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Guánica, Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico: visa and passport requirements

Passport required Return ticket required Visa required
Australian Yes Yes No
British Yes Yes No
Canadian Yes No No
Other EU Yes Yes No/1
USA N/A N/A N/A
Passports: 

Passport and visa requirements for entering Puerto Rico are the same as for entering the USA. To enter Puerto Rico, a valid passport is required by all nationals referred to in the chart; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters Puerto Rico. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with your local US embassy.

Passport note: 

(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program, passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering Puerto Rico/the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) All travellers visiting Puerto Rico/the USA under the Visa Waiver Program must provide details online 72 hours prior to travel. For more information, please see below (ESTA).
(d) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI): All persons, including US citizens, travelling between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. US citizens returning directly from a US territory such as Puerto Rico do not need to present a passport to re-enter the USA, but they may be questioned by US Immigration and Customs and Border Patrol officials regarding their place of birth and place of residence when boarding their return flight.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_2223.html
 

Visas: 

Visas for Puerto Rico are not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days, except:
(1) nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Poland and Romania, who do require a visa as they are not included in the Visa Waiver Program.

Note: Holders of some Maltese passports are included in the Visa Waiver Program.

Visa note: 

(a) All passengers using Puerto Rican or US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
(b) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days.
(c) Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states the holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa-free travel.
(d) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder's passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into Puerto Rico, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality.
(e) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force in 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the USA (including US territories such as Puerto Rico) under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to Puerto Rico. Airlines must now deny check-in to passengers without valid ESTA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online at ESTA (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov). There is a US$14 fee.

When applying for ESTA-authorisation and entering the passport number, make sure you do not accidentally replace the number 0 with the letter O as this can lead to problems upon entering the USA/Puerto Rico.

The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA/Puerto Rico.

Cost: 

Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$140.

Validity: 

The length of stay in Puerto Rico is determined by immigration officials at the time of entry.

Application to: 

Nearest US Embassy or consulate.

Working days: 

It usually takes around four working days after interview for your visa to be issued. Some cases may take up to 90 days - check with your nearest US embassy/consulate.

Entry with children: 

If only one parent is travelling with a child, it is advised that the parent carries a notarised letter from the other parent giving permission to travel to the parent accompanying the child.

Entry with pets: 

Pets must be accompanied by a current vaccination record; this record must be presented upon entering and leaving the country.

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