Survey: Are Americans Ready for New Passport Laws?

On Jan. 23, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will take effect, requiring Americans to travel with a passport to many international destinations where one was previously not required and many U.S. travelers who don't have the official document are preparing to get one. According to a new Kayak.com survey of more than 1,000 respondents, 32 percent plan to apply for a passport now that it will be mandatory for U.S. citizens returning by air from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Though fewer than one-in-20 have started the application process, nearly one-in-five of those polled say their travel plans this year will change because of the new legislation.

"We know from the Travel Industry Association that only 27 percent of Americans have passports," said Steve Hafner, Kayak.com co-founder and CEO. "In our poll, only a small percentage of those who plan to get one say they have sent in their applications. We think it could create a major backlog when the State Department starts processing all of those applications once they're in the system."

It has been well reported that most members of congress do not have a passport. About half (51 percent) of Americans surveyed believe that any member of congress without a passport can get one in a day, while 48 percent believe it would take three or more months for an average citizen to get one.