Determine mode of transportation. International travel is severely restricted for a U.S. citizen who is not in possession of a valid, unexpired passport and is limited to the Western Hemisphere. Travel by air is excluded, and travel by land is limited. Residents of Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington who are in possession of an Enhanced Driver's License may travel to Canada by land. All others must present a passport, passport card or a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST. Those wishing to travel more than 20 or 30 kilometers into Mexico are required to present a passport or passport card. Be careful though, regardless of the destination in Mexico, all U.S. citizens age 16 or older must present a valid U.S. passport book or passport card to re-enter the U.S. by land. It is only when traveling on a closed-loop cruise, or one that departs and returns to the same U.S. port, that a U.S. citizen may present documents other than a passport for international travel.
Gather documents for anticipated method of travel. If traveling by land, ensure that your Enhanced Driver's License is unexpired. If traveling by sea, ensure that your government-issued photo I.D. is valid and that you have an original or certified copy of a document approved to substantiate U.S. citizenship. Those 18 and younger may travel by land and on cruises with proof of citizenship only. A birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship can serve as proof of citizenship. Documents must be either an original or certified copy. The birth certificate should have a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal and include the registrar's signature and the date the certificate was filed. Now would be a good time to order replacements for any damaged identification.
Book travel. At the time of booking, verify that your chosen documents will be accepted.
