Travel Documents 101
Planning a trip is more than just deciding where you’re going, what airline you’re flying on, and where you’re staying. To plan a trip the right way, you must think about all the details and confirm you have all your bases covered, even if you think you’re okay. One thing that’s often forgotten about is the travel documents. Whether you’re traveling for pleasure or business, domestic or international, you’re required to have the appropriate travel documents with you. The other details don’t matter if you can’t arrive at your destination.
Domestic Travel within the United States
If you’re traveling within the United States, you’re traveling domestically. US citizens under 18 aren’t required to show proof of their identity. However, US citizens 18 years or older need to present valid identification, such as their state-issued driver’s license or photo ID. Permanent residents can do the same but will also need to carry their green card due to immigration laws. However, it’s unlikely TSA will require you to show it to board a plane unless that’s the only ID you have. As most people know it’s important to make sure whatever form of ID you’re using isn’t expired as valid ID is needed for more than traveling. However, if your state-issued driver’s license or photo ID is expired, it will be accepted as long as it’s not a year past the expiration date.
It’s not uncommon for people to forget their ID as traveling can be both exciting and stressful. If you left yours behind and are already at the airport, there may be hope. You may be able to board if your identity can be confirmed and you don’t mind going through additional screening. You’ll be asked your name and other personal information to verify it matches with what is listed in public databases. You won't be allowed to board if your identity can’t be confirmed.
If you normally provide your driver's license or ID to TSA, a date you may need to remember is May 7, 2025. You’ll need to remember this date if you haven’t upgraded to a REAL ID. If you choose to not upgrade, you won’t be able to board any flights within the country unless you provide another acceptable form of identification.
Traveling to US Territories
The US territories are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. If you’re a US citizen or permanent resident, you can travel to most US territories without a passport. Even though American Samoa is a US territory, you still need a passport to travel here. You don’t need a passport to travel to Guam unless you are landing in another country along the way. My advice is to bring your passport as a secondary form of ID if you’re traveling to any of these destinations. Anything can happen during your travel and having your passport with you may make things easier if you ever find yourself in an unexpected situation.
International Travel From the United States
If you’re traveling to another country, you are traveling internationally. US citizens and permanent residents of all ages need to have a valid passport to travel to another country and to re-enter the United States. Before finalizing plans, you will need to check your passport’s expiration date. Even if your passport hasn’t expired yet, your passport may need to be valid three or six months beyond your travel dates depending on the country you’re traveling to. There are some airlines that won’t even allow you to board if your passport doesn’t meet this requirement. When making international travel plans, I recommend you check the requirements for the country you’re traveling to as their requirements differ from country to country. You can also contact the embassy of that country if you want to make sure the information is accurate. You should also confirm how many blank pages your passport is required to have.
Depending on the country, a Visa or other travel documents may be required. This is something you’ll also need to research beforehand as these requirements vary. If you need a Visa, you’ll want to start this process early and not at the last minute since you’ll have forms to complete, documents to submit, and fees to pay in order to apply for one. There are some countries where you can get a Visa-on-arrival meaning you can pay any required fee and get your Visa once you’ve arrived. Other travel documents you may need are an International Driving Permit as some countries don’t recognize a US driver’s license and if you're traveling alone with your children a notarized written consent from the other parent or paperwork showing you have custody may be required depending on the country.
Book a Trip with Cloud Nine Trips
Traveling isn’t hard. It just requires you to do a lot of research and planning to ensure every detail is covered. I understand it can be a pain, but if you plan accordingly, you’ll know that’s one less thing that can prevent you from arriving at your destination. While you confirm your travel documents meet all the requirements, you can contact Cloud Nine Trips to plan your vacation.