Passport for Chile?

[Sailing JBB]

We want to sail from Washington to Chile. Do we need passports?

[SVAuspicious]

You're kidding right?

Of course you do. A passport is the negotiated documentation to show citizenship when in transit between one sovereign nation and another.

[rockDAWG]

May be he meant visa, I am just guessing.

[billyruffn]

The definitive answer to your question can be found at the website of the Embassy of Chile in Washington. If that doesn’t answer all your questions, call them.

See: Embassy of Chile, Washington, DC &copy 2005

PS You just might need a passport to get back into the US on your return. You might want to check that out as well -- see U.S. Department of State

[rbrasi]

Last time I was in Chile, I showed up with a passport and a few hundred bucks. They'll give a 90 day visa no problem. If you want to stay longer, cross the border to Argentina on day 89, then come back, and viola! Another 90 days!

[SVAuspicious]

Originally Posted by rockDAWG

May be he meant visa, I am just guessing.

You are much more supportive than I. Good on you.

[Sailing JBB]

Someone told us if we begin and end in the same U.S. port we don't need passports. Maybe this is only true if you travel on a cruise ship?

[jaschrumpf]

Originally Posted by Sailing JBB

Someone told us if we begin and end in the same U.S. port we don't need passports. Maybe this is only true if you travel on a cruise ship?

You need a passport whenever you leave the US, to prove that you're a US citizen when you return. Even on a cruise, because you'll have to pass through US customs on return.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by Sailing JBB

Someone told us if we begin and end in the same U.S. port we don't need passports. Maybe this is only true if you travel on a cruise ship?

You can't get on a cruiseship in US without a passport.

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by SVAuspicious

You're kidding right?

Of course you do. A passport is the negotiated documentation to show citizenship when in transit between one sovereign nation and another.

When only roughly 30% of US citizens have passports at all, this type of question isn't surprising.