Native American Passports & Tribal Travel Documents | History
Native American Passports and Tribal Travel Documents
Native Americans became U.S. citizens by law in 1924 and may obtain U.S. passports like any other citizen. U.S. policy is clear: only U.S.-issued passports or equivalent federal documents are valid for international air travel. Tribal-issued documents are not passports under U.S. law.
The clearest example of this tension came in 2010, when the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team attempted to travel to England using Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) passports. The U.S. State Department required them to use U.S. passports instead. At land and sea borders, however, the rules are more flexible. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) permits certain tribal IDs, specifically Form I-872 American Indian Cards and Enhanced Tribal Cards, for entry at land and sea ports. These are not valid for air travel.
Tribal Passports and Secure ID Cards
Several Native nations issue their own passports or secure ID cards. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy has issued passports to its citizens since the early 20th century, carried by athletes and leaders on international trips. The Western Shoshone Nation has issued tribal passports since 1992, used most notably at international climate conferences as an act of political assertion. The Hopi Nation issues similar documents.
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), CBP has worked with select tribes to create federally recognized travel cards:
Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs): The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas began issuing a WHTI-compliant ETC in 2018, and the Chickasaw Nation issues a comparable card. Both carry RFID chips and are accepted by CBP for land and sea entry as proof of U.S. citizenship.
Form I-872 American Indian Card: Issued by CBP under Jay Treaty rights, this card allows eligible U.S. and Canadian Native Americans (with 50% or more blood quantum) to cross U.S. borders without a passport at land and sea ports.
Tribal enrollment cards with photos: CBP has recognized photo-bearing tribal enrollment cards for border entry during transition periods. TSA also lists federally recognized tribal photo IDs, including ETCs, as acceptable identification at airport security checkpoints.
Historical Use of Native American Passports
Native nations have asserted travel sovereignty for centuries. In the early 1920s, Canadian authorities refused to issue travel documents to Haudenosaunee leaders, so the Six Nations Council issued their own passports. Chief Levi “Deskaheh” General and attorney George Decker traveled through Europe from 1921 to 1923 on Haudenosaunee passports, pressing the League of Nations to recognize Iroquois rights.
From 2010 to 2016, the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse teams repeatedly sought to compete at world championships using their tribal passports. The U.S. granted one-time re-entry waivers, but Britain refused to honor the documents. Western Shoshone leaders have continued using tribal passports at international summits, particularly climate conferences in Bolivia, as a deliberate diplomatic statement.
Modern Recognition of Tribal Documents
Recognition of tribal travel documents has expanded in specific contexts. In 2022, the U.S. Customs Commissioner formally designated the Kickapoo tribal card as valid for entry from contiguous land and sea borders. TSA explicitly includes federally recognized tribal photo IDs among acceptable identification for domestic air travel.
Some foreign governments have accepted Haudenosaunee passports on a case-by-case basis. Israel accepted them for the Iroquois Nationals in 2018 (with return guarantees). Ireland accepted them for the 2022 U-21 Lacrosse World Championship. Japan admitted an Iroquois delegation on tribal passports in 2005.
Canada, by contrast, does not recognize Haudenosaunee passports. Canadian authorities have detained or refused entry to Mohawk travelers presenting them.
Tribal documents can function for certain border crossings today, particularly at U.S. land borders, but their acceptance varies by country and context. They remain outside the definition of an official passport under U.S. law.
Tom Topol | Passport Historian & Author
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