Are you ready for spring break? Yes, we know you are more than ready to put down your books and pull off your parka! But we want to know, is your passport ready for spring break?
Christmas and midterms are now behind us. Across the US, high school and college students are making plans for their spring break vacations. If you’re one of them, read on and make sure that you’ve got the passport you need!
Do You Need a Passport for Your Spring Break Trip?
Whether you need a passport — and what kind of passport you need — will be determined by where you are going and how you are getting there!
Flying Within the United States
When you think about spring break, you can’t help but think about Florida! Are you headed to the epic spring break parties in Daytona Beach and Miami? Or are you flying to Orlando to explore the theme parks? No matter where you are going, you are going to need to show official identification in order to board your flight to the Sunshine State. Your driver’s license will work, but what if you don’t have a license yet? You can use a valid passport book or passport card instead.
ID requirements for domestic flights will be even more strict for next year’s spring break. Next January, the US government will start enforcing REAL ID requirements at airports. If you don’t have a REAL ID certified driver’s license, you will need to use your passport to catch your flight!
Driving to Mexico
Not going to Florida this year? Chances are high you’re headed to the other iconic spring break destination, Mexico! You must have a valid passport to travel to Mexico. If you will be entering and departing Mexico by land, you can use a valid passport book or passport card.
Are you more of a snow bunny than a beach bum? The same requirements apply if you are driving into Canada for a ski trip. You’ll need to have a valid passport book or passport card to enter and depart Canada by land.
Taking a Cruise
Cruises are a great way to make the most of your spring break! Although you don’t technically need to have a passport book for “closed loop” cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas, or some other Caribbean destinations, most cruise lines do want you to have your valid passport book with you. (“Closed loop” cruises are cruises that start and end at the same US port.) It’s a good idea to have a valid passport book in case you need to fly internationally in an unexpected situation. For instance, if you miss the boat at one of the cruise stops and need to fly to the next port of call, or if there is an emergency and you need to fly home, you would need to have a passport book.
Flying Internationally
Any time you fly internationally, you must have a valid passport book! It doesn’t matter what your destination is — Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Tanzania, Russia, anywhere — all international travel by air requires a valid passport book.
How to Get a Passport for Your Spring Break Travel
Need to get a passport in time for your spring vacation? No need to worry, G3 can help you get a passport in plenty of time for your trip! But do you know what kind of passport service you will need?
If You Have Never Been Issued a Passport…
- Are you age 16 or older? You will need to use the New Adult Passport service.
- Are you age 15 or younger? You will need to use the Minor Passport service.
If You Have an Expired or Expiring Passport…
- In case your most recent passport was issued after you turned 16, you will need a Passport Renewal.
- If your most recent passport was issued before you turned 16, and you are now over age 16, you will use the New Adult Passport service.
- If you are still age 15 or younger, you will need to use the Minor Passport service.
And If You Can’t Find Your Passport…
- Lost your passport? You will need to use the Lost Passport Replacement procedure.