New Passport Requirements for Mexico &
the Caribbean

According to the U.S. Department of State, all U.S. citizens will soon be required to obtain a passport when traveling internationally, including destinations that previously did not require a passport.

Timeline for Passport Changes
The U.S. Department of State has proposed the following timeline for the new passport requirements:

• December 31, 2005 Passport required for all travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America
• December 31, 2006 Passport required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada
• December 31, 2007 Passport or other accepted documentation required for all air, sea, and land border crossings.

Obtaining a Passport
To obtain a passport for the first time, go in person to one of the over 7,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States. Acceptance facilities include many Federal, State and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries, and a number of county and municipal offices. Bring two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain passports. Passports are valid for 10 years.

Allow a sufficient amount of time to apply and receive your passport in advance of travel. The government suggests allowing 6 to 8 weeks for processing U.S. passport applications. Peak U.S. processing time is between January and July. For faster service, apply between August and December.

Passport Fees

• Passport application costs are as follows: (subject to change)
• New passport under age 18 - $82.00
• New passport age 16 and older - $97.00
• Passport renewal - $67.00
• Expedited service - $60.00

For more information regarding International travel requirements or obtaining a passport, visit www.state.gov/travel.