Travels

DO I NEED A PASSPORT TO GO TO PUERTO RICO

If, as a US Citizen, your vacation plan involve a trip to Puerto Rico, you should breathe a sigh of relief and keep your passport locked away.

In fact, without your passport, you can still enter Puerto Rico. Well, the country might appear to be a foreign place to you, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is still a part of the United States. This implies that international travel regulations do not apply because you will not be entering a foreign country at this time.

Pack at least one identification document that you generally take with you while traveling within the United States. However, this does not apply to foreigners, if you aren’t a US citizens then you will need a passport to enter Puerto Rico.

In the light of this, if you are keen on knowing more about your going to Puerto Rico with or without a passport, then you should read through, we’ve got the information here. Read on!

Where can U.S. citizens travel without a passport?

US citizens can travel to any of the fifty states in the US without a passport. Yeah! This is true. In fact, you can move from one state in the US to the next freely. Sometimes the main evidence that you’ve crossed the state line is a large welcome sign.

Although, a lot of persons have had strong discussion on travel websites concerning the importance of a US passport.

Truth is with a U.S. passport, you can travel to more than 180 countries without a visa for short-term visits, take as many trips abroad as you want for as long as you want, and get government benefits.

This doesn’t in any way mean that without a passport, you can’t have that travel flexibility. You will, just, that you are restricted to only countries within the United States and the Caribbean.

To further illustrate, we have outlined some places US citizens can travel without a passport:

  • Canada and Mexico
  • US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
  • American Samoa and Guam
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • North America and the Caribbean

Do I Need a Passport to Go To Puerto Rico From US?

If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport to visit Puerto Rico.

Because Puerto Rico is a US territory, you only need the same identification that is required to fly anyplace else in the US, like a valid ID document.

This is one of the reasons why visiting Puerto Rico is effortless and smooth. In fact, as an American citizen, visiting Puerto Rico is as simple as visiting your neighbors next door – yep, it’s real. 

Why U.S. citizens don’t need passport for Puerto Rico?

US citizens don’t need a passport to visit Puerto Rico because Puerto Rico is a Free Commonwealth of the United States of America, and Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United States (since 1917).

As a result, neither US citizens nor lawful permanent residents need a passport to visit Puerto Rico, nor do Puerto Ricans need one to visit the US.

What Documents Can I Present When Traveling To Puerto Rico?

To get to Puerto Rico, you must first fly from the US mainland to a Puerto Rico airport.

To travel, you must present acceptable identification at the airport checkpoint. You may produce the following documents, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):

  • State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
  • An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
  • HSPD-12 PIV card
  • Foreign government-issued passport
  • Transportation worker identification credential
  • US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
  • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
  • US passport
  • US passport card
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • US Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
  • Permanent resident card
  • Border crossing card

Can you fly to Puerto Rico with a driver’s license?

You certainly can. Despite the fact that Puerto Rico is still a US territory and not yet a State of the Union, it is organized and functions politically in the same way as a US State.

As a result, US citizens going to Puerto Rico just require a government-issued form of picture identification.

A driver’s license or a picture ID card issued by the United States Department of Motor Vehicles are acceptable forms of identification that you can use to fly to Puerto Rico.

Do you have to be vaccinated to go to Puerto Rico?

You do not have to be vaccinated to go to Puerto Rico. In fact, visitors are not needed to show proof of vaccination. Although there are various recommended vaccination for visitors visiting Puerto Rico, but none are mandatory.

While there are presently no vaccination requirements for visiting Puerto Rico, you as a visitor of Puerto Rico must acquire the Puerto Rico Travel Declaration.

This travel document collects visitor information to assist officials in monitoring the country’s health status.

Do I require a Covid-19 test to go to Puerto Rico?

No, as a US citizen, you don’t need a Covid-19 test to go to Puerto Rico. This was reported by DiscoverPuertoRico, beginning from June 12, the US island in the Caribbean will no longer need travelers to undergo a Covid-19 test before arriving in Puerto Rico.

In fact, International passengers are not needed to present a negative COVID-19 test result before entering the country. However, international travelers who are not US citizens or permanent residents must still provide proof of vaccination.

Conclusion

Truly, Puerto Rico is a hidden gem for US visitors seeking a fast getaway and a welcoming ambiance on a Caribbean island.

After reading this article, you’ll know the answer to the question “do you need a passport to go to Puerto Rico?” (In most circumstances, you don’t).

Meanwhile, feel free to drop any suggestions below the comment section.

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