Can My Child Travel With The Passport Card?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The card cannot be used for international air travel, but it is still a great ID to have in your wallet.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts the passport card as ID for domestic flights

.

Does a passport card count as a passport?

A passport card serves the same purpose as a passport book – it attests to your United States citizenship and your identity.

The card is a fully valid passport just like the traditional passport book

; however, it is similar in size to a credit card or driver's license.

Do kids need passport card or book?


Travelers of any age who are flying internationally to or from their cruise will need a passport book

. This includes children and babies. For closed-loop cruises from the U.S. to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, children under age 16 only need to show a valid birth certificate.

What documents does a child need to fly within the US?

TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need

acceptable identification

.

Are passport cards valid for air travel?

The U.S. passport book and U.S. passport card are both accepted as ID for domestic flights. You may not have heard about the U.S. passport card before.

The passport card cannot be used for international air travel

, but it is still a great ID to have in your wallet.

Where can you travel with passport card?

The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter

the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry

and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card CANNOT be used for international travel by air.

Should kids have passport?

International Travel. Regardless of age,

all children need a valid passport for air travel to another country

. The application process for children under the age of 16 needs to be completed in person. To fill out this application, at least one parents needs to appear.

Does my child need a passport to fly in the US?

United States citizens are not required to carry a passport when traveling within the U.S. When flying domestically, the Transportation Security Administration requires all adults aged 18 and over to carry a valid federal or state-issued identification card such as a passport or driver's license, but

children and

What is the difference between a passport and a passport card?

The biggest difference between a passport book and passport card is

the methods of travel that are eligible

. While passport books can be used for all entry methods into an international country — whether air, land or sea — passport cards are limited to travel through land and sea borders only.

What is the point of having a passport card?

The passport card

allows them to travel easily to and from the nearby countries by land and by sea

. According to Travelers United, the U.S. passport card is only accepted as an ID to visit 20 foreign nations. Those countries include Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and 17 islands in the Caribbean.

Do I need a REAL ID if I have a passport card?

Do I Need a Real ID to Travel If I Already Have a Passport? The short answer is,

no

. An official U.S. passport will get you through airport security and can be used in place of a Real ID.

Can you use a passport card to fly to Cancun?

Travel Documents


A passport or passport card is accepted for travelers driving from the United States to Cancun or for those arriving by cruise ship or other watercraft

.

Do I need a birth certificate for my child to fly?

Unless your child already has a passport that can be used to prove their birth date,

you may need to bring a copy of their birth certificate

. While some airlines are more lenient than others, it is always best to come prepared.

Does a 1 year old need a passport to travel internationally?

Every US citizen, regardless of age, must have a passport to travel abroad.

Newborn babies, infants, and toddlers all need a passport to leave and enter another country

. Just as if an adult was applying for a passport, babies must have Form DS-11 filled out and submitted.

Do children need birth certificates to fly American airlines?


You may be required to present proof of age (such as a birth certificate) for any children under the age of 18

. Families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate. Only 1 carry-on diaper bag per child is allowed.

Can I use passport card to fly to Jamaica?


For those traveling by sea, a passport card is acceptable for entry into Jamaica

and return to the U.S. Passport cards are smaller and less expensive than full passports, and are accepted for travel by land or sea, but not air, within Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean islands.

Can I use a passport card to fly to Dominican Republic?

When you enter the Dominican Republic by air, you'll need a valid passport book because, as stated before,

passport cards aren't accepted for air travel

. You will also be required to fill out an e-ticket or paper form upon arrival and departure.

Can I travel within the U.S. with a foreign passport?

Yes, as noted above, the list of approved identification to fly domestically includes foreign government-issued passports and/or a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766).

Can I go to Canada with just a passport card?

Entry into Canada: Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity.

A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens

.

What Caribbean countries accept passport card?

PRO: The Passport Card is an excellent way to legally visit the following by land or sea: Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, …

What age is child passport?

You apply for a child passport if your child is

under 16

. It costs £49 to apply online and £58.50 to apply with a paper form from the Post Office. A child passport is valid for 5 years.

How long is a passport good for a child?

All children under age 16 must apply for a passport in person with two parents or guardians using Form DS-11. You cannot renew your child's passport using Form DS-82. Passports for children under age 16 are only valid for

5 years

.

Can a child travel to Mexico with a birth certificate?


When U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 arrive by land or sea from Canada or Mexico they may present an original or copy of their birth certificate

, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate.

Can a child enter the US with a birth certificate?


When U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 arrive by land or sea from Canada or Mexico they may present an original or copy of their birth certificate

, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate.

Do I need a birth certificate for my child to fly Southwest?


Age verification for Infant/Child fares will require a copy or original of any government-issued ID, such as a birth certificate or passport, for their Infant/Child

. At that time, the date of birth in your Rapid Rewards® or Southwest account will be updated to indicate that age has been verified.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.