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

Do you need a passport to visit Grenada? This is one of the most frequently asked questions associated with travel to the spice isle, and the answer is in most cases: yes, U.S. travelers to Grenada need a passport to visit the island. However, there are some exceptions when it comes to a cruise vacation. Visas are not required.

Visa free entry for tourists is great news, as that is one less thing you’ll have to apply for before being able to really get excited about a vacation in paradise – and having booked a vacation to Grenada, you can really get excited, because there’s so much in store.

Known as the spice isle, Grenada is famous for its spices, which means you can expect unforgettable culinary experiences against a backdrop of some of the most spectacular and extensive white sand beaches, like Grande Anse Beach on the southwestern coast of the island.

Whether you want to go hiking, indulge in some of the best all-inclusive resorts like Sandals Grenada, spend all your days on the beach, or find out about the history of this beautiful island in the sun, you’ll be able to do it all in Grenada. Before your trip, however, allow us to answer all the questions you may have about passports, visas, and generally everything you’ll need to know to prepare for your trip to Grenada!

Picture: Sandals Grenada takes innovation beyond the realm of imagination to create an extraordinary adults-only resort unlike anything you have ever experienced.

In this article on the Sandals Blog:

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

Passport cards
Trusted Traveler programs
Enhanced Driver's Licenses

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

What are my visa requirements?

If you’re from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK or the EU, you won’t need a visa to go to Grenada, however, you will only be allowed to stay on the island for a specified period of time. This is usually between 3-6 months. If you want to stay longer, you may apply for an extension through the local immigration office. In some instances, depending on how much longer you want to stay for, you’ll need to apply for a visa.

Do I need a passport when flying?

Passports are necessary for trips to Caribbean islands like Grenada. You’ll need this to gain entry to the island. If you don’t already have a passport, it’s a good idea to apply for one well before your anticipated vacation dates. In addition to a valid passport, you may also need to show a return or onward ticket as proof of departure, in order to clear immigration.

It’s a good idea to check your existing passport to ensure it’s valid for at least six months beyond your vacation dates before booking your trip. Ensure you have at least one blank passport page for entry stamps when travelling to Grenada.

Pro tip: Print out your travel itinerary pages and take the time to photocopy your passport and bring that document along as well. This will come in handy if your passport gets lost or stolen. Keep these printed documents and your actual passport in separate places.

Do I need a passport when cruising to Grenada?

If you are traveling to Grenada by sea, you can use a passport or one of the following documents:

• Passport cards,
• Trusted traveler card,
• Enhanced driver's license.
  

Even though passport cards and EDLs are valid forms of travel in this instance, it is highly recommended that sea travelers bring along their passport book in the event of an emergency. This comes in handy if you need to travel back home by air. If an unforeseen circumstance arises and you’re stuck in Grenada without a passport and unable to travel back via cruise, you’ll need to apply for an emergency passport. Avoid this by bringing your passport with you.

Exception for closed-loop cruises

A closed-loop cruise is one that starts and ends at the same port in the U.S. If you will be travelling to Grenada on a closed-loop cruise you can use your government issued ID or a birth certificate in lieu of your passport.

Exceptions for children

1. If you’re travelling with children under the age of 16, they’ll be able to use a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship in order to travel to and from Grenada by sea.
2. The use of birth certificates is permitted for children under 19, on the condition that they are travelling by sea as part of a church, school, or social group, or with a cultural organization (adult supervision required).
   

Much like the case with adults, all children flying to Grenada by plane require a passport.

What is a passport card?

A passport card is an alternative (and less expensive) option to a passport which can be used for land and sea travel. While it costs about $135 (for one adult) to get a passport, a passport card costs only $55.

Many cruise travelers use this less cumbersome option which can fit into their wallet. When traveling to Grenada by land or sea, a passport card can be used as your primary travel document. It can also be used for reentry into the U.S. Passport cards can be used for land and sea travel into Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, but are not valid for air travel.

What are Trusted Traveler programs?

Trusted Traveler programs cater to frequent travelers and these usually include features like expedited lanes at U.S. airports. Applicants are usually vetted before being approved for programs of this nature which are enabled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). There is no minimum number of trips needed for travelers to qualify for most programs of this type.

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

What is an Enhanced Driver’s License?

An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) is a special driver’s license that can also be used for travel. When travelling, the EDL can be used as your form of identification, as it also showcases your citizenship.

Note: The EDL is restricted to land and sea travel – many people use it when crossing the U.S. border into Mexico, Canada, and when traveling to the Caribbean via cruise. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) makes it possible for United States citizens to enter the USA by land or sea using only an EDL for identification. If you’re travelling with a passport, an EDL is not necessary.

Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington State are currently the only states issuing these enhanced drivers licenses. This license cannot be used for air travel.

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

The last thing anyone wants to do is to be stuck on a foreign island without a passport. Travelers may find themselves in this situation if they lose their passport, or it’s stolen during their vacation. Either way, losing a passport isn’t fun. If this happens to you while on vacation in the Caribbean, the first thing you’ll need to do is contact the local U.S. embassy.

Tip: If you’re staying at Sandals Grenada, head to the concierge desk – they’ll be able to get you in contact with the local U.S. Embassy, and the police if necessary. You will need to apply for an emergency passport if you plan on leaving the island by air. Representatives at the U.S. Embassy will be able to walk you through the process.

Here's what you need to know to get an emergency passport as quickly as possible:

1. Go directly to the police station. Make a report of the incident and get a copy of the report.
2. Get in touch with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate general. You’ll need to provide details on the incident documented on the police report. Additionally, you will need to show your airline ticket as proof of when you need to travel. The address of the U.S. embassy in Grenada is provided below.
3. Complete the DS-11 passport application form.
4. Complete Form DS-64 which entails a statement pertaining to the lost passport.
5. Pay the necessary fees – $110 (the same fee as a new passport).
   

U.S. Embassy in St. George’s
L’Anse aux Epines Main Road
St. George’s, Grenada
Telephone: +(1) (473) 444-1174, +(1) (473) 444-1175
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(1) (473) 407-2495
Fax: +(1) (473) 444-4820
Email: [email protected]

When at the consulate try to present all the necessary documents right away which can help speed up the process. Even if you’re unable to provide all documents, the consulate will assist as much as possible in the process of acquiring your emergency passport. Here’s some of the documents you will need:

• 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)
  

Keep in mind that limited validity emergency passports can only be used for a short space of time (just enough to get you back home safe), which means you’ll need to re-apply for a permanent passport once you’re back home.

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

U.S. citizens can stay visa-free in Grenada for a maximum of six months, which should be more than enough time to explore most points of interest of this island country. Upon arrival, an immigration officer will inform you of your maximum stay. Extensions can be done via the main immigration office in St. George’s, Grenada.

Bonus: Do I need vaccinations before entering Grenada?

There are no required vaccines for travelling to Grenada, though some are recommended by the CDC and the WHO including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, Tdap, chicken pox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. If you are travelling from a region with endemic yellow fever you will need to provide proof of vaccination against this disease once you get to Grenada. 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 Grenada.

You may need to provide vaccination certification for all travelers in your party over the age of one in cases where you have transited for more than 12 hours in a country with risk of yellow fever transmission ahead of arriving in Grenada.

Bonus: What are my currency restrictions when traveling to Grenada?

There are no existing entry or exit currency restrictions for visitors to Grenada, however, visitors will need to declare amounts exceeding EC$10,000 upon arrival.

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.