A U.S. passport book can be used for international travel by air, sea, or land. An enhanced driver’s license (EDL) is a state-issued document accepted for certain land and sea border crossings; it cannot be used for international air travel. The overlap is limited, so choose based on your route—not on the fact that both may help with some international trips.
Passport book vs. enhanced driver’s license
| Travel or use | U.S. passport book | Enhanced driver’s license |
|---|---|---|
| International air travel | Yes. The passport book is a travel document for international air travel; check the destination’s validity and entry requirements. U.S. Department of State | No. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accepts EDLs at specified land and sea border crossings, not for air travel. CBP |
| Land and sea border use | Broadly usable for international travel, subject to the route and destination’s rules. | Accepted for specified WHTI-compliant land and sea entry. Check the particular route and destination rules. CBP |
| Domestic TSA checkpoint identification | Acceptable identification. | TSA lists state-issued EDLs as acceptable checkpoint identification. This does not make an EDL valid for international flights. TSA |
| Who issues it | The U.S. Department of State. | Participating state government offices; not all states issue EDLs. CBP Ready Lanes FAQ |
Choose by how you will travel
If you will fly internationally
Use a passport book. An EDL is not an international-air-travel document, even if TSA accepts it as ID at a domestic airport checkpoint. A domestic ID check and a foreign-border entry check are different requirements.
If you will cross a land or sea border
An EDL may work for specified WHTI-compliant crossings, but it is not a universal substitute for a passport. Check the rules for your destination and route, including the documents needed to return to the United States. If your trip could involve an international flight, bring a passport book.
Do not confuse an EDL with a passport card
A passport card is a separate federal passport document, not an enhanced driver’s license. The Department of State says it can be used for land and sea entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean destinations, but not for international air travel. If someone says “passport,” clarify whether they mean the book or card: the book supports international air travel; the card has a narrower role. Department of State passport card guidance
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Which states issue enhanced driver’s licenses?
CBP lists Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington as states where travelers can obtain an EDL through a local DMV or government office. Eligibility and application steps are set by the issuing state, so check with that office before relying on a particular document. CBP Ready Lanes FAQ
How Ready Lanes affect an EDL crossing
A Ready Lane is a border-processing lane, not permission to enter without the required documents. EDLs are among the cards eligible for Ready Lane use, subject to participating ports and lane rules. CBP says every traveler aged 16 or older in a vehicle or pedestrian group must carry an eligible card for the group to use the lane; a temporary application receipt does not qualify. A passport book is not RFID-enabled for Ready Lane use, so having one alone does not make a group eligible for that lane. CBP Ready Lanes FAQ
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What an EDL means for a cruise
Some U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises—cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port—may be able to use proof of citizenship such as an EDL, along with additional government photo ID for travelers aged 16 or older. That exception does not mean an EDL is enough for every cruise: a foreign destination may require a passport, and cruise lines may enforce those entry requirements. Check the cruise line’s document rules and the requirements for every destination and port sequence. CBP cruise guidance
The U.S. Department of State recommends a passport book even when a cruise line does not require one: “We strongly recommend all cruise passengers travel with a passport book, even if not required by the cruise line, in case you need to fly home because of an emergency.” Department of State cruise safety guidance
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TSA lists state-issued EDLs among the forms of identification accepted at its checkpoints. Separately, TSA says state licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID compliant stopped being accepted as valid airport ID forms on May 7, 2025. Confirm that your exact document is accepted for checkpoint identification; that does not determine whether you can enter another country or board an international flight. TSA acceptable identification
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A passport book is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for children under 16; the Department of State lists the same validity periods for passport cards. Its fees can change, so check the current fee schedule before applying. EDL fees, eligibility, and processing are set by the participating state, so verify those details with the state issuing office. Department of State passport comparison
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Before you travel
- Identify every mode of travel, including any possible flight home during a cruise or land trip.
- Check destination-country entry rules and U.S. re-entry requirements for your specific route.
- For a cruise, confirm requirements with both the cruise line and each destination.
- For an EDL, verify that your state issues it, that you qualify, and that it is accepted for the crossing you plan to make.
- For a Ready Lane, confirm that the port offers one and that each traveler aged 16 or older has an eligible card.
- Check current passport validity rules, fees, and processing information with the Department of State.
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