Instead, you can return with just a birth certificate and a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license.
With closed-loop cruises that head to The Bahamas and Caribbean, you aren’t usually required to have a passport to return to the United States. So if your trip departs Miami, sails the Caribbean (including stopping at a foreign port) and returns to Miami at the end of the trip, it’s considered a closed loop. Put simply, closed-loop cruises are those that begin and end at the same port. Most cruises operate as “closed-loop” cruises. Closed-Loop Cruises Usually Don’t Require Passports Instead, your birth certificate and government-issued identification is all that’s needed. The good news? You don’t have to hold a passport to go on most cruises from the United States if you’re an American citizen. The costs can rise when you include photos and expediting the process should you need a new passport quickly. A first-time passport holder can expect to spend a minimum of $165 to get a passport. If you pay to expedite the process, it can be 5-7 weeks. Routine processing for a new passport is currently 8-11 weeks.
However, if you are on a tight schedule, a passport may not be feasible. That’s why we recommend everyone cruise with one (as do Customs and Border Patrol agents we’ve spoken with). Getting a passport is by far the simplest way to have the needed citizenship identification to travel to and from the United States. Below, we cover questions about sailing with birth certificates for your cruise.įor many people, this identification is a passport. These documents aren’t just to tell who you are, it’s also to prove your citizenship.Ĭruising with a passport is best, but you can also sail with a birth certificate and photo ID. Traveling abroad means you need some sort of identification - not only for getting into a foreign country, but also for getting back into the United States. We are here to lay them all out in plain English.įirst things first, if you are leaving the United States on a cruise, be prepared. To receive return documents by FedEx, please complete Question 7 on Form DC and include credit card payment information.Can I use a birth certificate to cruise? Do I have to get a passport?įrankly, the rules around the documents you need to set sail can get confusing. The Secretary of State will return the document along with the attached apostille or authentication by US mail. Payment of $7.50 for each document for which an apostille or authentication is needed.The original document or a certified copy of the document for which an apostille or authentication is needed.To obtain an apostille or authentication submit the following to the Kansas Secretary of State at the address below: Department of State will not issue an apostille for state-issued documents. embassy or consulate overseas to be recognized in a country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. Department of State or legalization by a U.S. Other documents may be obtained through the agency or court that issued the documents.Ī state-issued document with an apostille or authentication from the Kansas Secretary of State does not require additional certification by the U.S. Other documents issued by a public authority or notarized by a Kansas notaryĪ certified copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or death certificate can be obtained through the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics.Judgments from a Kansas court (signature of a court official must be on file with the Kansas Secretary of State's office).Diplomas from Kansas schools (may require notarization by a Kansas notary).The Kansas Secretary of State issues apostilles and authentications for Kansas documents.Īn Apostille verifies the seal and signature of public officials and notaries on a state-issued document which enables the document to be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.Īn Authentication verifies the seal and signature of public officials and notaries on a state-issued document which enables the document to be recognized in countries that are not members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.Īn apostille or authentication may be obtained for the following documents:
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