Do You Need a Passport to Go to Puerto Rico?

Travelers seeking a vibrant Caribbean getaway can easily find it in Puerto Rico, approximately 1,000 miles off the coast of Florida. The island boasts a burgeoning contemporary arts scene, a delectable local cuisine (think: green banana escabeche, yucca fritters with blue crab), and boutique hotels that make it an appealing weekend escape. Although most people are aware that Puerto Rico is part of the United States, some travelers are unsure about the passport or visa requirements for American citizens.

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory, so in addition to passport-free travel, you won't need to exchange currency. The island uses the U.S. dollar, and your phone service will continue to work, too.

Consider it the equivalent of boarding a flight to Hawaii. The 50th state may be on island time, but Americans can go there without special documentation. As with any standard domestic flight, you'll only need a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or a permanent resident card.

Who does need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico?

Only non-U. S. citizens and U.S. citizens entering Puerto Rico from a foreign country are required to present a passport. If you're visiting other islands — such as the British Virgin Islands or Caribbean nations like Dominica or Jamaica — you'll need to present your passport upon arrival and reentry into the United States.

Similarly, only non-U.S. citizens or visitors arriving on the island from another destination have to pass through customs and immigration. So if you've established that a passport is not required for your visit to Puerto Rico, you don't need to worry about going through customs and immigration either.

Passport requirements vary between U.S. territories and associated states.

Several other territories are passport-free destinations for American citizens, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, making it easy to reach St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. Passports are not necessary to visit Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands either.

Freely associated states to the U.S. do, however, require a passport from American travelers. These destinations include the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The Compacts of Free Association are international agreements, signed in 1982 and 1983, that allow citizens of these nations to easily travel, live, study, and work in the U.S. Similarly, Americans are afforded the same opportunities in these Pacific Island nations.

What is the Real ID Act?

Following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. government took precautions to tighten homeland security. While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was one new security measure to be added to flights, Congress also passed the Real ID Act. Though it was voted on in 2005, the enforcement date begins May 7, 2025.

For people traveling without a passport, this means your driver's license or identification card must be a Real ID. Fortunately, there's an easy way to check if your ID is compliant. Simply look for a yellow star, a black star, a yellow or black circle with a white star inside, or a yellow bear with a white star on its back. If your ID is missing one of these symbols at the top, you can have a new one issued. All states and U.S. territories are currently issuing compliant cards and licenses.

So, what sets Real ID apart from older means of identification? These cards and licenses require legal documentation to prove your key identifying information: full name, birthday, Social Security number, two documents with your primary address, and lawful status.

With this verified document in hand, you can easily travel to Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories without a passport. Learn more about Real ID by visiting the Department of Homeland Security.