Can you travel to Hawaii with a passport card?
The U.S. passport book and U.S. passport card are both accepted as ID for domestic flights. You may not have heard about the U.S. passport card before. The passport card cannot be used for international air travel, but it is still a great ID to have in your wallet.
PRO: The Passport Card is an excellent way to legally visit the following by land or sea: Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, ...
Documents for travel to/from Hawaii and within the Hawaiian Islands are the same for any other U.S. state. If you are flying to Hawai'i within the United States, you only need a valid government photo ID. A list of accepted forms of ID can be found on the TSA website.
Since Hawaii is a part of the United States, permanent residents and USA citizens visiting the islands of Hawaii never need passports when traveling domestically.
A passport card can be used as ID for domestic flights. It cannot be used for international air travel. Fits in your wallet, same size as a driver's license or legal permanent resident card. The cost for first time applicants is $65 for adults and $50 for children under age 16.
Although the islands are a little less than 3,000 miles away from the nearest state of California, Hawaii is most definitely a state of the USA. Although a passport is not needed (woohoo!) proof and documentation of identity is required. The main form of i.d. US citizens usually present a driver's license.
The passport card allows them to travel easily to and from the nearby countries by land and by sea. According to Travelers United, the U.S. passport card is only accepted as an ID to visit 20 foreign nations. Those countries include Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and 17 islands in the Caribbean.
- US Virgin Islands. The terzetto of Caribbean islands that federate up these three islands under the US Govt. ...
- St. John Island. ...
- St. Croix Island. ...
- St. Thomas Island. ...
- Puerto Rico. ...
- Guam Island. ...
- Northern Mariana Islands.
You must present an acceptable ID, such as a valid passport, state-issued enhanced driver's license or U.S. military ID, to fly within the U.S. You will not be allowed to fly if your identity cannot be verified.
Have acceptable identification at the security checkpoint. Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.
What is needed to enter into Hawaii?
There are no COVID-19 related entry requirements for domestic travelers. Travelers arriving in Hawai'i directly from an international airport must still comply with U.S. federal requirements.
It is valid for travel to all EU Member States, the members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It is recognised as a valid travel document by relevant national authorities.

Because the passport card will be specifically designed to facilitate land and sea border crossings, it is not compatible with the global air environment, which is already set up for passport books.
The passport card cannot be used for international air travel. Real ID: Passport books and cards are alternatives to a state-issued ID.
A traditional passport (also called a "passport book") is a valid ID for all forms of travel — land, sea, and air — both internationally and domestically. A passport card can be used for international land and sea travel to select countries. A REAL ID can be used for U.S. domestic air travel.
You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason (e.g., for an emergency evacuation, you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States.
Many forms of photo identification are accepted by the Bahamian government, including enhanced driver's licenses, passport books, and passport cards.
By Air: All travelers to Cancun by air must hold valid passports. Unlike road travel, where you can use a passport card or a book, you must have a valid passport book. This regulation also applies to minors. When traveling with minors, ensure you have notarized consent forms from their parents or guardians.
A Caribbean vacation isn't out of reach without a passport if you stick to the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas.
Routine | 6 to 9 weeks |
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Expedited | 3 to 5 weeks |
Expedited at Agency | Must have international travel within 14 calendar days |
Can I enter the US with my birth certificate?
U.S. citizens under age 16 may present a birth certificate or alternative proof of citizenship when entering by land or sea. All travelers must have a passport book for international air travel. Please note that hospital-issued birth certificates, voter registration cards, and affidavits cannot be used.
If you hold a passport from Japan, Singapore, Germany, and South Korea, congrats! You carry the world's most travel-friendly passports and can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to more than 190 countries around the world.
US citizens do not currently need a passport for domestic flights. While most people present a state-issued driver's license or a military ID, the Transportation Security Administration lists several acceptable forms of identification.
- Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) ...
- U.S. passport.
- U.S. passport card.
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
- Permanent resident card.
It is not necessary to present a passport if you're traveling from the United States as a U.S. citizen. You are only required to show proof of identification when traveling to the beautiful Aloha State.
- Refrain from Mentioning that You Are American. ...
- Leave Nothing in Your Rental Car. ...
- Never Forget to Tip. ...
- Never Honk Your Horn. ...
- It is Illegal to Take Lava Rocks and Sand Home. ...
- Stay Away from Hawaiian Wildlife.
U.S. citizens do not need visas to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands as tourists for short periods, however, U.S. citizens must present a valid passport. Note: U.S. Passport Cards cannot be used to travel by air or private vessel to TCIS.
If you are traveling by sea to the Turks & Caicos islands, you can use a passport or one of the following documents: Passport card, Trusted Traveler card, Enhanced driver's license.
Many forms of photo identification are accepted by the Bahamian government, including enhanced driver's licenses, passport books, and passport cards.
Another difference between a passport book and passport card is which countries each can be used to enter. There are no limitations for destinations where you can use your passport book. Passport cards, however, can only be used going through a land border or seaport in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Do you need a passport for Cancun?
By Air: All travelers to Cancun by air must hold valid passports. Unlike road travel, where you can use a passport card or a book, you must have a valid passport book. This regulation also applies to minors. When traveling with minors, ensure you have notarized consent forms from their parents or guardians.
Passport Card to Aruba
It's worth noting US passport cards aren't accepted for entry at all islands in the Caribbean, but Aruba does allow them. However, passport cards do not allow entry to countries that require a visa in advance, because a book is needed for the stamp and paperwork.
According to USA Today, most felons can get a passport without a problem. This is assuming a person is not currently awaiting trial, on probation or parole or otherwise banned from leaving the country.
However, to fly to the Dominican Republic, you cannot rely on your passport card and will certainly require a valid passport booklet for making the journey. You can only use your passport card instead of the actual passport if you are traveling on a cruise.
Even if certain citizens have visa-free travel to the United States, they must still have a passport when visiting St. Thomas. Therefore, you must always have your passport with you when traveling, especially if you are a foreign national.
You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason (e.g., for an emergency evacuation, you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States.
Having a passport for U.S. citizens is optional for cruises that leave and return to the United States, and mandatory for cruises outside the country. Both a passport card or a passport book is a valid form of identification for domestic cruises.
U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.