Travel Information

No U.S. Passport Required

No matter how much you prepare for your trip, it’s easy to think you’re going to leave something behind. If you just so happen to leave your passport behind don’t worry, you won’t need it. When traveling from the United States to Puerto Rico, U.S. citizens are not required to carry their passport although some form of government issued picture identification card is needed.

If you’ll be visiting from another country other than the United States, a visa is required to enter the island. These requirements are standard and are the same as for entering the United States. The purpose and extent of your visit will determine which visa to apply for. If you are just coming in as a tourist, the standard 90-day non-immigrant visa will be your key to paradise. If you are lucky enough to be coming here as a student or as a temporary worker, specialized visas apply. Just don’t forget to bring your eagerness to have a good time.

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5 Benefits of traveling without a passport

• You don’t have to worry about losing it.
• You don’t have to remember to pack it.
• You don’t have to wait in line at customs and immigration.
• You don’t have to show that passport picture you’ve never been too fond of.
• You don’t have to wear a fanny pack.

Entering through a cruise/port

When entering Puerto Rico as a passenger aboard a cruise ship, the rules for U.S. citizens vary slightly. If your cruise begins and ends in the same U.S. port and traveled to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda, re-entry into U.S. soil can be done with proof of citizenship other than a passport or passport card. Admissible proof of citizenship other than your passport includes your original birth certificate, or a certified copy and a government-issued photo identification card. On the other hand, if your cruise begins in one U.S. port and ends in another, you are required to have a valid passport. For non-U.S. citizens, a machine-readable passport is required for entry into the U.S. soil.

A word of advice to U.S. cruise travelers: whether you need your passport or not, it is recommended you bring it. An emergency, a missed departure from a port of call or any other unexpected trip-ending event would require the use of a passport. Just remember to keep it in a safe place while you enjoy your time at Puerto Rico.