FAQ - Passport Requirements

Canadian Citizens are advised to check out
http://www.ppt.gc.ca
Canadian Passport Requirements.

Very important! Please read the following information regarding changes to passport requirements. These changes impact US Citizens and non-US Citizens. For more information, please see the U.S. State Department or Canadian web site for passport information. Expired passports are not acceptable.

IN MOST CASES YOUR PASSPORT MUST BE VALID FOR
SIX MONTHS BEYOND THE DURATION OF YOUR TRAVEL.

U.S. and Canadian Citizens:

Beginning on January 23, 2007, with the implementation of the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport to enter or re-enter the United States by air.

This is an important new requirement for cruise guests booked on Alaska and Eastern Canada/New England cruise itineraries. In addition, this new requirement will also impact Canadian guests that travel by air to or from any of our U.S. embarkation ports. The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport.

Cruise Lines recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise. This will enable guests to fly from the U.S. to meet their ship at the first port should they miss their scheduled embarkation and allow guests that must disembark the ship before their cruise ends due to an emergency to fly back to the U.S. without significant delays and complications.

As early as January 1, 2008, with the implementation of the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport
to enter or re-enter the United States by air, land or sea.

For more information and implementation dates, please visit www.travel.state.gov/passport or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778 or TDD/TYY at 1-888-874-7793. Prior to the final implementation date, U.S. and Canadian citizens may travel without a passport on itineraries that do not require re-entry to the US by air. In these cases, all U.S. and Canadian citizens must carry the following documents as proof of citizenship for travel within the western hemisphere countries listed above:

• Picture identification issued by an official government agency AND an original or certified copy of birth certificate from the state or province of your birth; or 
• Picture identification issued by an official government agency AND a U.S. or Canadian Naturalization Certificate.

For travel outside of the western hemisphere countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens
must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise.

Non-U.S./Non-Canadian citizens:

You must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise. Please carefully verify the existing identification requirements for your particular travel situation. In addition, non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card. Resident aliens not in possession of this must obtain one at the nearest office of the U.S. Immigration Service.

Visas: Some countries require that you obtain official authorization (called a visa) before entering the country. Usually there is a fee required. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas. If your itinerary requires a visa prior to boarding, Holland America Line will send a visa information letter to your travel agent. The visa letter will have information for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Citizens of other countries should contact the nearest representative embassies or consulates for the proper information.

Non-US or -Canadian citizens may be required to hold a Canadian Visa when traveling to Alaska or Canada. Please visit the Canadian government web site at http://canada.gc.ca to verify your nationality's requirements.