Are Americans Ready for New Passport Laws?

Nearly One-in-Three Americans Planning to Apply for a Passport, Though Only One-in-20 Has Actually B

. October 14, 2008

JANUARY 17, 2007. On Jan. 23, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will take effect, requiring Americans to travel with a passport to many international destinations where one was previously not required and many U.S. travelers who don't have the official document are preparing to get one. According to a new Kayak.com survey of more than 1,000 respondents, 32 percent plan to apply for a passport now that it will be mandatory for U.S. citizens returning by air from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Though fewer than one-in-20 have started the application process, nearly one-in-five of those polled say their travel plans this year will change because of the new legislation.

"We know from the Travel Industry Association that only 27 percent of Americans have passports," said Steve Hafner, Kayak.com co-founder and CEO. "In our poll, only a small percentage of those who plan to get one say they have sent in their applications. We think it could create a major backlog when the State Department starts processing all of those applications once they're in the system."

It has been well reported that most members of congress do not have a passport. If there is a backlog, will government leaders receive preferential treatment and jump to the front of the passport line? About half (51 percent) of Americans surveyed expect that any member of congress without a passport can get one in a day, while 48 percent believe it would take three or more months for an average citizen to get one.

"To help travelers who are planning winter getaways now, we've come up with a list of 13 great island destinations Americans can visit withouta passport," Hafner said. "For fun, we quizzed survey respondents on passport status of these islands and few in a few international destinations as well. There were a few surprises in the responses."

"Bottom line, though, if you don't have a passport in hand now, there are plenty of great places to visit where one is not required," he said. "It's a great winter to vacation in the U.S."

The survey list included six international islands and 10 domestic ones. Respondents know their stuff when it comes to foreign destinations like Crete and Bora Bora -- but fare less well in identifying U.S. isles. Here's a snapshot of the respondents who answered incorrectly about whether each of the following requires a passport for entry by an American citizen*:

Tasmania (Australia) 5%

Crete (Greece) 5%

Bora Bora (French Polynesia) 6%

Hokkaido (Japan) 6%

The Maldives (Republic of) 7%

Eleuthera (The Bahamas) 7%

Maui (Hawaii) 26%

Puerto Rico (U.S. Territory) 42%

South Padre Island (Texas) 50%

Catalina (California) 52%

Mackinac Island (Michigan) 60%

Guam (U.S. Territory) 62%