin Islands
- Northern Mariana Islands
*Guam and Northern Mariana Islands require flights through Honolulu and a certified birth certificate.
Special Case:
- American Samoa – No passport required if you have a certified US birth certificate and valid government-issued ID.
Passport Required:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Republic of Palau
Source: USA.gov
While some travel forums say the certificate may not always be checked, it’s recommended to carry one.
A fifth option that doesn’t involve a plane is a closed-loop cruise.
These cruises start and end at the same US port and only travel to destinations within the Western Hemisphere.
For example, a round-trip cruise from Miami to the Bahamas or Bermuda doesn’t require a passport.
However, if the cruise ends in a different US port – like starting in Miami and ending in San Diego, a passport is required.
On closed-loop cruises, travelers can use a government-issued ID and an official birth certificate to enter several international destinations.
That includes Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Belize, and Costa Rica.
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