Island Escape 101: Passport Requirements

With thoughts of the sand between your toes and the intoxicating smells of suntan lotion mixing with the spray of the ocean, it’s easy to imagine spending your days living your best Caribbean life. Before you find a long-term rental or property to own and kiss your mainland life goodbye, you’ve gotta make sure you can even get to paradise.

Sure, Caribbean countries are known for their easy-going attitudes, but even the most “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” countries have immigration rules that need to be followed before you can set sail with Captain Morgan (even if you never plan to leave dry land!) While many Caribbean countries are very accommodating to US tourists, a certain amount of passport validity, blank stamp passport pages, or other requirements may be enforced either at boarding of the plane (while still in the US) or after you disembark in your destination. Here’s what you need to keep in mind to ensure smooth sailing!
 
Note: This list is only a guide as immigration rules are often in flux. Please check the US State Department’s website here to get the most up-to-date information before you leave. Also, please note that this guide is designed with United States Passport holders in mind. If you hold a passport from another country, please check with the State Department in the country from which your passport was issued.

Not required if you have an onward or return ticket, confirmation of accomodation, and can produce evidence of your ability to maintain yourself.
 
Antigua and Barbuda
Passport Validity: Must be valid for 180 following your departure date
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not required if you have an onward or return ticket, confirmation of accomodation, and can produce evidence of your ability to maintain yourself.
 
Aruba
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry and for duration of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for US travelers
 
Barbados
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for stays under 6 months
 

Belize
Passport Validity: Must be valid for length of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for stays 30 days or less
 
Bermuda
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required
 
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Passport Validity: Must be valid for period of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for visits up to 180 days
 

 
British Virgin Islands
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for visits up to one month
 
French West Indies- Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy
Passport Validity: Must have six months validity at entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for visits up to 90 days
 
The Bahamas
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 2 pages required for entry stamp
Not Required
 
Cayman Islands
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry and exit
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required
 

 
Costa Rica
Passport Validity: Must be valid for length of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for stays less than 90 days, but return ticket required
 
Cuba
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 2 page required for entry/exit stamps
Tourist travel to Cuba remains prohibited. You must obtain a license from the Department of Treasury or your travel must fall into one of 12 categories of authorized travel. See here for details.
 
Curacao
Passport Validity: Must be valid for length of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required, however return/onward ticket, sufficient funds, and any needed documents for return travel are needed.
 
Dominica
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for stays under 6 months
 
Dominican Republic
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
Not Required for stays less than 30 days
 
El Salvador
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required, but a $10 USD tourist card must be purchased upon arrival and is valid for 90 days.
 

 
Grenada
Passport Validity: Must for 6 months beyond the date of entry
Blank Passport Pages: Sufficient space is necessary for ¼ page entry stamp
No visa required, evidence of return/onward travel is required
 
Guatemala
Passport Validity: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry/exit stamp
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 
Haiti
Passport Validity: Must be valid for 6 months from time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required per stamp
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 

 
Honduras
Passport Validity: Must be valid for 6 months from time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 
Jamaica
Passport Validity: Must be valid at the time of entry and exit
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 
Mexico
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required per stamp
No visa required for stays of 180 days or less
 
Montserrat
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required
 
Nicaragua
Passport Validity: Must be valid for length of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required per stamp
No visa required for stays less than 90 days, but must purchase a $10 USD tourist card upon entry and pay a $42 USD departure tax. Other requirements may apply. See here for details.
 

 
Panama
Passport Validity: Must be valid 3 months beyond date of arrival
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required per stamp
No visa required
 
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Passport Validity: Must be valid for 6 months from time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 
Saint Lucia
Passport Validity: Must be valid for 6 months from time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required if you have an onward/return ticket, confirmation of accomodation, and can produce evidence of your ability to maintain yourself.
 

 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Passport Validity: Must be valid at time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required
 
Sint Maarten
Passport Validity: Must be valid for duration of stay
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required for entry stamp
No visa required
 
Trinidad and Tobago
Passport Validity: Must be valid for 6 months from time of entry
Blank Passport Pages: 1 page required per stamp
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 
Turks and Caicos
Passport Validity: Must be valid duration of stay
Blank Passport Pages: none
No visa required for stays of 90 days or less
 

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Tristin Zeman

Tristin Zeman is the Digital Advertising and SEO Specialist for RealtyHive. A Wisconsin native, Tristin enjoys travel, cooking, yoga, and the outdoors. You can find her writing about real estate trends, marketing topics, international advice and general lifestyle and interest pieces.

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