Do You Need a Passport to Go to Guam in 2024?
April 24, 2024
3 min. read
This enigmatic hotspot in the Micronesia subregion of the Pacific Ocean named the island of Guam, is really something. Let alone the fantastic Mariana Trench and the Challenger Deep that lie only some 352 km away from Guam. Travelers can’t help being fascinated by the beauty of Guam with its coral beaches and breathtaking diving spots.
Guam is the largest of the Mariana Islands and is an exciting destination to explore anytime. Still, it’s a good idea to travel there between December and June and avoid the rainy season.
When it comes to air travel documents for Guam, there exists ambiguity about the necessity of having a passport to travel to this unincorporated U.S. territory. Let’s find the answer to the question: do you need a passport to go to Guam?
In Focus
Do you need a passport to go to Guam?
Even though Guam is located over 2,000 miles away from the closest U.S. airport of Honolulu which is not even the Lower 48 states, U.S. citizens do not need a passport to go to Guam. A U.S. citizen can present a government-issued ID that is compliant with the regulations of the Transportation Security Administration when flying to the island.
Entry requirements for Guam—U.S. citizens
To be more specific, the flight to Guam takes the same as a domestic flight to any other incorporated territory of the United States of America. Alongside places like the rest of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico. It means that a U.S. citizen doesn’t have to apply for a visa.
Among the acceptable documents a U.S. traveler can board a plane with are a U.S. passport book or card, a REAL ID, a state-issued ID, and an original or notarized copy of a birth certificate.
If you travel with a passport, ensure you have a compliant passport photo of 2×2 inches and with off-white background in your document. For example, it can be a passport photo from The UPS Store, a pharmacy that offers photo-taking services, or you can simply take a photo with an online tool yourself.
Please note the new rules of the Real ID Act came into action on May 3, 2023. A Real ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, and the like have become obligatory to fly domestically within the U.S.
If you take a valid passport as proof of identification and citizenship when you fly to Guam, ensure it has at least one page spare.
Travelers that have no restrictions on entering Guam include:
- U.S. citizens.
- Lawful permanent residents and immigrants.
- Crew staff.
- Travelers under 18.
- Diplomatic or foreign government representatives.
Please note:
If you have any doubts about a travel document in your particular situation,
it’s a safe solution to consult your local embassy or consulate in the U.S.
By doing so, you resolve all your concerns.
Do I need a passport to go to Guam as an international traveler?
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection state that international travelers without a U.S. visa should complete the I-736 form. It applies to every visit to Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Such countries as Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom participate in the Visa Waiver Program. That means they need to present a signed paper copy of the I-736 form if they don’t have a U.S. visa.
Form I-736 is not applicable to:
- Travelers with a valid U.S. visa.
- Travelers that possess passports issued in Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, or the United Kingdom and enrolled in a current ESTA.
- Travelers from PRC with a U.S. valid visa and enrolled in EVUS.
Once your I-736 form is processed, it needs to be printed, signed, and dated. Then, you can show it at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you visit Guam. It’s valid for seven days.
Please note:
I-94 customs forms are no longer accepted.
You can learn more at https://i736.cbp.dhs.gov/I736/#/home.
The official languages of Guam are English and Chamorro. The travelers can complete the forms in the English language.
What documents do you need (excl. a passport) to go to Guam?
Now that we have cleared out that a U.S. passport is not a strict requirement, do you need anything else excluding your passport to go to Guam? Apart from your identification document, you are required to fill out the following forms on your arrival to Guam: the health declaration form and the electronic declaration form.
When at the Guam International Airport, you need to inform the Guam authority about the health status of yourself and your family traveling with you.
The provided data is fed into the Sara Alert system to monitor any possible disease symptoms to protect the island community. You can fulfill the form promptly online at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a1ba39c050b5466994fb990e7fca2396
Electronic Declaration Form
To observe compliance with the U.S. and Guam laws, you need to complete one more form before you land—the Guam Electronic Declaration Form. It’s obligatory for everyone traveling to the island.
The form may be filled out up to 72 hours before you enter Guam at https://traveller.guamedf.landing.cards/ for the convenience and safety of passengers.
Do minors need a passport to go to Guam?
Minors traveling on their own or with a parent or legal guardian need to provide their birth certificates as proof of identification.
Since 18 is the majority age in Guam, a child under 18 must be accompanied on an air trip by an adult or met by a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative at the Guam airport. The airport or airlines must notify the DPHSS Child Protective Services of the opposite.