No, a baby needs a passport for international flights; within the U.S., infants can fly without a passport when traveling with an adult.
Parents ask this every day at the ticket counter. The short answer depends on where you’re flying. International trips require a passport for every traveler, including newborns. Domestic U.S. flights are different: infants usually don’t show ID, and a birth certificate may be requested by the airline to verify lap-infant age. This guide lays out the rules in plain language so you can book with confidence and avoid last-minute gate drama.
What The Rules Mean For Your Trip
Air travel rules split into two buckets: trips that cross a national border, and trips that don’t. Crossing a border brings passport control into play. Staying within the U.S. puts you under airline policy and TSA checkpoint practices. Below is a quick route-by-route map so you can see exactly what your baby needs.
Baby Travel Documents By Route
| Route | Baby Document Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Within The 50 U.S. States (Domestic) | No passport; airline may ask for birth certificate | TSA doesn’t require ID for kids under 18 traveling with an adult. Airline may verify lap-infant age. |
| U.S. → Any Foreign Country (By Air) | Passport book required | Applies to every age, including newborns. |
| U.S. ↔ Canada/Mexico/Bermuda/Caribbean (By Air) | Passport book required | Passport card isn’t valid for air travel. |
| U.S. ↔ Canada/Mexico (By Land Or Sea) | Birth certificate may suffice for under-16 U.S. citizens | WHTI rules; some ports ask for more. Passport book is still the cleanest option. |
| U.S. Mainland ↔ Puerto Rico / U.S. Virgin Islands | No passport for U.S. citizens | Treated like domestic travel for U.S. citizens. |
| U.S. Mainland ↔ Guam / Northern Mariana Islands | No passport for U.S. citizens | Domestic for U.S. citizens; airline may request age proof. |
| U.S. Mainland ↔ American Samoa | Passport or certified birth certificate per local entry rules | Entry requirements differ from other territories. |
| Closed-Loop Cruise (Starts/Ends Same U.S. Port) | Under-16 may use birth certificate | Applies to cruise re-entry by sea; flights home mid-trip still need a passport book. |
| International Long-Haul (Any Country Pair By Air) | Passport book required | Some destinations also need visas or eTAs. |
Can A Baby Fly Without A Passport On Domestic Flights?
In the U.S., kids under 18 can pass TSA security with no ID when they travel with an adult. Airlines still handle age checks for lap infants, and many ask for a birth certificate at the gate. Bring a copy in your carry-on. It keeps boarding smooth and avoids seat-charge surprises if a child is over two.
That same rule applies to flights between the 50 states for U.S. citizens. Trips to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands are treated as domestic travel for U.S. citizens as well. Plan on showing your own ID and your child’s age proof if asked. A passport isn’t required for the baby on these routes.
Can A Baby Fly Without A Passport For International Trips?
No. Every traveler needs a valid passport book for international air travel — even a newborn. Airlines check before boarding and border officers check on arrival. If you booked during the newborn haze, don’t panic. You can apply for a child passport, and both parents usually give consent for kids under 16. If one parent can’t appear, forms exist to handle that scenario with documentation.
Baby Flying Without A Passport: U.S. Exceptions Explained
There are narrow cases where a baby can travel without a passport and still be within the rules, but these don’t apply to international flights by air. The main carve-outs sit in two places: travel within U.S. jurisdictions that count as domestic for U.S. citizens, and border crossings by land or sea covered by Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative rules for younger kids. Even in those cases, a passport book keeps plans flexible if plans change and you need to fly home.
Proof You May Be Asked To Show
Domestic Flights
Gate agents often ask for proof that a lap infant is under two. A digital scan or paper copy of a birth certificate works. Some parents carry a hospital record with the baby’s name and birth date for the first weeks, then switch to the birth certificate once issued. If your child has a seat, the check is less common, but it can still happen.
International Flights
The passport book is non-negotiable at check-in. Many countries also screen for parental consent when one parent is absent or when a child travels with relatives. A brief consent letter with contact details and trip dates avoids painful delays at immigration. Some destinations ask for notarization. Always match the letter to the itinerary and carry printed copies.
How Airline Policies Fit With Government Rules
Airlines must follow border rules and also run their own checks for age, seating, and safety devices. That’s why one carrier may ask for a document that another doesn’t on a domestic route. On international flights, the airline won’t board any passenger — baby included — without the required passport. If a carrier bends a domestic policy for goodwill, border control won’t. Plan to meet the strictest rule that applies to your trip.
When You Should Carry Extra Documents
On top of the passport (for international trips) or age proof (for domestic), a few extras can save time:
- Consent Letter: If one parent isn’t traveling, carry a short letter authorizing travel, with phone and email. Some borders ask for it.
- Itinerary And Lodging Details: Printouts help when an officer asks where you’re staying and for how long.
- Medical Notes: If you carry liquid medicine over usual limits, pack a doctor’s note and declare it at screening.
How To Get A Child Passport Fast
Apply early. You’ll submit a DS-11 form for a minor, the child’s birth certificate, photos that meet sizing rules, and fees. Both parents usually appear in person with the child. If one can’t, you’ll bring a notarized consent form or custody proof that covers the absent parent. Expedited options exist for tight timelines, but appointment slots can be scarce near holidays. If you already hold a passport card, remember that it doesn’t work for international air travel; you still need the book to board the plane.
Where Official Rules Say This
Two references anchor the guidance above. TSA states that children under 18 traveling within the U.S. don’t need ID at the checkpoint when accompanied by an adult. Customs and Border Protection explains that all infants flying into the U.S. need a passport, with narrow exceptions for specific immigration statuses, and that some countries ask for a consent letter when one parent isn’t present. For land and sea entries in North America, CBP’s Western Hemisphere rules outline which documents work for kids under 16.
See TSA’s identification page for the domestic checkpoint policy, and CBP’s guidance on travel documents for infants for international entries. These two links cover the questions parents ask the most.
Edge Cases You Should Know
U.S. Territories
Trips to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands count as domestic travel for U.S. citizens. A baby doesn’t need a passport on these routes. American Samoa applies its own entry checks; bring a passport or a certified birth record as required by local rules.
Land Or Sea Crossings Nearby
Under Western Hemisphere rules, U.S. citizen children under 16 can often enter by land or sea with a birth certificate when returning from Canada or Mexico. Families still choose passport books to keep options open if a sudden flight home is needed.
One Parent Absent
Many borders ask for proof that the non-traveling parent agrees to the trip. A short consent letter meets that request in most places, and some destinations ask for notarization. CBP recommends carrying one when a child travels without both parents.
What Airlines Commonly Ask For
Policies vary by carrier, but the requests below are common across major U.S. airlines. Treat this as a prep list for the ticket counter and the gate team.
| Scenario | What To Carry For Baby | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Lap Infant (<2 Years) | Birth certificate copy (or digital scan) | Verifies age for lap-infant eligibility and fees. |
| Domestic With Own Seat | Birth certificate suggested | Resolves name/date questions if a manifest check flags. |
| International Any Seat | Passport book + any required visa/eTA | Airline and border checks at both ends. |
| One Parent Traveling | Consent letter from the other parent | Requested at some borders to prevent disputes. |
| Closed-Loop Cruise | Birth certificate (under-16) | WHTI rules for sea re-entry to the U.S. |
| Land Crossing To Canada/Mexico | Birth certificate (under-16) | Accepted at many ports by WHTI; policies vary. |
| Emergency Change To A Flight Home | Passport book | Sea/land documents won’t get you on a plane. |
Real-World Planning Tips
Book Names Exactly Right
Match the baby’s legal name on tickets and documents. If the birth certificate isn’t issued yet, book with the expected legal name and update the record once you have the certificate.
Carry Paper And Digital Copies
Scan the birth certificate and passport bio page. Keep copies in your phone, a shared family folder, and a printed set. Agents accept originals for formal checks, but a quick scan speeds up many routine questions.
Know What Doesn’t Work For Flights
A passport card won’t board a baby on an international flight. It’s valid at land and sea entry points only. For any plane that crosses a border, the book is the ticket.
Quick Answers To The Big Question
Can A Baby Fly Without A Passport? Yes — on domestic U.S. routes for U.S. citizens, when traveling with an adult, and when the airline accepts a birth certificate for age. Can A Baby Fly Without A Passport? No — for any international flight, no matter how short the route, every traveler needs a passport book. These two lines cover nearly every family itinerary.
Sources Behind This Guide
The TSA policy on kids at checkpoints appears on the agency’s identification page. U.S. territory rules and child passport guidance are summarized on USA.gov. WHTI rules from CBP explain land/sea options and why the passport book remains the best plan if a flight becomes part of the trip.
- TSA: children under 18 with an adult don’t need ID for domestic screening.
- CBP: infants flying into the U.S. need a passport; some countries seek consent letters.
- USA.gov: child passports and U.S. territories travel basics for U.S. citizens.