Do You Need a Passport to Go to the Bahamas? - Expedited Passports

UPDATE: Effective June 1st, 2009, the requirements to travel to the Bahamas have changed. Please see this entry for the most up-to-date information.

Changing travel regulations have left many people scratching their heads, wondering whether or not you need a passport to go the Bahamas.

Actually, it depends. Right now, if you’re traveling to or from the Bahamas by sea, all you need is government-issued photo identification and proof of citizenship, such as your birth certificate.  However, if you’re flying, you have to have a US passport to re-enter the US from the Bahamas.

On June 1st, 2009, the rules are changing again. After that date, almost everybody who is traveling to the Bahamas will need a passport to re-enter the US, whether they are traveling by land or by sea.  There are only a few  exceptions: (more…)

Recently, the government began offering international travelers a choice between the familiar passport books of old and new passport cards. What’s the difference between old school passports and passport cards, and which type of passport do you need for your trip?

The most obvious difference between passport books and passport cards is the design, of course. The wallet-sized passport card is designed to be more convenient and less cumbersome than regular passports. You can just slip it in your wallet, right behind your driver’s license. Passport cards are also cheaper than passports. The application fee for a passport card is only $20, versus $75 for a passport book.

So, passport cards are cheaper and more convenient. That makes them better than regular passports, right? Not so fast…for many travelers, passport cards have a fatal flaw in that they aren’t acceptable for air travel like regular passports are.  If you’re driving into Mexico, you might not think that’s much of an issue. But, what if you have an emergency while you’re in Mexico and you need to fly home? A regular passport book may cost a little bit more, but it’s valid for 10 years for all types of travel. Regular passports are a better value for frequent travelers because you won’t have to reapply if your next trip out of the country is by plane.

If you leave near the border, drive across frequently, and simply don’t want to carry the slightly bulkier passport book, you may want to consider a passport card. For most people, though, a passport book is the best bet.

Finally, you can expedite a passport book, but if you need to leave the country in a hurry, there’s currently no way to expedite a passport card.