Quick Reference on New Passport Requirements

October 25, 2006

Quick Reference on New Passport Requirements
Oct. 25, 2006 –The United States Congress recently approved a bill that includes provisions to delay the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. These new provisions include important deadlines for passport requirements. NTA is encouraging anyone planning to travel outside of the United States any time in the near future, for business or leisure, to obtain a passport now despite the deadline extension in order to prevent confusion and border bottlenecks later.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative includes several provisions that will take effect at differing times based on the mode of travel.

• Air Travel – U.S. citizens will be required to have a valid passport for exiting and reentering the United States starting Jan. 8, 2007, for all air travel.
• Sea and Land Travel – U.S. citizens traveling by sea and land within the Western Hemisphere will be required to have a valid U.S. passport by June 1, 2009. This deadline was originally Jan. 1, 2008.

Students under the age of 18 do not have to have a passport or other citizenship documents as long as they have parental consent and adult supervision.

The Travel Industry Association of America has created a fact sheet for quick reference on the new requirements. To view the fact sheet created by TIA, click here.