The following guidelines are based on government regulations, which are subject to change at any time. Wouldnt be so bad if child passports lasted 10 years like the. Effective june, 2009, a passport, passport card, or other western hemisphere travel initiative whticompliant documentation is required for us citizens to enter. It is smaller and more convenient to carry than a passport book, and it is less expensive to obtain. As long as you book a closed loop cruise, you can travel to certain destinations without a passport. A bahamian passport holder has access to 118 visafree countries. The passport card functions like a passport book for land and sea crossings. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. The ship went to honduras, belize, grand cayman, and cozumel, mexico. Passport requirements for travel to jamaica getaway usa. Also, their port of entry and reentry should be the same. However, we strongly recommend you obtain a passport before travel in case of an unforeseen emergency that requires you to disembark and return by air. Valid for driving across border between canada or mexico. If you fly to jamaica, a passport book is the only acceptable form of identification, despite jamaicas membership of the western hemisphere travel initiative.
However, whether you need a passport card or a book depends on how you travel to the islands. If you already have a passport book or passport card, you can renew by mail using form ds82. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to. It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u.
Us citizens traveling to the bahamas by sea must have a valid passport. Those traveling to the bahamas on a cruise may use another western hemisphere travel initiative whti compliant document. If you are also applying for a renewal of your passport book and you opt for expedited service by mail, your passport book will arrive in 23 weeks, but your passport card may arrive in a separate envelope several weeks later. Applying for a passport card by mail will take up to 8 weeks. As of december 24, 2018, birth certificates are no longer accepted, regardless of age. Lost my us passport card not the passport i took a cruise last year and was allowed to only use my passport card.
Passports are required for all travelers, including citizens of the u. The passport card functions like a passport book for land and sea. Passport books or passport cards are both valid for 10 years after issue for adults. Check passport expiration dates carefully for all travelers. Can you travel to the bahamas from the us without a passport. Can you use the passport card for travel to the bahamas. Places to cruise without a passport carnival cruise line. Border countries are canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. Alaska the bahamas, caribbean, pacific coast, bermuda or canada round trip cruises caribbean oneway cruises pacific coast, canada or hawaii oneway cruises europe panama canal transatlantic crossing. A passport book is the best travel document for cruising the waves, but a passport card is a cheaper, more convenient alternative for certain types of international travel, including cruises. They have been available to us citizens since 2008, and are meant to be a convenient way to prove your identity and citizenship. You either need the book or a bcid combo will work just fine. The 4 kids need their passports renewed before our fall cruise. Lost my us passport card not the passport open forum.
The bahamian passport is issued to citizens of the bahamas for international travel as of march 2019, bahamian citizens had visafree or visa on arrival access to 154 countries and territories, ranking the bahamian passport 26th in terms of travel freedom according to the henley visa restrictions index. Passport book vs passport card norwegian cruise line. Citizens traveling to the bahamas on short trips for tourist or business purposes do not require a visa. Even though the above are valid travel documents, the u. Once it expires, you will have to apply for a new child passport. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. It can also be used for domestic air travel in the usa. Passport a us passport for bahamas is an important travel document you need to have if you visit these islands. After he confirmed that his spouse could cruise with just a passport card, he booked their tropical vacation. Find more information about common safety and security concerns in the bahamas including credit card fraud, real estate and time share scams, and water sport and scooter safety on our website. Passport card can be used to enter the united states from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The cruise beginning in ny and ending in san juan is one, panama canal is another.
The bahamas only requires that you prove your citizenship and present a picture i. Since the bahamas is not part of the united states, you need federal identification to travel there. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. A passport is 5x312 inches, while the passport card is wallet.
You can travel internationally via air, sea or land with the use of a passport book. Bahamas passports requirements nassau paradise island. You wont be able to use a passport card for air travel to or from the island. Yes, if youre flying to the bahamas you do need passports the passport books, not the cards. Passport information bahamas visa requirements listed. A passport card can only be used for land or sea travel. How to apply for a new passport card rush my passport. The card gives you nothing that the bc plus id for an adult does, and costs money.
Citizens will need a us passport or passport card, or a whti compliant document. In the event of a family, medical, personal or business emergency, where the traveler must fly back to the u. Do americans need a passport to travel to the bahamas or. Do you need a passport to take a cruise from the u. Passport and travel documentation disney cruise line. A passport book or card serve as proof of identity and citizenship. Do you need a passport to visit the bahamas as us citizen. The requirements for both are the same and there is one application form for both. The united states passport card is an official identity and limited travel document issued by the united states federal government in the size of a credit card. It is possible to travel from the united states to the bahamas on a cruise and enter both countries without any issues if you do not hold a passport book.
The bahamian government only requires proof of citizenship e. Differences between a passport book and passport card. If youre on a cruise that requires a passport, the card wont help. A us passport card can only be used for land and sea travel to canada, mexico or the caribbean. Passport cards are also seen as more convenient when traveling, due to its size.
Us citizens on closedloop cruises cruises that begin and end in the same u. When traveling to the bahamas by sea, including on a private vessel or ferry such as a cruise line, americans of all ages must hold a valid passport book or passport card. Passport cards cannot be used on cruises from international homeports. Report crimes to the local police at 919 or 911, and contact the u. Also valid on closed cruises starting and ending in us in caribbean. The passport card is good for land border crossing between the us, canada, and mexico and sea cruise border crossings in. You can use this creditcardsized document to reenter the united states from mexico, canada, bermuda and the caribbean when traveling by land or sea. If you plan to travel by air, you must obtain a passport book. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. While the passport card may protect you against certain scenarios and is superior to not having a passport at all, getting a passport book not only provides more coverage such as flying internationally, but it. As it turned out, he was the one in for the unpleasant surprise.
Americans may enter the unites states from the bahamas by sea using a passport, passport card, or other western. Also, the minors passport card is valid for 5 years just like the passport book. However, before you apply for a new passport card, consider carefully whether or not you might be better off getting a us passport book. You cant use a passport card for flying, but you can use one to enter the united states by sea and land from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. Citizens of the bahamas in need of an identitytravel document must apply to the ministry of foreign affairs in order to. You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using either form ds11 apply in person or form ds82 renew by mail must be eligible. Permanent residents of canada must travel with their permanent resident card and a valid passport from their country of origin.
So theres really just no reason to get the card for a cruise. Would like opinions on the difference and if we should go with the passport card. Rightno passport needed as i would guess you stopped at a foreign port en route to nyc. If your ship had to end the cruise at a foreign port due to a mechanical issue or if you had an emergency need to fly home, a passport book would have been required for reentry into the us from a foreign port. Undamaged other than normal wear and tear issued when you were age 16 or older. Bahamas passport requirements a valid passport at the time of travel with at least two blank pages for stamps is required when entering the bahamas. All passports are valid for a period of 5 years for persons under the age of 16 and 10 years for persons 16 years and older. A us passport card is used as a federal id and is only good for travel to canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda at land border crossings or sea portsofentry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. When traveling by air from the bahamas, all us citizens must provide a valid us passport to enter or reenter the states. The way i understand it is that if the cruise begins and ends in a different port, even if both are considered u. However, travelling to the bahamas with a passport card or an enhanced drivers license means that. Passport card vs passport book carnival cruise lines. Because international cruises in europe and asia require air travel, these vacations also demand a passport.
This case is an unfortunate example of what can go wrong if you decide to cruise with just a. One reason that its wise to have a passport to go to the bahamas which means you can stay longer than a cruise stop is that you can island hop between the bahamas best beaches, like gold rock beach on grand bahama island and. United states citizens, for example, can use a passport book or card, or an enhanced drivers license to enter the bahamas via sea border. Childrens passports are issued for 5 years, adult passports for 10 years. It may often be used as an identity card for purposes other than international travel, such as domestic air travel. Basic passports for traveling to the bahamas usa today. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Passport cards are a form of us passport that are the size of a credit card or drivers license. It is advisable for americans to obtain their passport early in the event of an emergency. Passport card or book the dis disney discussion forums. Though a passport book is not required for closed loop cruise travel, cruise. The passport card cannot be used for entry into the states by air. Can a passport card be used for travel to the bahamas from. Can you travel to bahamas with passport card answers.
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