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

If you plan on exploring the picturesque blues and greens of the Caribbean nation of Barbados and don’t have a passport, it’s a good idea to apply for one as early as possible, so your wait time for processing doesn’t get in the way of your dream vacation.

In most cases, U.S. travellers to Barbados need to bring along their passports, as it is not possible to travel to the island by air with a U.S. government issued ID, or even a U.S. passport card. There are some exceptions when it comes to taking a cruise to Barbados, but even then, it's still a good idea to bring your passport in case of an emergency.

If you're planning a Barbados vacation, then you might want to keep on reading as we get more into detail on things like what to do in an emergency if you’ve lost or misplaced your passport, regulations for minors travelling on their own, and more!

In this article on the Sandals Blog:

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

Passport cards
Trusted Traveler programs
Enhanced Driver's Licenses

Stuck in Barbados 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 do not need a visa when traveling to Barbados for less than six months. That should be enough to explore the island country and its amazing points of interests. A passport is all you need, and once you arrive to Barbados, an immigration officer will stamp your passport and indicate your maximum period of stay.

Do I need a passport when flying?

While you don’t need a passport for domestic travel in the U.S., you will absolutely need one when flying to Caribbean islands like Barbados. Your passport will provide important details like your identity and citizenship to immigration authorities in Barbados. When packing, place your passport and other travel documents in your carry-on for easy access at all checkpoints.

Not only is it a requirement that you need to have a valid passport when travelling to Barbados, you also need to have a return ticket which you may be required to present to immigration.

Check that your passport won’t expire at least until six months after you return home. There should also be one or more blank pages left in your passport when traveling to Barbados, as you’ll need space to accommodate customs entry stamps.

Do I need a passport when cruising to Barbados?

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

Passport cards
Trusted Traveler programs
Enhanced Driver's Licenses

Even though all the above are valid travel documents, it’s a good idea to bring your passport just in case. This will be useful in the event of an emergency, which might require you to fly home or catch up with your cruise ship at another port in another country because of unforeseen circumstances.

Exception for closed-loop cruises

Travelers intending to arrive in Barbados via a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same port) through the U.S. do not need a passport. Cruise travelers can use their government issued driver’s license or birth certificate in lieu of a passport. Even still, it is recommended that travelers bring their passports with them anyway, in case of an emergency.

Exceptions for children

• It is possible for children under 16 to use their birth certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship IF they are traveling to and from Barbados 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.

Even with that said, all air travelers need a passport to enter Barbados.

What is a passport card?

A passport card is a simplified and smaller version of a passport. This travel card can be used for land and sea travel into the U.S. from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada, and Mexico. You can use a passport card if you’re traveling to Barbados via a cruise.

Some travelers prefer passport cards as they're a low cost ($65 - including execution fee for first time applicants) alternative to passport books ($130 + $35 execution fee). They contain similar information to what is displayed on the photo page of your passport. For minors (under age 16), passport cards cost around $50 ($15 application fee + $35 execution fee).

What are Trusted Traveler programs?

Trusted Traveler programs are U.S. government initiatives that speed up the airport clearance process for pre-approved travelers. These programs include features like expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when crossing international borders as well. Anyone can apply for this, but approval is usually only given to travelers who are considered low risk. Once you’re a member, you’ll be able to take advantage of a range of benefits which can enhance your travel experience.

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 Barbados. However, none of the Trusted Traveler programs will replace the passport when flying to Barbados.

What is an Enhanced Driver’s License?

A state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) is a type of driver’s license that can be used for travel in some US states. In those States, an EDL can be used for reentering the U.S. under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), particularly with land and sea travel. With sea travel, the EDL can be used for closed-loop cruises starting in and returning to the U.S. The EDL provides proof of identity and citizenship, with enhanced security features useful for travel.

Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs) are currently only being issued in certain states including Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington State. The EDL is not valid for air travel to Barbados.

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

If you’re in Barbados without a passport but find yourself in urgent need of one, you’ll be required to apply for an emergency passport. This can be done through the nearest U.S. Embassy. The Barbados Immigration Department can provide more details, particularly in terms of travel requirements for cruise visitors to Barbados. Email immigration.seaport@barbados.gov.bb for more information.

Tip: If you’re staying at one of the all-inclusive Sandals Resorts in Barbados and have lost your passport, head to the concierge and ask for help. Staff there should be able to put you in contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy, and the police if needed.

Here’s how you can get an emergency passport as quickly as possible while in Barbados:

1. Go to the nearest police station. Make a report and get a copy of your report to take with you.
2. Get in touch with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate general. Provide details from your police report. You may also be required to show your airline ticket as proof of your need to travel. The address of the U.S. Embassy in Barbados is provided below.
3. Fill out the DS-11 passport application form.
4. Complete the DS-64 form, which includes a statement regarding the lost passport.
5. Pay your fees ($130 - the same as a new passport).
   

Here’s some of the things you’ll need to present at the consulate or embassy to get the process of securing an emergency passport underway:

• 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.
  

Emergency passports in this case are of limited validity. You will need to reapply for a new passport once you return to the U.S.

Insider tip: If you’re staying at Sandals Barbados or Sandals Royal Barbados, ask about the in-room safes, which can help you keep your prized possessions, including your passport, safe!

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

Visitors can stay in Barbados for a maximum of six months. Once you arrive, the amount of time you can remain on the island will be stipulated by the immigration officer stamping your passport. This is done at the discretion of the immigration officers. If you want to spend more time in Barbados, you can extend your trip via the local immigration office:

Immigration Department in Barbados

Careenage House
Wharf Road
Bridgetown
BARBADOS
Telephone: (246) 4344100
Fax: (246) 4260819
E-mail: imm-dept@caribsurf.com

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

Generally, U.S. citizens visiting Barbados don't need to get vaccinated before traveling to this island. There are some exceptions though. If you'll be traveling from a country with a high risk of yellow fever transmission, you may be required to provide vaccination certificates upon arrival. Some of these countries 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 Barbados.

These requirements also stand for travelers who have been in transit for more than 12 hours in a country considered high risk for yellow fever transmission. In this case, travelers will need to show that they have been vaccinated at least 10 days ahead of arrival to Barbados.

Bonus: What are the currency restrictions for Barbados?

There are no existing currency restrictions for visitors to Barbados. However, amounts exceeding BDS$10,000 should be declared on arrival. When leaving the island, the export of foreign currency is restricted to the amount declared upon arrival.

Consulate and Embassy contacts in Barbados and the U.S.

U.S. embassy in Barbados
U.S. Embassy Bridgetown
Wildey Business Park
Wildey
St Michael BB 14006
Barbados, W.I.
Telephone: + (246) 227-4399
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (246) 227-4000
Fax: + (246) 431-0179
Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov
Website: https://bb.usembassy.gov/

Embassy contact in the U.S.
Embassy of Barbados in the USA
Telephone: (202) 939-9200
Website: https://www.foreign.gov.bb
Address: NW, 2144 Wyoming Avenue, Washington, DC, 20008

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.