Where can I travel without a passport? Try these 6 destinations.
Securing a passport can be a hassle.
New applicants can expect to spend $130 for a passport book, plus a $35 acceptance fee. Routine wait times are 10 to 13 weeks, and that doesn’t include mailing times, according to the State Department. Paying a $60 fee can expedite the process, but travelers will still need to wait seven to nine weeks for processing.
That means spur-of-the-moment international trips without a passport can be impossible to pull off.
Luckily, not all destinations require U.S. tourists to carry the document. Here are some popular destinations you can visit without a passport.
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Puerto Rico passport requirements
Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory and popular Caribbean destination, is about as easy to fly to as any state if you have a state-issued ID.
The island does not require a passport among U.S. citizens.
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US Virgin Islands passport requirements
The U.S. Virgin Islands, another Caribbean destination, allows domestic travelers to enter without a passport.
"If you are a U.S. citizen a passport is not required, but it still serves as the best identification when traveling," the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism's website says. "Otherwise, you must be prepared to show evidence of citizenship when departing the islands, such as a raised-seal birth certificate and government-issued photo ID."
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Northern Mariana Islands passport requirements
Passports are not required to visit the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth made up of 14 islands, including Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Guam passport requirements
The Guam Visitors Bureau says U.S. citizens are required to show a U.S. passport, but photo ID and proof of citizenship may be accepted "on a case-by-case basis."
Canada passport requirements
Citizens who are members of the NEXUS program, which expedites entry for pre-screened travelers, can present their membership as proof of identification when traveling, according to the Canadian government's website.
Travelers who do not have a passport can apply for a NEXUS card but will be able to use it at land or marine crossings only, not airports.
A NEXUS application processing fee costs $50 for a five-year membership, and children under 18 can apply with no fee. Application processing takes 12 to 14 months, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Additionally, the State Department says travelers under 16 do not need a passport to enter Canada; they need only proof of U.S. citizenship.
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Closed-loop cruise passport requirements
Travelers on closed-loop cruises – sailings that depart and end at the same U.S. port and travel within the Western Hemisphere – do not need a passport, according to Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. citizens can enter the country with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. If under 16, a U.S. citizen can present their birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or consular birth report abroad.
Customs and Border Protection says U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises can enter or depart a country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, but some destination countries "may require" a passport.
"In those instances, the cruise lines would require passengers to have a valid passport to board even if it is not a U.S. requirement," the agency's website reads. "You should check with your cruise ship, travel agent, and destination country to confirm the requirements to enter the foreign countries you will visit."
Contributing: Nathan Diller, USA TODAY
Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do I need a passport to travel? Not for these destinations.
