Traveling is a pleasure thing, but it is also a distressful thing because we have to prepare everything before the trip to ensure that our trip can be successful and happy. If you intend to travel to the United States and you do not know whether you need a passport, you are the lucky one to read this article. This article will solve this question and share other documents you should prepare.
Do US citizens need a passport to travel in the country?
If you are a citizen of the United States, you can travel within America by plane without a passport. However, passengers over 18 years old must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint.
The identified documents have:
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Passport card
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Stated-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
- Foreign government-issued passport.
- DHS Trusted Traveler Card
- US Department of Defense ID
- Driver’s Licenses or other state photo identity cards by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(PS: Starting on May 7, 2025, if you want to fly within the United States by using a state-issued ID or license, please make sure that your documents meet REAL ID standards. If you are not sure that your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.)
If your ID isn’t included here, you can look through all accepted IDs on this website.
Minors:
You should pay attention to the minors less than 18 years old do not need to show ID cards at the airport checkpoint.
U.S. citizens return to America
Even if you are a U.S. citizen, you still need to have a passport so that you are able to enter the United States. The U.S. government requires that U.S. citizens (including infants and children) departing from or entering America by air need to show a valid U.S. passport to board the international flight. U.S. citizens (including infants and children) departing from or entering America by the overland route or the sea route need to have a valid travel document that meets WHT standards.
The Valid documents include:
- U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
- Enhanced Driver’s License
- Enhanced Tribal Card
- Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) cards (Global Entry…, NEXUS, or SENTRI)
- U.S. military orders (PCS) with valid military ID. An accompanying immediate family member can use any WHTI-compliant travel document.
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential with official travel letter.
If you want to know more details about that, you also can find it through this link.
Can I fly without any valid identification?
You are allowed to fly without one of these forms of ID. The TAS has determined identified acceptable identification for use in special circumstances at the airport checkpoint. Therefore, you can complete your identification verification through TSA when you do not have any valid identifications. Nevertheless, this method will waste more time than the normal way, so you should have enough time and arrive at the airport early.
Do Green Card Holders Need a Passport?
If you have a Green Card, it means that you are a permanent resident of the United States and you do not need a passport to travel within America. However, you still need to have a regular photo ID and a Green Card to fly within the United States.
How about non-U.S. citizens?
If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have a Green Card, you must carry your passport to enter the United States. A passport is a necessary document for traveling abroad, it can prove your identity and nationality, and you must show a valid passport to the consular officer when you apply for a visa. The first thing you need to travel to the U.S. is your passport, only you have a passport and visa, and airport checkpoints can allow you to board the plane. In all cases, you must protect your passport. Because if you lose it, it will be extremely painful for the replacement processes.
Meanwhile, you should pay attention to the period of the validity of the passport. The U.S. government requires that the passport of foreign tourists must be valid for six months after they enter the United States. Consequently, you need to be sure that your passport is within the validity period before you set off.
Minors：
All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents like a passport or document from the Trusted Traveler Program to enter the United States. But you need to note that you should have a letter of consent from the other parent or signed by both parents if the child is going to travel with only one of the custodial parents. If one of the parents has sole custody of the child, he can use the copy of the custody document to replace the letter from the other parent.
Apply for a valid visa
Except for a valid passport, you still need to transact a visa. There are many types of U.S. visas, including tourist visas, business visas, student visas, and so on. If you plan to travel to America, you can apply for a tourist visa. When you apply for a visa, you need to submit a series of materials, like filling out the application form, your ID card, color photos, material status, work experience and so on. You can find more specific procedures and precautions for applying for a visa on the official website of the U.S. Embassy.
Besides, applicants need to take an interview, which is for the safety of the visitor. However, applicants under the age of 14 do not need to go for an interview.
Conclusion
To put it in a nutshell, preparing sufficient documents before you travel to the United States is very significant. Only with full preparation, you can enjoy the trip to the United States with peace of mind.
Dolores Xiao