US border security tightens on January 23rd, when most travellers flying into the country will require passports.

The Homeland Security Department made the announcement last week.

Sandy Watson of Travel Quest in Portage thinks passports are a good idea for personal security. She calls them the easiest and best form of identification when you're out of the country.

Watson adds now's a good time to get a passport if you don't have one. She expects an influx of applications as the deadline approaches, which will increase the usual timeline of ten business days.

While Watson's aware it's inconvenient going into Winnipeg to get passports, that's going to change in the spring. That's when an outlet opens in Portage.