By Kent Ninomiya
There are 17
Caribbean destinations that do not require a passport to enter for American citizens. However, this entry must be by land or sea. All travelers must have passports if they enter a Caribbean destination by air. If entry is by land or sea, other documentation is required to prove a traveler's identity and citizenship. The 17 Caribbean nations are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. As of June 1, 2009, there are stricter travel requirements to these nations that are detailed here.
WHTI Caribbean Nations
The U.S. State Department lists the 17 Caribbean nations that are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative as: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks and Caicos.
Passport Card
If you are visiting one of these Caribbean destinations and do not have a passport, you can present a passport card instead. It is a photo ID issued to frequent travelers to WHTI nations. The passport card resembles a driver's license but has a microchip inside it with your personal information. This speeds you through the entry process. Passport cards are issued by the passport office. They are valid for the same period of time as a regular passport: 10 years for an adult and 5 years for a child. The cost is $45 for adults and $35 for children.
Alternative Documents
American travelers to WHTI Caribbean destinations who do not have a passport or passport card can present a WHTI approved alternative document. This can be a Trusted Traveler Cards like NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST, State Issued Enhanced Driver's License, Enhanced Tribal Cards, U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders, U.S. Merchant Mariner Document, Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card or Form I-872 American Indian Card.
Proof of Identity and Citizenship
If an American traveler to a WHTI Caribbean destination does not have any of the documents listed above, they can present proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship instead. Proof of identity can be a driver's license or other government issued photo ID. Proof of U.S. citizenship can also be a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
Children
Children younger than age 16 can travel to WHTI Caribbean destinations with only proof of U.S. citizenship. This must be in the form of a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or citizenship card.
About the Author:
Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with over 23 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter and managing editor. He traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Ninomiya holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences with emphasis in history, political science and mass communications from the University of California at Berkeley.
