• Travel to the Caribbean requires a U.S. passport.passport image by isatori from Fotolia.com
  
  All U.S. citizens must have a valid U.S. passport before they will be granted entry into the Caribbean. Passports are required for international travel, and although some Caribbean islands are U.S. territories, many are not. Without a passport you will not be able to exit the U.S. or gain re-entry into the U.S..
  
  

Adult Passports

• Adults must have a valid passport, obtained from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs. In order to obtain a U.S. passport, applicants must fill out the passport application form and provide proof of citizenship and identity in the United States. Passports should be applied for at least eight weeks before your Caribbean trip because passport processing times vary. The fee for an adult passport is $135 as of 2010.
  
  

Minor Passports

• Minors also need passports for international travel, babies included. The application process for a minor child is similar to the application process for an adult. Parents or legal guardians must be present with the minor when applying for a passport and must provide proof of their relationship to the minor. A minor child cannot travel out of the country with an adult other than his or her parent or legal guardian without written consent of the parent or guardian. The fee for a minor's U.S. passport is $105 as of 2010.
  
  

Passport Cards

• If you are traveling to the Caribbean by boat, you have the option of carrying either a passport book or a passport card. Passport cards are used for international travel by boat or land from the U.S. into Canada, Mexico the Caribbean islands and Bermuda. Passport cards are not valid for air travel to any of these countries. A passport card works just like a passport except for the fact that it is the size of a driver's license. Aside from the convenience of the passport card's size, it is significantly less expensive than a passport book. The fee for a passport card as of 2010 for a minor is $40 and $55 for an adult.