Do I need a passport to travel to and from Puerto Rico and the United States?

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Tim J

You do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico since you are US citizen. You can enter PR just by showing any type of valid government issued photo ID like your driver's license.

Charlie

All you need is a photo I.D. It is just like flying to another state. PuertoRicans are U.S. citizens too.

Gloria A

You need a passport since 9/22 happened even if you are American. Puertorican are american also and they have to show I.D. like passport. This is only for security.

Niky-Nick[s]

No, you don't NEED a passport. Puerto Rico is American territory. If you have one there's no harm in bringing it along but it's not necessary for travel. I believe you need your birth certificate and a photo ID.

Javy

No, since Puerto Rico is part of the USA all American citizens can travel to Puerto Rico without a passport. Is the same for the Puerto Ricans since we are American citizens as well.

panther56

Puerto Rico is a common wealth of the United States, making it's citizens American. That means no passport is needed. What you do need is a photo ID such as a drivers license. The only persons that would need a passport are those that are not United States Citizens. Non Citizens must have a passport to travel to Puerto Rico.

cbr600girl

No, you do not need a passport. Puerto Rico is a US territory. You need a valid government issued ID and that's it. You will not need your birth certificate either. You will not be going through Customs. When leaving PR you will need to proceed to USDA check point first to have your bags x-rayed for fruit and vegetables. Other than that its a normal airport and regular routine of checking your ID against your boarding pass. Enjoy PR make sure to go to El Morro Fort in old San Juan!

prgirla_69

Here is the exact information about traveling to and from PR. Just briefly no you will not need a passport as long as your state issued you Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) that meets REAL ID benchmarks (All states are currently in compliance) If everyone needed a passport to travel in the US and US Territory than a lot of people will not be able to travel in the US, because not every US citizen has a passport. What matters is you state issued ID or driver's license has to have REAL ID benchmarks. I hope all this information helps clear things up.

This is from TSA's website and look at the one with this next to it *******

ID Requirements for Airport Checkpoints

Airtravel
Identity Matters

Effective June 21, 2008, adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

Passengers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to go through the checkpoint or onto an airplane.

Acceptable IDs include:
Acceptable Documents

Photo of acceptable documents
Click here to view a
full-size version.

* U.S. passport
* U.S. passport card
* DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
* U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents)
* Permanent Resident Card
* Border Crossing Card
* DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
******* Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) that meets REAL ID benchmarks (All states are currently in compliance)
* A Native American Tribal Photo ID
* An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
* A foreign government-issued passport
* Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
* Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

Non-US/Canadian citizens are not required to carry their passports if they have documents issued by the U.S. government such as Permanent Resident Cards. Those who do not should be carrying their passports while visiting the U.S.

This standardization of the list of accepted documents better aligns TSA with other DHS components, including Customs and Border Protection, and REAL ID benchmarks.

This is the information I got from the U.S. Department of State.

A U.S Passport is not required for direct travel within the 50 States (including Hawaii, Alaska, and District of Columbia) and U.S Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island). Please visit TSA for further information.

However, if you are traveling to a U.S. State or Territory THROUGH another country (for example, traveling through Canada to go to Alaska, or, traveling through Japan to go to Guam), please select the foreign country from the list below to determine the required documentation.

So Traveling from a U.S. state to Puerto Rico you need a government issued ID or get a passport card it will last 10 years depending on your age. It is not as expensive as a Passport.

This is also from the TSA's website
We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint (children are not required to show identification). The absence of proper identification will result in additional screening.

YOU DO NOT NEED A PASSPORT WHEN TRAVELING FROM U.S. TO PUERTO RICO. It is like you are traveling from Chicago to New York.

Cynthia A

umm no because PR is part of the United States its not a state but itz part of the us

vergavibrar

I don't know where these travel 'experts' get their information.. but THEY ARE WRONG.

As of TODAY.. the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative web site states:

ON JUNE 1, 2009, the U.S. Government will implement the FULL REQUIREMENTS of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules REQUIRE most U.S. Citizens ENTERING THE U.S. at SEA OR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY... to have a PASSPORT, PASSPORT CARD or other travel document approved by the Dept. of Homeland Security (which is a birth certificate for children)

After June 1, CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS WILL NEED PASSPORTS.. as will people who walk and drive across the Mexican and Canadian BORDERS..

Even though the Government has TOLD AMERIKANS TO GET PASSPORTS FOR OVER 3 YEARS.. there will still be stupid people who have their heads shoved so far up their assez they can't read or hear about the requirements.

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