Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
Before you travel, learn the entry requirements of the foreign country you are traveling to.
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Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Passport Requirements
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Returning to the U.S. From
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Type of Travel
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Document Required
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Any International Location
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Air Commercial airplane, private airplane, etc. |
U.S. Passport Book
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Land Car, bus, train, by foot, etc. |
U.S. Passport Book or Card
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Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the
Caribbean Region |
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Sea Commercial cruise line, private boat, etc |
U.S. Passport Book or Card
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A U.S. Territory
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Air, Land or Sea |
Valid Photo ID
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will allow certain groups of travelers to re-enter the United States without a U.S. passport, like members of the military and certain supervised groups of children. WHTI travel requirements for these groups and the general public can be found at www.GetYouHome.gov.
Watch our video about the Passport Card and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security's website:
ABOUT WHTI
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the United States.
The goal of WHTI is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.
Federal Regulations
- Final Rule - Air Phase (PDF)
- Final Rule - Passport Card (PDF)
- U.S. Land/Sea Document Requirements (PDF)
- Exceptions and Special Circumstances
Other Relevant Links
Worldwide Caution
Travel Warnings
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the 11/25/2010
- Colombia 11/10/2010
- Iraq 11/05/2010
- more
Travel Alerts
Country Information
