New passport laws that went into effect at the beginning of this year that could mean big money for U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The new laws require that U.S. citizens who travel from the United States to a foreign country, including those in the Caribbean, carry a passport. In the past, Americans could travel to countries like Jamaica and the Bahamas without any passport problems. Those days are over.

Although many travellers will find it’s easy to get into foreign countries like the Dominican Republic without a passport, getting back into the United States will now be quite a hassle. They might have to resort to sneaking back in along the Canadian or Mexican border, a truly nightmarish scenario.

This is all great news for U.S. territories, which expect a boost in tourism revenue thanks to the fact that just 30% of Americans have an active passport, and costs for obtaining one range from $50 to $150 and require a visit to the county building in most states.

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