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Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by Mani Karthik
Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island, is a territory of the United States. Each year, thousands of Americans visit this beautiful island for a holiday.
But, can Puerto Ricans too travel freely through the US? The answer lies in the fact that citizens of Puerto Rico have the same passport as every other American citizen.
Is Puerto Rico a state or a country?
Puerto Rico is a territory of the US, although it does have its own flag, language, national anthem, cultural background and history. The currency in Puerto Rico is the US dollar and the education system is based on US standards. Unfortunately, according to a survey conducted by The Economist/YouGov, 43% Americans believe that Puerto Rico is a completely different nation.
The American-Puerto Rican Relationship
All federal agencies that are active in the US are also valid on the island. Therefore, being part of the same country, America and Puerto Rico do not have mutual customs and immigration requirements. According to the US Embassy in Venezuela, over 200,000 American citizens from Puerto Rico have served in every war since WWI.
At present more than 10,000 men from Puerto Rico are actively serving in the US army.
It has been clarified that Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the US and citizens from Puerto Rico can move freely between the island and any of the 50 states of the United States. Having said that, the islanders still require government issued identity cards and birth certificates for traveling.
