You don’t need a passport to see the world. A green card, driver’s license, or an Enhanced Driver’s License all suffice to get you through customs when traveling within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. However, if you’re planning on going abroad without these documents, you will need a passport to enter another country. Where can you travel without a passport? Is there anywhere that doesn’t require a passport for entry? What about other forms of ID? Keep reading for all the details on traveling without your passport and what IDs are accepted at different destinations.
Where can you travel without a passport?
Some countries will let you in even if you don’t have a passport. Some of these countries have visa agreements with the U.S. that allow travel without a passport, while others have no requirements to enter.
Note that these rules vary; they aren’t set in stone and might change at any time. Consult the U.S. State Department or the embassy of the country you’re planning to visit to get the most up-to-date information.
The following countries don’t require a passport if you’re a U.S. citizen and plan to stay for fewer than 90 days: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, and the United States Virgin Islands.
What is an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?
The Electronic Travel Authorization is a visa waiver program for citizens of select countries. Citizens who plan to visit Canada or the U.S. can apply for this visa waiver through the government’s website.
You’ll need to provide personal information and pay a $10 fee. Once approved, you have a two-year period to apply. The ETA is one form of identification that works in place of a passport when traveling to Canada.
Citizens of the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, and Sweden can also use the ETA in place of a passport when traveling to the U.S. On the other hand, citizens of other countries must have a valid passport to enter the U.S.
Countries that still require a passport to enter
Some of the countries that still require a passport are: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
If you’re unsure whether you need a passport, it’s best to get one and bring it with you just in case. Remember that rules change, so even if you get a passport now, it might not be enough to enter another country in the future.
Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
An EDL is what you need to travel freely between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The card is like a driver’s license, but it also has more information, making it a more secure form of identification. Some states, such as New York and Michigan, are now offering EDLs.
The cost is $30-$40 extra, but it’s well worth it. If you plan on traveling to Canada or Mexico, you’ll be able to use this as a valid form of ID. The EDL is also accepted as a valid form of identification when entering the Caribbean and other islands in the region. The card is considered a travel document, so it’s valid for 10 years.
Once you have an EDL, you can leave the U.S. and re-enter as many times as you like without having to get a passport. This is particularly helpful for frequent flyers.
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Passport Card
The passport card is like a hybrid between a driver’s license and a passport. You can use it to travel to the same countries as a driver’s license, but you can also use it to travel to Canada and Mexico.
Unfortunately, you can’t use it to travel to the Caribbean. One of the main advantages of the passport card is that it’s a lot cheaper than a passport. While the passport card costs $55, a passport will set you back $140. If you only travel to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, you can get by with a passport card.
The card is also valid for 10 years. However, it’s only valid for one entry into the U.S. You can’t use it to leave and re-enter like a regular passport. If you plan on visiting other countries, you should get a regular passport instead.
Conclusion
If you’re traveling to certain countries without a passport, there are a few ways to do so. Some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have agreements with other countries that allow citizens of certain countries to travel without a passport. You can also travel to certain countries without a passport if you have a valid visa.
You don’t need a passport to travel within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. However, you do need a passport if you plan to visit any other countries. Most of the time, you’ll be able to get an ID that works in place of a passport if you don’t have one. However, always double-check with the embassy of the country you’re visiting to make sure that you have the proper ID.
For more travel tips&hacks you can check out our other blog posts.
