Do You Need a Passport to Go To The Caribbean?

Posted by Passport Editorial December, 11th 2019 in Frequently Asked Questions

The Caribbean is one of the most desired travel destinations for Americans. In previous years, the passport requirements to the Caribbean were nonexistent. However, in recent years, passports are required for most travel to the Caribbean. Before you book that Caribbean cruise, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new passport requirements.

Previously, you could visit the Caribbean with just your state-issued photo ID and a birth certificate as long you were traveling by sea. You only needed a passport if you were flying. However, the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is now in full effect and passports are now required for most travel to the Caribbean.

Travel Requirements to the Caribbean

The WHTI requires US citizens traveling by sea to the Caribbean to carry one of the following documents:

A US passport book
A US passport card
A “trusted traveler” identification card, such as a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card
An enhanced driver’s license or EDL (these have an RFID chip in the back like a passport, and only certain states issue them)

There are, however, a couple of exceptions. First, cruise ship passengers who are taking a closed-loop cruise, one that begins and ends at the same US port, can use a state-issued photo ID along with a copy of their birth certificate. Second, children under the age of 16 can use a birth certificate, as can children under the age of 19 if they are traveling with an organized group chaperoned by an adult, like a school group, sports team or church group. However, air travelers of any age are required to have a US passport book, no exceptions. Additionally, the passport card is no valid for air travel. You can only use the passport card if you are traveling by sea.

The new passport requirements apply to travel to the following countries:

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Jamaica
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Turks and Caicos

Even if you are on a closed-loop cruise, it’s a good idea to have a passport book with you just in case you have to fly back unexpectedly. The US Department of State recommends the passport book for all international travel. For the same reason, if you are traveling with children or sending your kids off on a trip with their church or school, it’s a good idea to send them with a passport, as well.

If the new passport requirements have caught you off guard, RushMyPassport can help. We’ll hand-deliver your application to the Department of State, resulting in processing times as fast as 24 hours!

Get ready to explore the Caribbean-apply for your passport today!

Caribbean, Caribbean travel, passport book, passport card, passport requirements, travel requirements

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38 Responses

January, 14th 2020T
Do I need a passport for my 2 yr old daughter for a closed-loop cruise, from Puerto Rico, to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and Barbados? Or can I just use her birth certificate?
- January, 20th 2020David
  You should check with the cruise line. You won't be able to disembark without a passport though.
January, 7th 2020Craig James LaDue
If my passport expires in August, is it still valid if I cruise to the Caribbean in Feb?
- January, 7th 2020David
  Yes, but you should check with the cruiseline too. If you plan to disembark, it will depend on the country's requirements too.
December, 20th 2019John Taylor
Thanks for sharing this information. I was concerned about my one and half-year-old son if he also needs identification proof to travel to New Mexico.
- December, 20th 2019David
  Domestic travel for toddlers under 2 usually only need their birth certificate. You may want to check with your airlines prior to departure though.
February, 24th 2017Thao
Hello Alison, do my children aged 11 and 9 need passports for the following traveling 1. Flying to Cancun Mexico 2. Taking the closed loop Caribbean Cruise departing and coming back from Florida 3. Taking the closed loop Mexican cruise departing and coming back from Los Angeles Thank you very much for your helps Thao
- February, 26th 2017Alison Kroulek
  Hi Thao, Assuming they're all US ctizens, they will need them for sure to fly to Cancun. You have the option of just using their birth certificates for the closed-loop cruises. However, it would be better to have passports for the cruises, as well, as this would make it possible to fly home if there were an emergency, or to fly to the next port if you happen to miss a departure.
April, 24th 2015Ali
Hello, I'm going on a cruise ship to bahamas I have my birth certificate from another country and DL, Will this be enough for me to travel?
- May, 13th 2015Alison Kroulek
  Yes, as long as the cruise begins and ends in the same US port. It's not a bad idea to get a passport anyway, though, in case you need to fly home unexpectedly.
February, 28th 2013mike
We are planning on a Carribean Cruise in the future but want to make sure we have all teh documentation we need. I understand the loop exception that requires only a DL and birth certificate, but I was wondering about ports of call. do we need passports to go ashore in other countries that the cruise stops on the internary?
- March, 1st 2013Alison Kroulek
  Hi Mike, Possibly. Check with your cruise line to be sure.
February, 26th 2013Jenna
Hi, You must get sooooo tired of answering the same question over and over....I apologize for asking! So my DH, my 12 yo daughter and I are going on a cruise to Freeport and Nassau in April. The cruise leaves from Port Canaveral and returning to Port Canaveral. I have birth certificates from the appropriate town hall/city hall for each of us, our marriage certificate from our town hall and our driver's licenses. Are these "official" documents? Thanks
- March, 1st 2013Alison Kroulek
  Hi Jenna, Yes, for a closed-loop cruise you should be fine- but please double-check with your cruise line, just to be on the safe side. Have a great trip!
February, 21st 2013Dawn Ruiz
we are going on a 10 day cruise from new jersey goin no flying at all...our stops are puerto rico,haiti,bermuda and st.thomas....do we need passports?my parents do cruises all the time and insist we dont....
- February, 24th 2013Alison Kroulek
  Hi Dawn, If you're on a "closed-loop cruise," one that begins and ends at the same port, you'll probably be fine with just your state-issued ID and birth certificate, though a passport is recommended. Please double-check that with your cruise line, though, as they have the final say over whether or not you get on board the ship! Have a great cruise!
January, 27th 2013Rudy
My group is going on a cruise and we all have a passport except for one of my friends. She's having an issue getting her birth certificate. We will be doing a closed-loop to the Bahamas. Do you think our military ID would be enough?
- February, 1st 2013Alison Kroulek
  Hi Rudy, She'll need a government-issued ID AND proof of citizenship...so she does need a birth certificate, I'm afraid. As you can see here, military IDs work only if you're traveling on official orders. Not sure what sort of problems she's having with her birth certificate, but if she just isn't able to be at the appropriate Vital Records office when they're open, she may be able to order from VitalChek (vitalchek.com) and get it in time. They have fast shipping. Good luck!
September, 9th 2012Jenny
Hello- Im a bit confused... I have a 8 yo that will be going on a cruise this December, to Belize, Cayman, roatan and Cozemal... What do I need for him? And would a PP card be good enough to enter these ports or do I have to get a PP? Thank you
- September, 16th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Jenny, As long as it's a closed-loop cruise (one that begins and ends at the same US port) he should be fine with either a birth certificate or a passport card. However, please verify that with the cruise line as they have final authority over whether you board or not. Have a great trip!
March, 23rd 2012Vanessa
Hello, I'm going on my first cruise ever. Going to Miami than to the bahamas the cruise line advised that we get to stay 2 nights at the bahamas. We don't travel outside the US hardly ever and I don't have a passort can I stay the night and return back to with my DL and BC?
- March, 23rd 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Vanessa, You should be fine to get back into the US with those documents, but please check with the cruise line to see what their requirements are for your itinerary since they get to decide whether you get on board or not. Have a great cruise!
March, 13th 2012Declan
I have a Michigan-issued enhanced driver's license. It sounds as though this is sufficient to travel the Caribbean on a closed-loop cruise, correct?
- March, 15th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Declan, Technically, yes, but PLEASE contact your cruise line as some of them won't let you on the ship with just an enhanced driver's license. You may also need your birth certificate, so please call and check. Have a great cruise!
March, 9th 2012Dominique
Hi .. Im planing a trip to jamaica in may. Im going to visit my fiance. Im going by air. From los angeles to miami. From miami to jamaica. I know tht I need a passport . How long does it take to get my passport
- March, 10th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Dominique, You should allow at least six weeks unless you expedite it. If you get expedited service, it's an extra $60 but you'll get it in three weeks. In other words: save yourself some money and apply now! Have a great trip!
February, 23rd 2012Thomas
I plan on taking a cruise with my better half to pop the question...we are looking at a western Carribean cruise to mexico or possibly the bahamas. Do we need passport to sail out of galveston and return to galveston.
- February, 24th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Thomas, Awww, congratulations! In most cases, your driver's licenses and birth certificates should be all you need, but double-check with the cruise line first since they have the ultimate authority over whether or not you get on the boat. Also, make sure the birth certificates are certified, official copies with a raised, multicolored or embossed seal, not a hospital copy. Good luck! ;)
February, 22nd 2012Misty
I just want to be 100% sure about this... if I am going on a cruise out of Miami to Jamaica and Cayman Islands, I am able to get off the ship with just my birth certificate and drivers license when we are docked in those countries? People keep telling me I can board the ship in the US without a passport, but I would not be able to get off the ship in Jamaica or the Cayman Islands.
- February, 24th 2012Alison Kroulek
  You can get back into the US with just your birth certificate and driver's license. You should be fine getting into Jamaica, per the Jamaican Consulate's website: Cruise Passengers of any nationality who intend to remain in the island during the stay of the vessel by which they arrived and to depart on the same vessel, are not required to hold passports. The Cayman Islands' Department of Tourism website states that you do need a passport to enter there, however. Hope this helps, and have a great trip!
February, 18th 2012jen
If i go on a cruise leaving tampa florida, visiting cayman islands and cozmel, do I need a passport or is my license and bc enough?
- February, 19th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Jen, Your license and BC should be enough, as long as the cruise begins and ends in Tampa. That said, please check with your cruise line to be sure. Have a wonderful trip!
February, 8th 2012lee
i am sending my folks on a cruise that stops in bahamas, puerto rico and a couple other small areas. i am wantin this to be a suprise but i dont know if they might need a passport and i dont think either of them got one. what do you think should i go ahead and try to have them get passports or you think i will be ok with just supprising them? deployed guy just wondering.
- February, 8th 2012Alison Kroulek
  Hi Lee, I would contact the cruise line to verify the documents they need, and then I would go ahead and "surprise" them a little early. Even if you don't end up getting them passports, you still need to make sure they can locate their birth certificates, after all! That said, if you get them passports, they'll be covered if something comes up and they miss the boat and need to meet it at another port, or if they need to fly home early for any reason. So, getting them passports would be a good thing to do even if it's not required. You are a wonderful son, and I hope your parents enjoy their trip!
November, 19th 2011Dana
Does passport have to be valid for 6 months ?
- November, 21st 2011Alison Kroulek
  Hi Dana, Which country are you visiting?
June, 8th 2011Marcia Nupa
Hello, I'm a little confused about the closed loop thing. I realize it means it you depart and end up at the same US port you dont need a passport. What if you depart and end up in the same port, but are visiting Italy or Greece or the Caribean? I just want to make sure I'm clear on this as my fiance and I are going to elope in 2 weeks and want to go on a cruise for our honeymoon. We don't have passports. Marcia Nupa
- June, 9th 2011Alison Kroulek
  Hi Marcia, First of all- congratulations! I totally wished my husband and I had eloped. Skip the hassle of planning a ceremony and get right to the honeymoon! ;) Now, about the closed-loop thing: the rule allowing you to travel with a birth certificate and your driver's license only works if you're cruising to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. If the cruise ship stops anywhere else, including Greece and Italy, you will need a passport. Additionally, if your cruise itinerary includes spending the night on land at one of the ports, you might need a passport anyway. The best thing to do is contact the cruise line and see what documentation they want you to have. Have fun!

Do You Need a Passport to Go To The Caribbean?

Travel Requirements to the Caribbean

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