Puerto Rico entry requirements: Essential travel guide

Nestled between the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Rico is blessed with sunny weather and dreamy landscapes. A rich culture influenced by the island’s indigenous Taino population and strong Spanish and African heritage combined with pristine beaches, a spectacular rainforest, and countless historical sites have turned this Caribbean archipelago into a popular tourist destination over the last few years.

But that’s not all. The numerous festivals and events organized all year long to celebrate the island’s heritage and its Puerto Rican food infused with Spanish, Taino, and African notes are also drawing countless visitors every year.

If you’re dreaming of jetting off to Puerto Rico, here’s all the information about Puerto Rico travel requirements.

Puerto Rico entry requirements 

Passport

Is Puerto Rico part of the US? Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory, and therefore, just like you would if you were entering the United States, you need to have a valid passport to enter Puerto Rico. Note that even if your country is on the list of the 40 countries enjoying visa-free travel to the U.S. (where Puerto Rico is included), you’ll need to hold a valid passport. Your passport will also need to meet specific criteria, including the following: 

• A machine-readable zone on the biographic page
• Contain a digital chip with your biometric information

Visa

One of Puerto Rico entry requirements is to have some sort of travel authorization. Some countries enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S. based on bilateral agreements. If that’s your case, you’ll need to apply for a Puerto Rico visa (Puerto Rico ESTA) and obtain authorization to stay on the island for up to 90 days without a visa. You can check if your nationality allows you to get an ESTA instead of a regular tourism visa at the Embassy.

For the rest of the countries, a visitor visa is required to visit Puerto Rico. Generally, as a visitor exploring the country for tourism purposes, you’ll need to apply for a visitor visa B-2. You can check how to get a visa for Puerto Rico with our guide.

Do US citizens need a visa for Puerto Rico?

No, US citizens don't need to apply for a visa nor an ESTA before traveling to Puerto Rico. However, US citizens do need to carry their passports when boarding their flight.

Travel insurance

Even though purchasing a travel insurance isn’t mandatory to visit Puerto Rico, we recommend purchasing travel coverage. A great travel insurance cover will protect you if you lose your luggage, experience significant travel delays, suffer an unexpected injury, require medical attention or need repatriation. 

Currency

Because Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, the currency in Puerto Rico is also the US Dollar.

Vaccines, health, and Covid-19 restrictions 

Puerto Rico is a safe destination to visit, but here are some vaccines you should be up to date with for a smooth travel experience:

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles
• Hepatitis A and B
• Rabies
• Typhoid

Because the island is a jurisdiction of the United States, it must comply with the U.S. policy requiring travelers to either show proof of a fully completed vaccination cycle or a negative antigen test carried out within two days after arriving on the island.