United States Customs and Border Protection
Can my minor child travel internationally without parents?
Children under 18 may need a Letter of Consent to travel internationally without both parents
.
Can a 15 year old travel to the US alone?
Most U.S. airlines will permit children who have reached their fifth birthday to travel unaccompanied
. Kids ages 5 through 11 who are flying alone must usually travel pursuant to special “unaccompanied minor” procedures. On some airlines, these procedures are required for unaccompanied children as old as 14.
Can I cross the border alone at 16?
Children under the age of 16 traveling between the U.S. and Canada without both of their parents or a legal guardian are considered “unaccompanied minors” and require special permissions at the borders of both countries to prevent abductions and runaways.
Can you cross the border alone at 17?
Passengers 17 years old and younger traveling alone may not cross the US-Canadian border regardless of ID or notarized letter, unless accompanied by another passenger who is at least 18 years old
.
Can a 17 year old fly alone on United airlines?
Yes, young adults ages 15-17 can travel alone on any United or United Express
®
operated flight
, or they can choose to opt in to our unaccompanied minor service.
Can my 14 year old fly alone?
Children 5 to 14 years old must travel as unaccompanied minors when not traveling with a person at least 15 years old
. Children 15 and older may request and pay for the unaccompanied minor service. Unaccompanied minors are accepted only on direct flights that do not require a change of aircraft or flight number.
Can a 17 year old fly alone on American airlines?
Children ages 15-17 years are not required to travel as unaccompanied minors
, but the service is optional for this age group as well. Children under 5 years of age are not allowed to travel unless accompanied by an adult who is at least 16 years old.
What airlines allow minors to fly alone?
Most airlines limit unaccompanied minor service to nonstop or direct flights.
Alaska, American, and Delta
allow unaccompanied minor bookings on some connecting flights for kids ages eight and older, with various schedule and route limitations.
Can child travel alone in flight?
On purely domestic routes,
Unaccompanied Minors are children above 5 years and under 12 years
. “Unaccompanied Minors” will be accepted on Air India operated flights only. Unaccompanied Minors shall not be accepted for travel on Air India flights, if Interline Travel is involved at Transit point.
What do you need to travel with a minor in the US?
In addition to
a passport and travel consent letter
, parents should also carry proof of their relationship to their child. This could include a birth certificate, a court order, or an adoption decree. Providing proof of the relationship between the child and parents verifies a Child Travel Consent.
Can minors travel internationally without a passport?
International Travel
All children must present a valid U.S. passport for international air travel
. This rule applies regardless of age, including infants and newborns. If you are applying for a passport for your child for the first time, allow ample time for the passport application process.
Does a 17 year old need parental permission to travel?
Answer:
Consent is generally not required for minors age 16 and 17
. However, we recommend that you contact the airline you are flying with to confirm travel requirements.
What does a 17 year old need to fly alone?
Age requirement
Travelers that are between the ages of 15 and 17 years of age can travel alone
, but cannot be a guardian to a traveler that is 14 years of age or younger. However, anyone at least 18 can accompany a traveler between the ages of five and 14 as they will not need United’s unaccompanied minor service.
How old does a child have to be to fly alone on United?
Young passengers aged
between 15 and 17 years
are allowed to fly alone on any United Airlines or United Express flights. They can however opt for the unaccompanied minor service as well after paying $150 each way for every two children travelling on the same reservation when utilizing such service.
Do minors need ID to fly United?
Children under the age of 18 traveling with an adult are not required to show ID at time of check-in
. Customers who do not present an acceptable ID may be subject to additional screening.
Can a 17 year old buy a plane ticket?
Federal Regulations
Any minor with access to the Internet and a credit card can technically purchase a plane ticket and fly unaccompanied without breaking any federal laws
— so long as the minor is authorized to use the credit card.
Which airline is cheapest for unaccompanied minors?
- Alaska: Cheapest UM fee (as low as $25 one way for non-stops)
- Southwest: Cheap UM fee ($50 one way) + youngest age where children can travel without paying a UM fee (no fee needed by 12th birthday)
Can a 16 year old fly alone on United?
Young adults ages 15-17 can travel alone on any United- or United Express
®
-operated flight
, or they can choose to opt in to our unaccompanied minor service. It costs $150 each way for every two children traveling using the unaccompanied minor service.
