Is a Passport Required for Travel to Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico offers a wealth of attractions: stunning beaches, lush rainforests, famous dishes, a rich coffee culture, and a vibrant agritourism sector. If you're a U.S. citizen planning to visit this beautiful island, you might be curious about whether a passport is necessary or if other travel documents will do. Here's what you should know.

Are passports necessary for U.S. citizens traveling to Puerto Rico?

As a U.S. citizen, a passport is not required to travel to Puerto Rico.

Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it counts as a domestic travel destination for American citizens. This means you can visit Puerto Rico with just your valid government-issued ID, like a driver's license or state ID card.

This unique provision stems from the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917, which conferred U.S. citizenship upon Puerto Ricans. Consequently, Puerto Rico is considered part of the United States in terms of immigration and travel regulations.

Keep in mind that although a passport isn’t required to enter Puerto Rico as a U.S. citizen, you will need one if your travel extends beyond its shores. If you're planning to visit another nearby island, such as the Dominican Republic or the British Virgin Islands, having a valid passport is necessary.

Travelers arriving from outside the United States must adhere to the same passport and visa regulations as they would when entering any other part of the U.S.

Which islands can Americans visit without a passport?

In addition to Hawai‘i and Puerto Rico, Americans can travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands (including St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas), the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Certain Caribbean islands can also be visited without a passport if traveling on a “closed-loop” cruise, which departs and returns to the same U.S. port. The regulations for maritime travel were established under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, permitting Americans to visit Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Mexico without a passport specifically on closed-loop cruises.