Planning to travel outside of the United States for your honeymoon? No matter the destination, you will need valid passports. The only exception is if you plan to take a closed-loop cruise. Read on for a concise explanation of what is required to obtain a passport for a honeymoon.
Passport book vs. Passport card
If you plan to travel by plane, your only option is a passport book. However, if you are traveling by land or sea to your honeymoon destination, you may only need a passport card, which is less expensive. Passport cards can be used to travel to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region.
One thing to consider is future travel plans. Even if you can use a passport card for your honeymoon, it would be better for you to get a passport book if you think you will be traveling to international destinations by air for the next 10 years. You can also order both the book and the card in one application if you prefer.
What name to use for the passport
Really, there is no choice. The name on the passport application form must be your current legal name, not the future name that you will take once married. Unless there is a significant gap between the wedding and the honeymoon, you will need to apply for a passport in your current name. You can apply for a passport name change after the honeymoon.
Please note that the ticket purchased for your honeymoon must have the same name that is on your passport. This is required by the TSA Secure Flight program. This means that you must make reservations in your name before marriage.
Passport application
New passport applications must be submitted at a nearby passport office along with evidence of United States citizenship, an identification document, a copy of your identification, and two passport photos. You pay an execution fee to the passport agent at the acceptance facility and submit the application fee with your package to the Department of State.
Routine service usually takes 4-6 weeks. You can request an expedited service to speed up the process. Using this method you should receive your passport within 2-3 weeks. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year, natural disasters, holidays, and other factors.
If you must get a passport for a honeymoon much faster, you can submit the application and other documents at a regional agency or get a professional expediting service to do it for you. These are the fastest ways to get a passport. Of course, the extra time invested or the extra fees paid are probably nothing compared to missing your honeymoon.
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