Is There a Puerto Rican Passport? Travel and Application Facts

There is no Puerto Rican passport. People born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by federal law and carry the same U.S. passport issued to any other American.¹ And because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, no passport is needed at all for travel between the island and the 50 states.²

Why No Separate Passport Exists

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with its own constitution, governor, and tax system, but its residents hold full U.S. citizenship. The governing statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1402, provides that anyone born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941, and subject to U.S. jurisdiction, is a U.S. citizen at birth.¹ The U.S. Department of State issues passports to U.S. nationals, and Puerto Ricans already qualify, so a separate national passport would have nothing to document.

Puerto Rico does issue a “certificate of Puerto Rican citizenship,” but it is not a travel document. It functions mainly as evidence of ties to the island for tax-residency purposes. No airline, border officer, or foreign government will accept it in place of a passport.

Traveling Between Puerto Rico and the Mainland

Flights between Puerto Rico and any state are domestic. You do not clear customs or immigration, and no passport is required. The same is true for travel between Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories such as Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as long as the trip does not stop at a foreign port along the way.³

You still need TSA-acceptable identification at the airport. Since May 7, 2025, all passengers 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a U.S. passport, a passport card, or another ID on TSA’s accepted list. Standard non-compliant driver’s licenses are no longer accepted for boarding.⁴ Puerto Rico issues REAL ID-compliant licenses, so an upgraded island license works at the checkpoint like any state ID.

Expect an Agriculture Inspection on the Way Out

Even though the flight is domestic, USDA inspects all passenger bags at Puerto Rico’s airports before departure to the mainland, to keep invasive pests and plant diseases off the continent.⁵ Open your bags when asked and declare any fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, or items made from plant material. Most fresh produce is not allowed off the island.⁶ Failing to declare agricultural items can bring civil penalties between $100 and $1,000 per violation. Give yourself an extra 15 to 20 minutes at the airport.

International Travel: Passport Book vs. Passport Card

For any international flight, Puerto Ricans need a U.S. passport book, the same as any other American. The book works for air, land, and sea travel to any country that admits U.S. passport holders.³

A U.S. passport card is a cheaper, wallet-sized alternative with narrower use. It is valid only for land and sea travel to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean destinations, and it cannot be used for international air travel at all. For residents who take short Caribbean cruises, the card can be useful, but it will not substitute for a book if the cruise stops somewhere outside those countries. TSA does accept the passport card as ID for domestic flights.⁷

How to Apply for a U.S. Passport in Puerto Rico

Residents of Puerto Rico use the same process as residents of any state. Applications go through authorized acceptance facilities, including U.S. Post Offices and clerks of court around the island.

First-Time Applicants

If you have never held a U.S. passport, you must apply in person on Form DS-11. A first application cannot be submitted by mail.⁸ Bring:

Proof of U.S. citizenship: a U.S. birth certificate with the official seal from the issuing government office, or a previous full-validity U.S. passport. For Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates, see the section below.
Photo identification, such as a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID.
One recent passport-style photo meeting State Department specifications.

Do not sign the DS-11 in advance. The acceptance agent will administer an oath and have you sign in front of them.⁸

Fees and Processing Times

Fees are the same anywhere in the United States. You pay two amounts: one to the State Department and one to the acceptance facility.⁹

First-time adult passport book: $130 application fee plus a $35 acceptance fee, for $165 total.¹⁰
First-time adult passport card: $30 application fee plus a $35 acceptance fee, for $65 total.⁹
Adult passport book renewal by mail: $130, with no acceptance fee.¹⁰
Expedited processing: an additional $60 per application.¹⁰

Routine processing currently runs 4 to 6 weeks; expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks. Neither figure includes mailing time in either direction.¹¹

The Puerto Rico Birth Certificate Problem

This trips up more Puerto Rico applicants than anything else. Under Puerto Rico’s Law 191 of 2009, all birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, were invalidated to combat widespread fraud involving stolen island birth records. The State Department followed: since October 30, 2010, it has refused any Puerto Rico birth certificate issued before July 1, 2010, as proof of citizenship on a passport application.¹²

If your birth certificate predates July 2010, you need a new one before you apply. Request it from Puerto Rico’s Demographic Registry (Registro Demográfico), within the Department of Health, using Form RD-225. The short-form computer certification costs $7 for the first copy within a 12-month period, and the long-form photocopy of the original certificate costs $17 for the first copy. Residents age 60 and older can request one free copy per year, and veterans are exempt from fees when the certificate is needed for official purposes. Processing takes 15 to 30 working days.¹³ Build that wait into your planning: if you need both a new birth certificate and a passport, expect two months or more before you have the passport in hand.

A Note for Green Card Holders

Lawful permanent residents flying directly between Puerto Rico and the mainland without any foreign stop are not required to present a passport or green card, since the trip is domestic. Carrying your green card is still a good idea in case of a diversion or any need to show immigration status. If the itinerary touches a foreign port, standard international entry requirements apply.³

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1402 – Persons Born in Puerto Rico on or After April 11, 1899
2
USA.gov. Do You Need a Passport to Travel to or From U.S. Territories
3
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Needing a Passport to Enter the United States From U.S. Territories
4
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
5
USDA APHIS. Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going From Puerto Rico to the U.S. Mainland
6
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Traveling to U.S. Mainland From Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
7
U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport Card
8
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Adult Passport
9
U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
10
U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees
11
U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
12
U.S. Department of State. New Requirements for Passport Applicants With Puerto Rican Birth Certificates
13
Gobierno de Puerto Rico, Departamento de Salud, Registro Demográfico. Puerto Rico Mail In Birth Certification Application