You need a passport

By Annette Cagle 

They wanted it all. An all-inclusive, adults-only resort. This weekend, in Puerto Rico. I wanted to help them—but I couldn’t. Puerto Rico just didn’t meet their demands. Jamaica would have suited them perfectly. So would the beaches near Cancun. The problem? They didn’t have a passport. 

This is a problem so many would-be tourists run into. They find a paradise island deal for a great price, or they hear about their friends’ all-inclusive resort escape, and they want to go ASAP. But the U.S. doesn’t offer the same luxurious lineup that Caribbean countries do. Tropical beaches, secluded resorts, and fascinating local culture. You just can’t get all of these things here at home—not on the same level. 

That’s why you need a passport. 

For some, a passport could serve as an alternate form of legal ID. For others, a passport is the connection to someone dear to them. Let me explain. 

A passport allows U.S. citizens to legally depart the country. You’ll also need it to get back into the U.S. once your trip is finished. You might even need a passport to fly in the U.S., since some states have not yet implemented the REAL ID Act (click here to learn about REAL ID). 

In some instances, a passport can serve in lieu of a visa. Unlike a passport, a visa is issued by a foreign government, for specific travel purposes like education, tourism, business, etc. But thanks to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, you don’t need a visa to travel to countries like Canada, Mexico, and many places in the Caribbean. For example, Aruba allows U.S. citizens holding a passport to travel there without a visa. That’s less paperwork on your end—as long as you have a passport.  

So the upside to having a passport is obvious: freer travel. But a passport becomes more important once you consider why someone would leave the country. It could be to adopt a child from another country. It could be for a dream honeymoon. It could be for a last-minute business trip. Those are lives touched, moments made, and promotions earned. 

And here’s why it’s important to start the passport process soon: time. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, it would take between 6-8 weeks to apply for and receive your passport. Definitely not something you can do overnight. There’s paperwork, documentation, and fees you’ll need to work through during the process. 

If you hold a passport right now, good for you! When does it expire? Passports are valid for 10 years, unless you were under 16 when you got yours. In that case, it’s valid for 5 years. The expiration date is important, since some countries will only allow you to travel if you have 6 months or more remaining on the passport from your return date; that is, you need to be able to return home at least six months before your passport expires. This is to prevent legal problems in the case of medical or other emergencies where you cannot return home. Everyone wants to prevent a worst-case scenario, so make sure your passport is up to date. 

The people I first brought up are not alone. I can’t tell you how many clients run into travel problems because of their passport (or lack thereof). A simple application is all it takes—get approved, and the world is yours!   

When traveling overseas, most travelers know that a valid United States passport is required to enter an international destination. But what will catch many people is that most countries require six-month validity on your passport to travel to their country. This is known as the 6-month validity passport rule for visitors. So, if you have booked a vacation departing in October 2026, your US passport must be valid through April 2027. Check your passport expiration date now!