That Mexican vacation is all booked and it is only one month to go until nothing but sun, surf, bikinis, and margaritas. Everything is planned, everything is taken care of, unless, wait¦do I need a passport application to Cancun? This question is not as simple as it seems, and although the answer is almost certainly yes, there are a few different factors to consider.

The obvious answer is that since Cancun is in Mexico, and since Mexico is not in the U.S, then yes a passport would be necessary for a Cancun vacation. However, it was not until very recently that passports were necessary for travel to border countries, and even now they are not universally necessary. The type of travel dictates whether or not a passport is required.

In order to figure out if you will need a passport to Cancun, it is first important to understand the new passport laws. As of June 1st, 2009, passports are required for travel to Mexico, Canada and nearby Caribbean Islands. These laws apply to air, land and sea travel. Prior to these laws, passports were not required for land and sea travel to Mexico. International Mexican travel only required a valid drivers license or other government issued identification.

Anyone who is considering traveling to Cancun for a trip will definitely need a passport. But hold on, this is where the exception comes in at. The rules are adjusted for people that are taking cruises. It is because of this very exception that much of the confusion about needing a passport started in the first place.

Travelers on cruises to certain international destinations are not required to carry passports provided that the cruise is deemed closed loop. A closed loop cruise is any cruise that starts and finishes in the same port or same port country. However, it is important to note that these closed loop exemptions only apply to cruises that begin and end in the United States, and only on cruises that visit certain international countries.

Approved countries that this rule applies to are such destinations as Bermuda, Canada and the Virgin Islands. To be safe, it is always recommended that you check with the State Department or your travel agent as they will both be up to date on the rules regarding the cruise ship itinerary destinations. A quick phone call can give some piece of mind.

Homeland Security is often cited as the reason passports are now necessary for travel to border countries. Although it can be an inconvenience, it is better to have safe borders and a minor hassle than porous borders and an easy pass. Since passports are always necessary for international flight, and always have been, anyone flying to Cancun likely will not notice a change. American citizens flying to and from Mexico are generally not subjected to a lot of scrutiny.

In all honesty, while it may not be necessary to have a passport to Cancun, it is still a safe play to get one before any trip happens. A U S passport application is the be all and end all of documentation of citizenship and on the off chance that difficulties were encountered coming back into the United States or entering Cancun, the American passport is like Willie Wonkas Golden Ticket.