When Do You Need A Passport for Hawaii?

Savoring the thought of a Hawaiian getaway? Amazing! Then, there may be one question on your mind: Do you need a passport for Hawaii? Let’s get through the paperwork for all possible cases together.

Do you need a passport for Hawaii?

Requirements for travelers setting off for Hawaii vary depending on whether you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or foreign country citizen. Let’s look into each case excluding mobile passports that are mainly used for traveling international.

Do US citizens need a passport for the Hawaiian Islands?

Though the Hawaiian Islands are almost 3000 miles away from the mainland of the United States of America, U.S. citizen do not need a passport to visit the paradise place as it’s a domestic travel. The identification documents that you’re required for Hawaii and within the chain of islands are common types of IDs used in any state of the U.S. We’ll get back to the accepted forms of documents in a second.

You can still get a passport. It might be handy to apply for your passport to go to Hawaii this time and then travel to any location in the world later on. It also might be worth doing, if you didn’t have a valid ID at the moment and you intend to travel internationally within the next 10 years. All you need is to:

1. Complete a passport application here https://pptform.state.gov/,
2. Take a photo: for example, you can get a compliant Walmart passport photo or visit any other store with photo-taking services.
3. Wait 1.5-2 months.

The list of acceptable documents you need (incl. a valid passport) for Hawaii

Passengers 18 and older must show one of the following documents at the airport checkpoint to travel to Hawaii:

• Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles
• U.S. valid passport/card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• State Driver’s License
• Valid government photo ID
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• Real ID-compliant cards
• Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Please mind that a weapon permit and temporary driver’s license are not an acceptable form of identification.

You can find the full list of accepted IDs at the official website of the TSA https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

Do children need a passport for Hawaii?

If you’re wondering whether your child needs a passport visiting Hawaii, no worries. The rules are quite lenient. TSA allows children under 18 not to show identification when traveling within the US with a companion who has a valid ID. A parent who is traveling with an infant should have a copy of their birth certificate.

Still, some airline carriers might require you to have an acceptable form of identification for minors, such as a school ID card or a birth certificate before allowing a minor on board to Hawaii.

For children who are traveling alone, find full details in here https://hawaiianair.custhelp.com/app/

What if I forget to take my passport and other documents to fly to Hawaii?

If you leave your passport at home or lose it arriving at the airport, it’s not the end of the world. The TSA officer may ask you to pass an identity verification control by stating your name, address, and other personal information. Once your identity is confirmed, you’ll have to go through the screening process, including your belongings. If all formalities are observed, you might be eligible to fly to Hawaii.

What are the Hawaii passport requirements for non-US citizens traveling to Hawaii?

Non-US citizens need a passport for Hawaii and might require a visa, depending on the country of origin. International travelers who plan to visit Hawaii need only a valid passport if their country is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This Program embraces 40 countries, including Australia and Germany.

For foreign nationals, it also might be helpful to carry another form of identification, as a person would normally do when traveling abroad. This will assist you in urgent circumstances like when your passport has gone missing or become unusable which unluckily happens when you’re on your journey.

Other Hawaii travel document requirements

Note that there is additional paperwork required for you to go to Hawaii light-hearted. Together with a passport or other form of identification, take a close look at the customs declaration form. You might need to declare restricted food or souvenirs at the border. Remember about travel insurance, tourist visa vs just a passport (for non-U.S. citizens), itinerary, and your accommodation bookings.

FAQ

Do I need a passport to fly to Hawaii if I’m part of the US Visa Waiver Program?

Yes, you need a valid passport for Hawaii even if you need no visa as a resident of a country that is part of the Program.

What documents do you need to travel between the Hawaiian Islands?

You can use the same documents to travel between the Hawaii Islands that you use to land the Hawaii.

Do minors need a passport to go to Hawaii?

No, US Minors do not require a passport to go to Hawaii. Though, it’s recommended to have a school ID or a similar document.

Can you travel to Hawaii without a passport?

United States passport holders or US citizens that don’t have it can travel to Hawaii without passports if they have an eligible document to prove their identity.