Effective January 23, 2007, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via air, to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Bermuda, and the Caribbean (with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Here are the updates as of September 4th, 2007 ~ English version update www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1188939218061.shtm & Spanish version update: www.dhs.gov/xnews/espanol/gc_1190130540724.shtm

As of January 1, 2008, passports will be required for U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via land and sea, as well as air, regardless of destination.

Get the details from a US State Department ‘Know Before You Go’ or check out a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the topic.

Passport web links ~ The US Postal Service: locator for post offices providing passport services & US Passport Services Office: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html


REALTORS® can help their clients with a second home in Canada, Mexico or other countries with the following links:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ~ www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
Home page for the DHS is a wealth of security information at your fingertips.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ~ www.tsa.gov/
TSA home page is the beginning of information on travel security to and from the US.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ~ www.cbp.gov/
CBP home page is a wealth of information on custom and border concerns through out the US.
US State Department for Travel ~ www.travel.state.gov/index.html
This site is loaded with information on travel requirements through out the global for US citizens.

US REALTORS® serving clients in these markets are accustomed to moving back and forth across borders with just a driver's license or birth certificate but as of October 1st, 2007 a passport is now required. Below are informational links to help make traveling easier:

Trusted Traveler Programs ~ www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/ these programs were developed to help the frequent traveler through international borders of Canada and Mexico.
And save yourself some time by checking the web before you travel at: www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/ here you’ll find out about ‘Wait Times’ at airports, ‘Travel Alerts’, and what not to bring with you, plus much more news and information.
Now find out what the US Customs and Border Protection is doing for you while you travel via the web: www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ipr/ Here you’ll find out what is covered under the intellectual property rights program plus much more information on intellectual property rights.
Homeland Security: Crossing US Borders ~ www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/ Prepare yourself before you go and visit here to find what you should do before you come in or go out of the US.

If you're planning to travel abroad, get foreign entry requirements by country