What is considered an official travel document?

The most basic forms of travel documents are passports, passport cards, and arrival/departure records. These required documents allow U.S. citizens to travel abroad and re-enter the country legally upon return. Arrival/Departure records are used for non-citizens entering the country temporarily.



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Definition(s) A document issued by a government or international treaty organisation which is acceptable proof of identity for the purpose of entering another country.

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U.S. passport. U.S. passport card. DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents. Permanent resident card.

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A secure document is a passport, U.S. permanent resident card, or Stateless travel document, Re-Entry Permit, NEXUS card, U.S Merchant Mariner Card, military ID or emergency travel document issued by an embassy or consulate. U.S. passport cards are not valid for air travel outside the United States.

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The passport book is the only document approved for international travel by air.

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Green card holders are free to travel abroad, but if you spend more than a year at a time outside the United States you could be found to have abandoned your green card status. To avoid that, you can request a re-entry permit before taking a lengthy trip outside the United States.

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Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

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Special issuance passports (i.e., official, diplomatic, service, or no-fee regular) are used for travel when the bearer is on official business for the U.S. government. Special issuance passports may not be used for personal travel other than entering or exiting your country of assignment.

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A travel document looks like a white passport. To reenter the United States, the resident possessing the travel document must present the original at the port of entry to the United States.

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Most green card holders will need to present the passport from the country where they're a citizen, or in some cases, their refugee travel document. You should also be sure to have your green card on you for the duration of the trip. And remember different countries have different requirements for entry.

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The travel document usually arrives within 150 days (sometimes longer) after submitting your application. You can't leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3–5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States.

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