Do You Need a Passport to Go to Alaska? [All Cases Explained]

Perhaps you’re daydreaming about exploring Denali Park or catching a King Salmon. Suddenly, a thought hits you: Do I need a passport to go to Alaska?

Don’t worry.

US citizens can travel to Alaska by plane or on a closed-loop cruise without a passport. However, another form of ID is always required; if you don’t have one, a passport will be a must.

In this article, I’ll explain all the possible scenarios and the documents you’ll need to visit Alaska.

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Do You Need a Passport to Fly to Alaska?

Though detached like Hawaii, the Last Frontier is one of the US states (a non-contagious state, to be exact). This means US citizens don’t need a passport to fly to Alaska. 

However, a valid ID is still required to board the plane.

What documents do I need to fly to Alaska?

The Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) accepts various documents for identification purposes at airport checkpoints.

Here are the most common IDs you can use:

• Trusted traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST, or Global Entry)
• Border crossing card (issued to residents and citizens of Mexico)
• Permanent resident card
• State-issued driver’s license or photo ID (from May 2025, both must comply with REAL ID requirements)
• US passport card

A passport card might be a convenient and cheaper option if you plan to fly between states in the next 10 years. Our guide explains all the differences between passport books and passport cards.

Travel tip: I recommend visiting Alaska between the end of April and August to experience the midnight sun phenomenon when the sun almost never sets. During that time, many cities organize festivals to celebrate the endless summer.

Traveling to Alaska by car

Now you know you can hop on a flight to Alaska without a passport. But…do you need a passport to go to Alaska by car?

This one’s more tricky since driving to Alaska requires crossing the Canadian border. Luckily, the Alaska-Canada border crossing requirements are relaxed, so a passport might not be necessary.

Here’s what’s needed to drive through Canada to Alaska:

• A document that meets the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) regulations, including an enhanced driver’s license, passport card, trusted traveler card, or an enhanced tribal card.
• If you don’t have any of the above, a valid Type “P” passport is necessary.

For children under 16 traveling with their parents, an original birth certificate will suffice.

If you don’t have any of these documents and your trip is in less than eight weeks, you can expedite your US passport. Although we can’t assist with the application, we can ensure your passport photo meets all official requirements and doesn’t cause delays.

Try our PhotoAiD® app for iOS or PhotoAiD® for Android and get a compliant ID picture from home.

Or upload a self-portrait using the button below.

Crossing the Canadian border with firearms

If you’re planning to hunt in Alaska, be aware that Canada’s gun control laws differ from those in the US, which can cause issues at the border.

“In Canada, we’re looking at an estimated 200 to 300 U.S. citizens each year who run into trouble for failing to declare their firearms (…), and it’s a good possibility many of these travelers are headed to Alaska.” — said Geoff Martineau from the Bureau of Consular Affairs in an interview for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Thus, before your drive to Alaska, familiarize yourself with the necessary gun transit requirements. Otherwise, leave your firearm at home and rent one locally to avoid a minimum $1,000 fine and other legal consequences.

Do You Need a Passport for an Alaskan Cruise?

No, you don’t need a passport if you go on a closed-loop cruise to Alaska—even if it stops in Canada on the way. For example, if your cruise starts and ends in Seattle, all you need is a WHTI-compliant ID (mentioned earlier) and an original birth certificate.

The above applies to major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, which don’t require a passport for Alaskan cruises.

Still, some cruise lines do require a valid passport, even for US citizens. Therefore, it’s best to check with a preferred cruise line before booking.

FAQ

Sources:

1. https://www.dhs.gov/real-id 
2. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification 
3. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=695 
4. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative 
5. https://alaskabar.org/youth/cars-and-weapons/crossing-the-canadian-border 
6. https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they 
7. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html 

Sylwia Green

Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.