You Can Travel to These International Destinations Without a Passport

The U.S. is the fourth largest country by land mass, with over 3.5 million square miles to explore. It’s home to 63 national parks and some of the most well-loved cities in the world. We’ve got Alaska for those looking for extreme wilderness and Hawaii for those looking for an island beach vacation. 

In fact, America is so big that you could live your whole life without leaving the country — and many do. But you don’t need to limit yourself to the confines of the U.S. just because you don’t have a passport or are waiting for a new one to arrive. There are several international destinations Americans can visit with no passport at all. (It’s worth noting that starting May 7, 2025, a Real ID will be required at TSA checkpoints. More on that here.)

American Samoa
To visit American Samoa without a passport, you must show your government-issued ID and a certified birth certificate demonstrating your nationality. You’ll also need to either have a ticket for onward passage out of American Samoa or proof of employment there.

Guam
To visit Guam without a passport you’ll need to first book your flights through Honolulu, as travel through other major hubs like Tokyo or Seoul requires a passport. Then, you’ll need to show your government-issued ID and an original or certified copy of your birth certificate. 

Puerto Rico
Traveling to Puerto Rico is not that different from traveling to Pennsylvania; any U.S. citizens wishing to visit the island nation must just show their government-issued ID. No birth certificate is required.

U.S. Virgin Islands
To visit the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix you’ll need both a valid government-issued ID and your birth certificate. The latter is not always needed, according to some travel forums, but is recommended in case you’re asked to show proof of citizenship.

Northern Mariana Islands
Just northeast of Guam are 14 islands that make up the Northern Mariana Islands (aka The Marianas). Like Guam, to get to the islands without a passport, you’ll need to fly through Honolulu to avoid layovers in countries where passports are required. You can enter the Northern Mariana Islands with a government-issued ID and an original or certified birth certificate.

International Closed-loop Cruises
Another way to travel internationally without a passport is to book a “closed-loop cruise,” or a cruise sailing that starts and ends at the same U.S. port and only travels within the Western Hemisphere.  

For example, a closed-loop cruise might depart from Miami and visit Bermuda or The Bahamas before returning to Miami (no passport required). However, you couldn’t depart from Miami and travel to Panama before ending your cruise in San Diego. This trip would require a passport because the cruise doesn’t start and end at the same port of call.

On closed-loop cruises you can bring along a government-issued ID and a government-issued birth certificate instead of a passport and still visit foreign countries like Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Mexico, to name a few.