When visiting Puerto Rico, there’s so much to see and do: excellent nightlife, great food, many activities, and excellent beaches. But if you have never been to the Island of Enchantment, you may not be clear whether you need a passport to gain entry. The answer depends on where you are traveling from.
U.S Citizens
According to a 2017 poll, nearly half of Americans didn’t know that Puerto Ricans are US citizens, too. Unsurprisingly, many are unsure if they need a passport to come here. While one isn’t needed, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Requirements
- US citizens do not need a passport to travel to PR.
- At the time of this writing, US citizens can travel to PR using only their driver’s license as identification. However, according to the Department of Homeland Security, starting on 5/7/25, anyone over the age of 18 who plans to travel domestically will need a REAL ID or another form of valid identification.
- Children under 18 do not need ID when traveling domestically with a companion. However, the companion must comply with the ID requirements described above.
Domestic Travel Considerations
- For US citizens, Puerto Rico is considered domestic travel.
- There are no additional TSA considerations specific to PR. If you travel infrequently, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the TSA security screening process. You can also consider whether enrolling in TSA PreCheck makes sense. TSA PreCheck means additional expenses, so you must decide if the expedited screen time is worth the cost.
- When traveling to PR, you don’t need to go through customs or immigration as it is a US territory. The only added step is having the USDA inspect your bags, which is a fairly quick process. After that, you need to go through the TSA, as mentioned above.
COVID-19 and Other Travel Advisories
- At the time of this writing, there are no COVID-19 travel restrictions or requirements when visiting PR (and let’s hope it stays that way!).
- According to the CDC there are no health advisories specific to PR. Because it is usually warm year-round, you should pack accordingly. It can get very hot in the summer months. Light clothing and plenty of sunblocks rated for at least SPF 30 are recommended. Be sure to stay hydrated as well.
Non-US Citizens
Things are a bit different for non-US citizens, but how different depends on what is meant by “non-citizen.” There are different requirements when talking about a permanent resident vs. a foreign national.
Requirements
- Permanent residents don’t need a passport to travel to PR. Foreign nationals will need a passport.
- Most foreign nationals will need a visa to travel to PR. Exceptions for visa requirements can be found here.
- Amongst the exceptions listed above is the Visa Waiver Program which allows most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the US for business or tourism for 90 days or less without a visa.
Entry Procedures
- To enter PR, permanent residents will need their permanent resident card or state-issued driver’s license or ID (please see the above note regarding upcoming REAL ID implementation for more details). Foreign nationals will need to have completed their appropriate visa application and must present their passport upon entry.
- Full details on what is required for entry to the US (and by extension PR) can be found on the Department of State website.
Travel Between Puerto Rico and the Mainland U.S.
- Traveling to PR is no different from traveling to the mainland US. All the steps to travel to the US that have been previously outlined in this post apply equally to PR.
- There are no re-entry requirements for non-US citizens when traveling from PR back to the mainland US. If you are a foreign national, once your visa is approved, you can travel freely throughout the entire country, including territories. If you are a permanent resident, you can move between PR and the US as freely as you can in any of the other two states.
Conclusion
The relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States is fascinating, to say the least. It’s easy to be confused by what exactly the commonwealth status means when it comes to travel. Make no mistake though, concerning travel, PR is essentially as much a part of the US as any of the 50 states. So plan that trip, get your documents in order (whatever they may be), book that flight, and find a place to stay because a trip to Puerto Rico is easier than you ever imagined.
