Do You Need A Passport To Visit Antigua As A U.S. Citizen?

The beach is just the beginning. An alluring tagline for Antigua and sister island Barbuda, captivating islands both located in the Eastern Caribbean. When it comes to planning a vacation in Antigua, many questions arise, including, do you need a passport to visit Antigua, and where is the best place to stay?

We'll state it plainly here: U.S. citizens are required to travel with a passport to Antigua & Barbuda. Travelers should also ensure their passports are valid for 6 months past their travel dates, and that they have a valid return ticket. Visas, however, are not required for U.S. citizens.

As for accommodation, there are quite a few options in this dual island nation. Antigua is the larger and more popular of the two islands, and most travelers spend the majority of their vacation days there. Sandals Grande Antigua, a beachside all-inclusive resort in Antigua, can be an excellent choice if you want to enjoy an adults-only experience on this island.

If you want to know more, read on as we discuss all things Antigua travel related. Plus, we'll answer some of your most pressing questions on passports, visas, passport cards, and more!

(https://www.sandals.com/grande-antigua/).*

In this article on the Sandals Blog:

Visa requirements
Need a passport when flying to Antigua?
Need a passport when cruising to Antigua?

Passport cards
Trusted Traveler programs
Enhanced Driver's Licenses

Stuck in Antigua without a passport?
What if your trip exceeds the maximum period of stay?
Bonus: Special vaccinations required?
Bonus: Currency restrictions

Consulate and Embassy contacts

What are my visa requirements?

U.S. visitors traveling for tourism will not need a visa for travel up to six months in Antigua. Once you arrive, the amount of time you’ll be able to stay on the island will be indicated by the immigration officer who will stamp your passport. The length of time granted is at the discretion of immigration officers and can be extended via the local immigration office.

Do I need a passport when flying?

A passport is the first thing you'll need to look for if you intend on traveling to Antigua. If you don’t already have one, fill out and submit your passport application form before booking your vacation. This can help to ensure that it's processed before your trip. If you already have a passport, make sure it’s valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates before booking.

In addition to making sure your passport is valid, you’ll need to book a return ticket or a ticket out of Antigua to another destination, which you may be required to show to immigration representatives. More often than not, you'll also need to show proof of accommodation.

Before completing your booking, check that you have at least two blank passport pages left. This is important, as some airlines will not allow you to board the plane if you don’t.

Expert tip: Make a print out of your itinerary and photocopy relevant pages from your passport ahead of traveling. While this is optional, it may come in handy if your passport is lost or stolen. Put your travel documents and copies in separate places.

Do I need a passport when cruising to Antigua?

If you'll be traveling by sea to Antigua, you can use a passport or one of the following documents:

• Passport cards,
• Trusted Traveler card,
• Enhanced driver's licenses.
  

Travel requirements are different whether you’re traveling by land, air or sea. Though visitors heading to Antigua by way of a cruise do not necessarily need a passport, the U.S. Department of State recommends that all U.S. citizens bring their passports with them in case of an emergency or other unexpected circumstance that could prevent them from returning home via cruise.

Exception for closed-loop cruises

Closed-loop cruises are those that start and end at the same port in the U.S. If you'll be traveling to Antigua on a closed-loop cruise, you may be able to use your birth certificate or government issued driver’s license in place of your passport.

Exceptions for children

• Children under age 16 can use a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship IF they are traveling to and from Antigua by sea.
• Children under age 19 can also use birth certificates IF they are traveling by sea and IF they are traveling with a school group, a church group or a social or cultural organization supervised by an adult.
  

As for air travel, as mentioned above, all travelers need a passport to travel to Antigua, much like with all non-U.S.-administered destinations.

What is a passport card?

A passport card is an alternative form of identification and travel document issued by the U.S. Department of State. It is similar in size to a driver's license or ID card and can fit into your wallet.

When applying for a U.S. passport, you can apply for a passport card, a passport book, or both. While a regular passport can be used for any form of travel, a passport card is generally used for only land and sea travel. Passport cards can facilitate cross-border land entry from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico. Cruise travelers can use a passport card for entry into Antigua's seaports on closed-loop cruises from the United States.

Good to know: Passport cards cost around $65 as compared to passport books which cost $130 plus a $35 execution fee for first time applicants. Passport cards for minors (under 16) cost roughly $50 ($15 application charge plus $35 execution fee for first-time applicants).

What are Trusted Traveler programs?

Trusted Traveler programs take travel to new heights of convenience with features including expedited lanes at U.S. airports. The benefits extend to international borders, which helps members get through the airport quicker. Most programs require pre-approval, and target travelers are considered low risk. Trusted Traveler programs are enabled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Trusted Traveler programs include:

• NEXUS: Generally used to enter the U.S. from Canada through land, air and sea;
• SENTRI: Generally used to enter the U.S. from Canada and Mexico by air or land;
• FAST: Generally used to enter and exit the U.S. from Canada and Mexico with a commercial truck.
  

At time of publication, all of the above memberships can be used as identification when embarking on a cruise to Antigua. However, none of the Trusted Traveler programs will replace the passport when flying to Antigua.

What is an Enhanced Driver’s License?

An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) is a special driver’s license that can be used for both driving and as a travel document. An EDL comes in handy for domestic travel within the United States and can even be used for travel to the Caribbean via a cruise. An EDL will allow you to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries. You won’t be able to use it for air travel, however.

Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington State are currently the only states issuing EDLs. An EDL is not valid for air travel.

I’m stuck in Antigua without a passport. What do I do?

Passports being lost or stolen during international travel is common. If you lose or misplace your passport while in Antigua, don’t panic. You’ll need to apply for an emergency passport right away. If you’re staying at Sandals Grande Antigua, concierge staff will be able to assist you and even put you in contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy.

Below are the necessary steps to get an emergency passport as quickly as possible:

1. First, make an official report to local police. Ask for a copy of this report to take with you.
2. Get in contact with the nearest embassy or consulate to make arrangements for your emergency passport. You’ll need to provide details, like those included in your police report. You may also need to show your ticket, which will serve as proof of your need to travel.
3. Complete the DS-11 passport application form.
4. Fill out and complete Form DS-64 which includes a statement pertaining to your lost passport.
5. Pay the required fee of $130 (the same fee as a new passport).
   

When at the embassy or consulate, try to provide as many documents as possible. Administrative personnel will guide you through the steps of applying for an emergency passport and give you an estimate of how long the process will take. You may be asked to provide the following documents:

• Passport photo.
• Picture identification, like a driver’s license.
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a photocopy of your missing passport.
• Travel itinerary (airline or cruise tickets).
• Police report, if available.
  

Be aware that the emergency passport you will be given in these circumstances has limited validity. This means you will be required to re-apply for a new passport upon your return to the U.S.

What to do when your trip exceeds your maximum period of stay

U.S. visitors can stay visa free in Antigua for a period not exceeding six months, which should be enough to check off most points of interest in Antigua. If you go to Antigua for vacation and want to extend your trip, you’ll need to get in contact with the local immigration department. Once you make contact with them and fill out the necessary application forms, you’ll be able to extend your trip. Contact for the local immigration department in Antigua is listed below:

Antigua & Barbuda Immigration Department
Long and Thames Streets, St. John’s, Antigua
Tel: (268)-562-1387, 562-1389
Fax Local: (268)-562-1388
Fax Overseas: (268)-562-1388
Email: immigrationanu@candw.ag

Bonus: Do I need to get vaccinated before traveling to Antigua?

While in general, there are no requirements for U.S. visitors to Antigua to be vaccinated, it is recommended that you are properly vaccinated before traveling to Antigua. Ensure you’re up to date with vaccinations like MMR, DPaT, polio, yellow fever, rabies and chicken pox. The CDC also recommends vaccinations like Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and vaccinations for typhoid fever.

Where yellow fever is concerned, travelers from regions that are considered high risk for yellow fever may need to provide a vaccination certificate. Some of these regions include:

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Congo, Congo (Dem, Rep.) Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.

This list is complete at time of writing, please do check whether it’s still up to date before planning your vacation to Antigua.

Regulations pertaining to yellow fever may in some cases extend to visitors who have been in transit for over 12 hours in regions with a high risk of yellow fever. In these cases, travelers can be required to provide proof of being vaccinated 10 days before arrival to Antigua.

Bonus: What are the currency restrictions for travel to Antigua?

There are no existing currency restrictions for travel to Antigua, though amounts exceeding the equivalent of US$10,000 need to be declared. Travelers are also only allowed to ‘export’ local and foreign currency up to the amount ‘imported’ and declared.

Consulate and Embassy contacts

Consular Agent in Antigua
Address: Jasmine Court, Suite #2, Friars Hill Rd., St. John’s, Antigua
Telephone Numbers: 268-463-6531 (office), 268-726-6531 (cellular)
Mailing address: P.O. Box W-1562, St. John’s, Antigua
Office hours: Mondays 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Wednesdays 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Fridays 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

**Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in the USA **
Address: 3216 New Mexico Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016,
Telephone: (202)- 362-5122

Antigua & Barbuda High Commission in the UK
Address: 2nd floor, 45 Crawford Place, London, W1H 4LP
Telephone: +44 020 7258 0070
Website: http://www.antigua-barbuda.com
Opening Times: Monday-Thursday 10:00AM to 5:00PM, Friday 10:00AM to 2:30PM

Disclaimer: All information on this article was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Sandals is not affiliated with immigration authorities or their application centers and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this volatile information.