People always think about what they should prepare before going out to travel, and then constantly find it online.
Recently if you intend to have a trip to beautiful Hawaii and do not know whether you should take a passport, this article will give you the answer, as well as tell you what credentials you should prepare before traveling to Hawaii so that your trip to Hawaii can smooth going.
Some History of Hawaii
Whether you should take a passport, you should know some traditional culture and customs of Hawaii so that you can have a great experience of the scenery and the local customs. Now let’s take a brief look at the history of Hawaii and have a deep understanding of the culture and customs of Hawaii through these historical stories.
Hawaii is a beautiful seaside area that is well-known in the world for its unique culture and geographical position. Once it was an independent kingdom, Hawaii overthrew its monarchy at the end of the 19th century by a group of American businessmen and naval officers who launched a coup. Then the eight islands of Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1989 and they officially became a state of America in 1959. All in all, Hawaii is a beautiful, fertile， and historically unique island that is worth our traveling.
Do you need to take a passport to travel to Hawaii?
Let’s move on to the next step now, the question of whether you should take a passport or not.
This question can be divided into two situations: the first is that you are an American citizen; the second is that you are not an American. citizen, which means you are a citizen of another country.
Discussing the first one: You are a U.S. citizen
American citizens do not need a passport when they travel to Hawaii, because Hawaii is part of the United States. It is equivalent to an American citizen going from one part of their native country to another, and they are still in their country. However, the American citizens who traveled to Hawaii still need to have some other credentials, including Government-issued ID cards with photographs, airline tickets, and boarding passes. In addition, American citizens must have RALIDE ID driver’s licenses or other identifications.
Besides, you should keep the original credentials with you and some photocopies for backup for a rainy day. And make sure your credentials are still valid.
You should carry these credentials at any time so that you can use them to go through other procedures.
Can I go to Hawaii with a green card?
The Green Card is an American permanent resident card, which is also called “America Green Card” and “Green Pass”. The people who own it can stay in the United States legally for a long time and enjoy certain benefits as well as rights, so the Green Card is equivalent to an identity for non-American citizens. People who have Green Cards can enter the United States without a passport, but they are required to have valid resident permits, U.S. Green Cards or Immigration documents.
Should I have a passport if I travel to Hawaii from outside the United States?
There is also a special situation where American citizens travel to Hawaii from outside the United States. In this case, American citizens are required to take their passports. This is equivalent to you returning to your native country from another country.
Meanwhile, you should pay attention to that children under the age of 18 do not require a passport to go to Hawaii, but they are required to go with adults who have ID cards. In America, children under eighteen are not qualified for a government-issued ID card. You can show the passenger ticket to the public security border inspector when they ask you to prove your child’s age. Consequently, it is most important that the children should stay with the adults who have certificates.
Can I go to Hawaii with a driving license?
The answer is yes. A United States citizen can legally travel to Hawaii by using a driver’s license, but you should make sure that the driver’s license is authentic and adheres to the criteria posed by the REAL ID Act. However, starting on May 7, 2025, everyone will need a REAL ID for air travel and not all states currently issue driver’s licenses that comply with these requirements. If your REAL ID does not meet the requirement, you may need to carry a passport instead.
Discussing the second one: You are not a U.S. citizen
If you are not an American citizen, a passport is an essential certificate for traveling to Hawaii. The American government requires all foreign people must have a valid passport to enter their country.
Except for a passport, a visa is needed to enter the Hawaii islands. If your country has a visa exemption, you do not need to consider this step. Therefore, you must inquire about the entry requirements for your nationality clearly before you travel to Hawaii.
Visa-free countries: There are forty visa-free countries in the United States, including some of the most popular countries in Europe like France, Germany, Spain, Greece, and so on. In addition, people who have American passports and come from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, and so on can enter America without a visa. If you don’t know whether your country joins in Visa Wavier Program Countries, you can look through this link.
The difference between a visa and a passport: A passport is a legal certificate issued by the citizen’s country when this citizen wants to go abroad to travel or stay abroad. A visa is an entrance permit from the country you want to visit. Generally, visas can be applied for at the foreign embassy or consulate. )
Do minors need a passport to travel to Hawaii?
The minors who are non-American citizens and permanent residents of America are not required to
Transact passports before they travel to Hawaii. They must be accompanied by one of their parents when they are going to traveling to Hawaii. Adults must have a valid ID Card with a photo and bring the birth certificate or airline ticket of the children to prove their ages.
Do I Need A Passport If I Enjoy Visa-Free Travel To The United States?
Even if you enjoy Visa-Free Travel to America, you also need a valid passport. The United States Government stipulates that travel under the Visa Waiver Program is restricted to travelers possessing passports wither specified security features. Therefore, you need to show your passport and your ID card when you travel to Hawaii. If you want to know more details about the Visa Waiver Program Requirement, you can click the line. The Visa Waiver Program Requirement is an official website of the United States government, in which you can the details of passport requirements, digital photographs, machine-readable passports and the electronic system for Travel Authorization.
How to apply for the visa?
If you are not joining in Visa Wavier Program, you need to apply for a visa.
According to national regulations, the process of applying for a visa is as follows:
First of all, you need to carry various certificates related to the visa application materials, including your ID card, color US visa photos, material status, work experience, and so on.
Second, submit all the materials to the embassy or consulate of the country of your country, then you need to fill out the visa application and submit it.
Third, the embassy or consulate will submit your application form and supporting documents to the competent authority of the United States.
Fourth, the competent authority of the United States will review and approve the documents and the visa application and inform the result of the embassy. If the competent authority of the United States approves your visa application, then the embassy in the country will give you a visa.
What you should know is the visa application to Hawaii requires an interview, which is for the safety of the visitor. And you need to note that the passport must be valid for more than half a year. After the applicant provides the above materials and submits the application form, he will be able to get the visa smoothly most of the time.
Conclusion
Now you know that American citizens and Permanent residents of the United States do not need passports, but non-American citizens are required to have passports. Do you know whether you should have a passport or not after reading this article? If your answer is yes, then you can go ahead and keep going on your travel planning. Please note that if you are from those requiring a visa, you will need to apply for a visa in advance. You should ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months. In the end, sincerely hope that this article can deal with your question.
Dolores Xiao