Passports… do you need one? If a passport is required at your port of entry and you don’t have one, you’re out of luck and your vacation will certainly be ruined. And while knowing whether or not a passport is required for your travel is incredibly important, it can be tricky to find the answers you’re looking for. So, let’s talk about when a passport might be required in ensure a smooth and magical vacation.
Entering the U.S. for Travel to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resorts:
If you are planning a trip to a Disney park in the United States, but will be traveling from somewhere outside of the U.S. or will be touching down somewhere outside of the U.S. a passport is required to enter the United States. (There are some exceptions.)
If you are a U.S. Citizen and will traveling from a U.S. Territory including Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and will not be landing in any other country a passport is not required.
Lastly, residents of some U.S. states may need a passport to fly within the U.S. soon. That’s right, five states are not currently in compliance with U.S laws for identification. Louisiana has been granted a waiver and residents will be able to continue to fly using their driver’s licenses as ID until October 10, 2016 or until new ID that meet the requirements are issued. The same applies for New Hampshire residents, but their extension only lasts until June 1, 2016. New York also has a waiver, for the time being. Residents of Minnesota should begin preparing – their states has not been granted an extension or waiver and could need a passport to fly as soon as January. New Mexico driver’s licenses are also not in compliance and the state was not granted an extension from Homeland Security – it has not been officially announced, however, that passports will be required for New Mexico residents. Better safe than sorry, though!
If you are a U.S. citizen and will be sailing on a “closed-loop” cruise that departs from and arrives back at the same U.S. port but stops in Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, or Bermuda you will be able to enter the back into the U.S. without a passport. You will however need other proof of citizenship: government issued birth certificate (raised seal and signature) and a laminated government issued picture ID (typically, driver’s license), Consular Report of Born Abroad Certificate, or a Certificate of Naturalization.
If you are a U.S. citizen you will be entering into another country to board you ship, will be ending your cruise in a country other than the U.S. or you are a citizen of another country and will be entering into the U.S. to board your ship you will need a passport.
Passports are not required for all cruises, but to be safe it is recommended that you have one just in case. Better safe than sorry!
For more information on passports or how to obtain one visit The U.S Passports and International Travel site.
My name is Miriya Whitaker and I am a TA with World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency of Chip and Co and the Disney Addicts. I am a writer for Chip and Co and Disney Addicts and I love all things Disney! I would love to help you plan your next magical vacation and make sure that you have all the important documentation that you need.
Contact me a miriyawhitaker@worldofmagictravel.com to get started!
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