Travel without a passport to US territories
Whether you don’t want to deal with getting a passport right now or you’re planning a last-minute trip and you don’t have enough time to go through the process, these U.S. territories will welcome you without one.
Puerto Rico
Visiting the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico from the mainland is a breeze if you’re a U.S. citizen, mostly because you can enter the country with a valid U.S. driver’s license or another form of government-issued I.D. That said, the country’s tourism board says you need to check whether your driver’s license is compliant with the Real ID Act, which will be in effect as of May 2025.
You can easily fly to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico from a range of U.S. departure cities like Miami, Florida. It’s also a very easy destination to access via a Caribbean cruise, which can also be very affordable.
There is plenty to see and do in Puerto Rico as it’s one of the largest islands in the Caribbean. If you decide to visit, you may want to opt for a cheap rental car, which you can easily do with just a U.S. driver’s license. This way you can cover more ground and see all the island has to offer.
Flights to Puerto Rico
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean near the island of Guam. You can visit these islands with a valid U.S. driver’s license or another government-issued ID.
These islands are known for their incredible white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, as well as their overall lack of crowds.
Flights to Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
Guam is a U.S. island territory located in Micronesia, which is in the Western Pacific. This tropical paradise is known for its pristine beaches and clear waters, as well as its Spanish colonial heritage. While you can experience the Spanish heritage in Guam without a passport, if you are looking to travel to Spain, you’ll need to bring your passport with you.
You can hop on a flight to Guam with nothing more than a valid U.S. driver’s license or a comparable document.
Flights to Guam
St. Croix Island
As part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is also a U.S. territory. You can visit St. Croix with a valid driver’s license or another government-issued photo I.D.
Like other Caribbean islands, St. Croix is known for its lush green hills, its beautiful beaches, beachfront hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals.
Flights to St. Croix Island
St. Thomas Island
St. Thomas is also part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, so its entry requirements are the same as St. Croix.
This destination is popular among tourists due to its picture-perfect beaches, golf courses, and an incredible selection of hotels and resorts. St. Thomas is also popular for its nightlife and as a destination for water activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.
As part of the U.S. Caribbean, you can typically find affordable flights to St. Thomas throughout the year. With its warm weather, it makes a great destination during the Winter as well.
Flights to St. Thomas Island
St. John Island
St. John is a smaller island that sits just off the coast of St. Thomas. It’s also a U.S. territory that’s part of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Since more than half of the island of St. John is made up of national park land, this destination is known for its quiet coastlines and natural beauty. Popular beaches this island is known for include Cinnamon Bay Beach, Trunk Bay, and Salomon Beach.
Flights are typically cheap to the Caribbean out of major U.S. airports or airports near the South East.
Flights to St. John Island
Travel without a passport to closed-loop cruise destinations
If you want to visit multiple destinations during a single trip, booking a closed-loop cruise that departs from the United States is a great way to do just that.
Cruises that fall into this category depart and return to the same U.S. cruise port, so you may not need a passport at all. Instead, most major cruise lines let U.S. citizens travel without a passport as long as they have proper documentation, such as a government-issued photo ID.
For example, MSC Cruises says the following about closed-loop, round-trip cruise requirements on the company website:
U.S. Citizens sailing on cruises departing and returning to the same U.S. port will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship such as a passport, US birth certificate, or US naturalization certificate, along with a valid, unexpired government-issued ID.
If you like the idea of cruising to tropical places with sandy beaches, below are some popular places to go without a passport. Remember, that while you may not need a passport, all cruise lines require passengers to have cruise insurance before boarding.
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British territory, yet it sits far off the eastern coast of the United States in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its pristine beaches, golf courses, and high-end luxury resorts, Bermuda is also popular for having pink-sand beaches such as Elbow Beach and Horseshoe Bay.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic makes up part of Hispaniola, an island in the Caribbean. Most cruises to the Dominican Republic stop in a village known as Puerto Plata, which is known for its all-inclusive resorts and water activities like snorkeling and diving.
British Virgin Islands
If your cruise itinerary is taking you to the British Virgin Islands, there’s a good chance you’ll be stopping on the island of Tortola. While you can spend the day exploring this tropical island or relaxing on the beach, many cruisers opt to hop on a ferry from Tortola to the neighboring islands of Virgin Gorda, Anegada or Jost Van Dyke.
Bahamas
Many cruise itineraries also include stops in the Bahamas, including at popular cruise ports like Freeport and Nassau. Many major cruise lines have their own private islands in the Bahamas you can visit during your cruise, including Disney’s Castaway Cay, MSC Cruises Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, and Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay.
Jamaica
There are quite a few large vessel cruise ports throughout the island of Jamaica, including in cities like Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Port Antonio, and Kingston. This island destination is known for its stunning beaches and calm waters, as well as its coffee and hospitality. Jamaica is also home to dozens of all-inclusive resorts, including options that let you book a beach day during your cruise.
Belize
Belize City, Belize also has its own cruise port, although cruise passengers have to tender in on smaller boats because large vessels cannot be docked on the mainland. Travelers flock to Belize to snorkel along the coral reef right off its shores, and to visit the hundreds of low-lying islands called cayes that are spread out all along its coast.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is another destination worth traveling to if you love stark contrasts, as this Central American nation borders both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. This country boasts mountains, rivers, caves, jungles, and almost any other landscape or geographical feature you can imagine. Cruise passengers head here to visit Costa Rica’s famous beaches and to take part in adventure activities like hiking, white water rafting, and zip lining.
Honduras
US citizens can also visit the country of Honduras passport and visa-free on a cruise, with most ships docking in the village of Roatan. Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises all have itineraries that stop here, and it’s considered a great destination for nightlife as well as snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.
St. Maarten / St. Martin
Having an up-to-date, state-issued photo ID and an original birth certificate may also be enough to get you on a closed-loop cruise to the island of St. Maarten. This half-French, half-Dutch island destination offers incredible scenery due to its lush green mountains and turquoise waters. St. Maarten is also known for its nightlife and clubs, as well as its casinos.
Cayman Islands
A range of cruise lines offer itineraries that stop in the Cayman Islands, usually at Grand Cayman in the town of Georgetown since up to four cruise ships can anchor at one time.
Visitors who head here will marvel at the natural beauty of Seven Mile Beach, which is commonly considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You can also book an excursion to a sandbar called Stingray City, where you can get off your small boat to snorkel with stingrays.
Turks and Caicos
All cruises that stop in Turks and Caicos do so on the island of Grand Turk, which has its own cruise port that guests can visit for dining, entertainment, and shopping. Popular excursions from Grand Turk include small group and private boat tours and visits to historical sites like Grand Turk Lighthouse, the Turks and Caicos National Museum, and the old H.M. Prison.
Mexico
You don’t need a valid passport to visit the country of Mexico on a cruise in many cases, but you do need to have an up-to-date photo ID and other proof of citizenship (like an original birth certificate).
Mexico has a range of cruise ports you can visit in destinations like Acapulco, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Mazatlan. Depending on where you stop, you can spend the day trying traditional Mexican delicacies, snorkeling in the clear waters, swimming in a cenote, or visiting some of the incredible Mayan ruins this country is known for. Due to its location, the weather in Mexico in December can still be warm making it an enjoyable place to spend the holidays.
Canada
You can also visit Canada without a U.S. passport on a closed-loop cruise, and doing so is fairly common for cruisers who depart from the continental U.S. on their way to Alaska. That said, many itineraries depart from the east coast with stops in New England and Canada. Popular places to visit and explore on a cruise that stops in Canada include Halifax, Montreal, St. John’s, and Victoria.
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Travel without a passport within the USA
If you want to visit a place you’ve never been but you like the idea of staying in the United States, you can also consider booking a trip to the far-flung destinations featured below.
Hawaii
Hawaii is seemingly in the middle of nowhere when you look for it on a map, yet this compilation of islands in the Pacific Ocean became the nation’s 50th state on August 21, 1959.
While the Hawaiian islands are expensive to visit, this destination has some of the most stunning scenery you’ll find anywhere in the world. Islands like Kauai, Maui, and Oahu are all unique in their own way, but each one has striking mountain peaks with dramatic cliffs, beautiful beaches, and towering palm trees from coast to coast.
Flights to Hawaii
Alaska
Alaska is also popular with tourists around the world, and it’s easy to see why. This remote state in the U.S. boasts some of the most secluded wilderness areas in the world, and it is home to incredible wildlife like bears, elk, moose, whales and bald eagles. Many tourists visit Alaska on a cruise with stops in port cities like Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka.
Flights to Alaska
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are pretty far from most of the mainland U.S., yet they’re easy to visit by plane or by car. Key West in particular is popular with tourists due to its wild party scene and the many unique attractions found there. A trip to Key West can include a visit to the southernmost point of the U.S., the Hemingway Home and Museum, and the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Additionally, after your trip to Key West, a quick flight can bring you to Orlando, Florida, home of Walt Disney World, LEGOLAND, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios.
Flights to Florida Keys
Tips for traveling without a passport
There are many destinations you can visit without a US passport, but you’ll want to make sure you have the right documentation before you head to the airport or your cruise port.
Consider these tips if you are planning to travel with a state-issued ID instead of a passport or passport book.
