Where Can I Travel Without A Us Passport?

Here are several of the world’s best places that Americans can travel to without a passport that is valid in the United States. It still amazes me to this very day that with just a driver’s license or any other form of a government-issued ID, one can get access to so many places. Below are some of the highlighted places that one can explore without the little blue book.

Canada and Mexico

The two countries neighboring the United States are Canada and Mexico and both of these countries permit American citizens to enter their respective countries with just a photo identification such as a driver's license coupled with other supporting identification such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.

For Canada, you have to provide your certified birth certificate which proves that you were born in the US, or a certificate of citizenship/naturalization. Children fifteen years old and below only need to present proof of citizenship.

For Mexico, valid identification that may be used is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card. Citizen children can also use their birth certificates to enter the country. However, please bear in mind that passports are still required for identification and can help avoid time-consuming inspection procedures.

Caribbean Islands

Most of the other tropical Caribbean destinations also allow US citizens without a passport provided that you do not transit through third countries or regions and are originating from the US or Puerto Rico. Popular passport-free islands include:

• The Bahamas - A copy of a state-issued ID is acceptable.
  
• British Virgin Islands – A photo ID plus a birth certificate or voter registration card.
  
• Dominican Republic – photo ID and birth certificate are fine. For children below 16 years, they can use birth certificates only.
  
• Jamaica - A photo driver’s license or voter ID card.
  
• St. Maarten – Photo driver's license or two different forms of ID which can be a birth certificate/voter registration card.
  
• Turks and Caicos – A current photo identification document accompanied by a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, preparation card, or voters’ identification card.

Just remember that the US Virgin Islands do not accept mainland US passports but other islands nearby under other authorities have different regulations.

Starting the cruise from the United States

Cruising from a U.S. home port such as Miami, Los Angeles, or New York offers the opportunity to travel to fascinating places without having to cross an international border. This is because cruise ships that embark and disembark in the same US port without visiting an international port of call do not need passports. All you require is a government-issued photo identification.

Some top itineraries may include

• Caribbean cruises originating from Florida/Bahamas
  
• Mexico & Pacific Coast – Itinerary from California
  
• Most of the Canada/New England cruises originate from east coast ports only.

So you could go on a Caribbean vacation to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Bahamas, or even Alaska without that little blue passport book.

US Territories

American citizens traveling directly from any US state do not need a passport to visit US territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

All you will require for age certification is government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license or identification card. This makes easy US tropical getaways even if your passport expires.

Micronesia

The two countries that do not require a visa for US citizens are the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and for them to be allowed in they simply require any form of state identification card. So if you want a more exotic tropical vacation, the beaches of Pohnpei or scuba diving in Palau are options.

That highlights most of the reachable destinations for ordinary American citizens without possessing genuine passports. Just remember that it does help to have that familiar blue passport book when traveling and it gives options of what to do in case of changes. However, for many direct trips from the United States, a simple photo driver's license or ID card is sufficient for hassle-free travel around the globe.

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