Does a Baby Need a Passport to Travel? And Other Essential Documents

Traveling with a baby – whether it be a newborn or a one year old – is a big adventure. Not all good, not all bad – but without proper preparation can feel all consumingly stressful.

One of the big things you’re going to need to travel with your little one is the proper documentation. Sometimes this needs to be a passport and other times a birth certificate will do. Does your baby need a passport to travel? Sometimes, and there’s some other documents you’ll want to have with you, too.

Does a Baby Need a Passport to Travel?

For some types of travel a baby absolutely needs a passport. For the most part, if an adult would need a passport, a baby will, too.

If you will be traveling internationally by plane a baby always needs a passport to travel. If you are flying domestically within the United States (and domestically within most other countries, too) you won’t need a passport.

Additionally if you’re going from the US across a land border or by sea (like on a cruise) to countries like Canada, Mexico, or most places in the Caribbean a baby will be okay with either a birth certificate or a REAL ID compliant non-drivers identification in some situations (but, if you’re going through that hassle you might as well get a passport, right?)

Here’s a more complete breakdown of when you do, do not, and in some circumstances need a passport for your baby:

Type of Travel	Does a baby need a passport?
Domestic – air, land, or sea	No
International – air	💯 Always
International – land crossing (US ↔️ Mexico/Canada)	No – but needs proof of citizenship
International – by sea	It depends on your sailing (where you are sailing to, plus departure and return locations)

The information below is for general guidance on traveling with a baby. For detailed information on required documentation check with the country you are traveling to or visit the US Customs and Border Protection website.

✈️ Your Baby Always Needs a Passport
For International Travel by Plane

It doesn’t matter if your baby is a week old or a year old, if you are flying internationally you need a passport for your baby, just like you need one for yourself. This could be a short flight from Seattle to Vancouver or a long haul flight from Los Angeles to Auckland – they still need a passport.

The only exception to this to enter the US internationally by plane is if you are a Lawful Permanent Resident, refugee, and asylee, who has a Migrant Registration Card. That’s a very different set of rules we won’t get into here.

🛳️ Your Baby Doesn’t Need a Passport**
When Going on some “Closed-Loop” Cruises from the U.S.*

Your baby does not need a passport to go on a cruise from the United States if:

• It starts and ends at the same US port
• Goes to countries within the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that do not require you to have a passport when entering on a cruise ship.
  • For example, you would be able to go to Canada or Mexico
• All legal guardians are cruising with the baby** (see more on this below)
• Example cruise locations you could possibly go to without a passport from the US:
  • Alaska
    • roundtrip from US ports only – and you’ll have one stop in Canada because of the Passenger Vessel Services Act,often called the Jones Act
  • Canada/New England cruises (roundtrip from say Boston or New York)
  • The Bahamas
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • the Caribbean
  • Bermuda
  • Hawaii

More information on closed-loop cruises and cruise documentation can be found here.

You will need to bring a state certified original birth certificate or naturalization document for your baby. There are also requirements from the cruise line for how old a baby needs to be to cruise which you can read more about here.

Even though you may technically be able to sail without a passport, it is not the best idea.

A big thing to remember is that if you need to fly home from any of the foreign ports you would visit you would need a passport. This would mean you’d need to find the US Embassy where ever you were to help you get a passport to reenter the United States.

** Some cruise lines now require all members of a family have a passport if all legal guardians aren’t cruising. For instance, if dad is taking the kids on a cruise and mom is staying home (for a much needed spa weekend), some cruise lines would require dad and the kids (babies or otherwise) to have passports.

Cruise lines requiring this include:

• Holland America Line
• Princess Cruises

🛳️ Your Baby Always Needs a Passport
Going on a Cruise – Outside the U.S., on a certain closed-loop itineraries, one way itineraries, and more

While there are some itineraries you can sail out without needing a passport, having a passport will open up your itinerary options tremendously.

Even within the Caribbean if you are looking to head to the Southern Caribbean and visit places like Guadeloupe, Martinique, Colombia, or head to Panama you would need a passport even on a closed loop US itinerary.

Additionally if you are on a one way itinerary – for instance from San Diego through the Panama Canal to Florida you would need a passport.

You also need one if your cruise goes even further from the US, say to Europe, South America or Asia.

And lastly, in some situations you need a passport if your child has two parents but only one of you is traveling with your little one.

🚗 You Do Not Need a Passport
For International Travel By Land to Canada or Mexico

When driving across the border between the US and Canada or US and Mexico, your baby doesn’t need a passport but will need proof of citizenship, this can be through a birth certificate.

Other acceptable documents to prove citizenship include:

• U.S. passport, or
• An original or a certified copy of their birth certificate, or
• A Certificate of Naturalization, or 
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad 

Helpful links:

• Usa.gov
• Travel.state.gov
• Government of Canada

Additionally, both Canada and Mexico require if you are traveling with a baby without all of the parents/legal guardians present you need to have a notarized letter from the parents that aren’t present. There are a few other situations this letter is important in which we talk about below.

What Documents Do I Need to Fly with My Baby Domestically?

If you are flying within the United States – let’s say going from Orlando to Boston you should bring their birth certificate.

While government issued ID’s aren’t typically required for identification purposes they may ask to verify the age of your child. For instance if your child is almost two years old or looks two, they may ask to see a birth certificate to verify their age. If they have a passport this will also work, but honestly it’s best to travel with both!

If you are traveling with your baby as a lap infant most of the time they won’t be issued a boarding pass, but likely will have a boarding document. It also may appear on the adults ticket, “with infant” or some other indication that they have an infant with them.

Why Would I Need a Notarized Letter from the Other Parent/Parents?

There are a few reasons having a letter is important, and what is on the letter matters depending on both the travel and who the child is travelling with:

• Proof that you are authorized to travel with the child and are not trying to abduct the child or traffic them
• Authorize medical treatment for the child/various other consent situations

Popular Cruise Lines requiring This Letter:

• Carnival Cruise Line (technically strongly recommends)
• Celebrity Cruises
  • Consent Letter
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  • Consent & Release Form
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
  • Consent Letter

Popular Countries Requiring This Letter:

• Canada
• Mexico

Additionally, should you have sole custody you would need to bring documentation stating this in place of that letter.

If you adopted your little one you’ll also want to have their adoption paperwork available to prove custody.

Why Should I Bring My Baby’s Birth Certificate?

Even if you have a passport, a birth certificate will show who the parents are and where the child was born. This can be helpful if the parents and child don’t share a last name, can help with a question of custody, and also prove citizenship in case your passport was lost.

Immunization Records

This is not for immigration purposes so much as if you had an emergency you’d have the information available. There are some places where certain immunizations are required such as a Yellow Fever vaccine for something like an Amazon River cruise or a stop on Devil’s Island.

Parents Marriage License (If applicable)

If you have a different last name then your child some companies will require documentation as to a name change and one way to do this is through a marriage license.

For instance, Royal Caribbean requires either a State, county or province-issued marriage license, Divorce decree, Government-issued name change document in instances of a different last name between parents and children.

Also, after the pandemic I always travel with our marriage license because international borders closed and without it my husband wouldn’t have been allowed in the country. That particular reason might feel more significant to couples from different countries but better to have it than not.

FAQ’s:

How to get a U.S. passport for a baby

Getting the first passport for your baby is not quite as complicated and cumbersome as you might guess. One of the more challenging parts will likely be taking the picture!

Most post offices in the United States will offer passport assistance services. You may have to sign up for an appointment online ahead of time.

There are specific instructions that you can find outlined here. The basic gist of it is:

• both parents need to be present to apply, or if they can’t be you’ll need additional documents
• Fill out form DS-11
• prove babies citizenship – typically with a birth certificate
• Prove relationship to child – again, typically with a birth certificate
• Parents must have a photo ID
• Provide a photo (there are all sorts of details for these photos here – this is both a cute and challenging experience)
• Pay and send documents in!

There are ways to get expedited passports as well including same-day service. This is only available at certain passport offices around the country and only if you have urgent travel plans. To find a location please check here.

How old can a baby be a lap infant for flying?

A lap infant must be under two years old. Once they are turn two you will need to buy them their own seat. Airlines may ask for proof of age.

Is a baby’s plane ticket full price?

If you buy a baby their own seat, it is typically full price although sometimes airlines will run discounts.

If your baby is flying as a lap infant on a domestic route (within the United States), they will fly for free.

If your baby is flying as a lap infant internationally they will be charged for taxes and fees, which is typically about 10% of the full ticket cost. And, even though you’re paying a bit to fly them they don’t always get any extra baggage – check out more on that in this blog post.

Conclusion: Does a Baby Need a Passport to Travel?

To fly internationally, regardless of age, yes, a baby needs a passport.

If you are staying a bit closer to home there are some situations where you don’t need a passport and if you are staying within the United States your baby does not need a passport.

However, if you are leaving the country it’s really best for you to always have a passport in case you need to fly back.