Does my 6-year-old daughter require a passport to visit Bahamas by cruise?

by Ram
(Falls Church, Virginia)

Question: My daughter was born in the USA. I am a permanent US resident. My daughter is 6 years old. She has a birth certificate. Does she require a passport to visit The Bahamas by cruise?

Answer: Your daughter does require a passport to go on a cruise to the Bahamas UNLESS it is a closed-loop cruise AND one is not required by the cruise line.

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) cent depart and re-enter the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.

A United States citizen age 15 or younger can present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by DOS, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Please note that your daughter may still be required to present a passport when you dock at a foreign port, depending on the islands or countries that your cruise ship is visiting.

It is best to check with your cruise line. They can better inform you concerning the documents that are required for the cruise you will be on.

For instructions on how to get a passport for your child, visit How to Get a Child's Passport