Documentation Requirements for Departure by Air From the United States
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all air travelers (including U.S. citizens) to and from North and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and the adjacent islands to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States.
Requirements for Travelers From/To the U.S.
a) U.S. Citizens – must provide one of the following:
Valid U.S. passport
Nexus Card (to be used only at designated NEXUS locations)
U.S. Government-issued Transportation Letter
Exceptions:
U.S. Government-issued Transportation Letter
Exceptions:
1. U.S. citizen military personnel on active duty may be boarded without a U.S. passport if in possession of official travel orders and valid military ID.
2. U.S. citizen merchant mariners may be boarded without a U.S. passport if in possession of U.S. Merchant Mariner Card indicating U.S. citizenship.
2. U.S. citizen merchant mariners may be boarded without a U.S. passport if in possession of U.S. Merchant Mariner Card indicating U.S. citizenship.
b) U.S. Residents – must provide one of the following:
Valid passport
Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551
Temporary Resident Stamp (“ADIT”) contained in a passport or on an I-94
Reentry Permit, Form I-327
Refugee Travel Document, Form I-571
Alien member of the U.S. Armed Forces in possession of official orders and military identification card
Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551
Temporary Resident Stamp (“ADIT”) contained in a passport or on an I-94
Reentry Permit, Form I-327
Refugee Travel Document, Form I-571
Alien member of the U.S. Armed Forces in possession of official orders and military identification card
c) Visitors– must provide the following:
Valid passport
Exceptions:
Emergency Travel Document: An Emergency Travel Document is issued by a foreign embassy or consulate specifically for the purpose of travel to the bearer’s home country. It typically has a short validity date (one year or less) and may limit the number of entries. An Emergency Travel Document may be in the form of a traditional passport booklet or may be a single sheet of paper on foreign consulate letterhead.
Exceptions:
Emergency Travel Document: An Emergency Travel Document is issued by a foreign embassy or consulate specifically for the purpose of travel to the bearer’s home country. It typically has a short validity date (one year or less) and may limit the number of entries. An Emergency Travel Document may be in the form of a traditional passport booklet or may be a single sheet of paper on foreign consulate letterhead.
NOTE:
Destination countries may require additional documentation.
National identity cards, certificates of citizenship, certificates of naturalization and other civil identity or vital statistics documents are NOT considered travel documents and are NOT valid for entry into or departure from the U.S. by air.
National identity cards, certificates of citizenship, certificates of naturalization and other civil identity or vital statistics documents are NOT considered travel documents and are NOT valid for entry into or departure from the U.S. by air.