Do babies need passports to travel internationally?

Whether you’re a parent, about to be a parent or thinking about becoming a parent, and you love to travel internationally, you’re probably already thinking about whether or not a baby needs a passport. The simple answer: yes, always if they’re flying abroad. There are a few exceptions but generally speaking, it’s best to get a passport for your baby. Here’s everything you need to know about baby passports, including how to get one.

Do babies need to have a passport?

For the vast majority of international trips, American babies do need passports. The exceptions are travel to Canada and Mexico by land or sea, as well as closed-loop cruises. As with adults, domestic travel across the U.S., including its territories, does not require a passport for babies.

Expert tip: Even though you don’t technically need a passport on a closed-loop cruise, it’s best to take one with you, just in case an emergency requires you to disembark in a foreign country and fly home. That extends to babies, too.

How soon can a newborn get a passport?

Newborn passports can be issued immediately after birth, though the process does take several weeks or months. You can, however, expedite the passport application process for newborns, just as adults can. You can also apply for emergency passports if you must travel imminently for life-or-death reasons.

Applying for your baby’s passport

Applying for a passport for minors, including babies, requires a few additional steps compared to applying as an adult.

What do parents need to get a baby passport?

To apply for a baby passport, parents provide:

a completed Form DS-11 for their child;
their child’s social security number if they have one;
their child’s birth certificate or other form of citizenship evidence, as well as a photocopy of it;
documentation proving their parental relationship to the child, such as a birth certificate or adoption decree;
their own IDs, such as a passport book or driver’s license, as well as a photocopy;
a document showing parental consent from both parents or guardians (if you’re a sole legal authority, you must provide documentation like a court order or death certificate);
a valid passport photo;
and the application and execution fees for the passport book ($100 and $35, respectively).

A couple with their child on a baby carrier backpack, wearing their winter clothes, on a snowy Christmas market.

What is the process to follow?

Parents must bring all the documentation to a passport acceptance facility, and both parents must be in attendance. If one parent cannot attend, you must fill out and bring a Form DS-3053 signed in front of a notary public with a photocopy of the front and back of the absent parent’s ID. If neither parent can attend, a third party can apply on behalf of the parents, again with a Form DS-3053 or a notarized statement giving this third-party individual permission to apply for the child’s passport.

Expert tip:The application process for a baby passport is just as long as the application for an adult passport, so apply well in advance of your trip abroad.

Can newborns travel without a passport?

Newborns can travel domestically without a passport. This includes travel to U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico or Guam; these territories are particularly ideal for beach vacations. Newborns can also travel internationally to Canada or Mexico by land or sea without a passport, but they must have their birth certificate with them on their travels.

Expert tip: If only one parent is traveling with their child abroad, it’s wise to travel with a consent letter from the other parent. Border agents are frequently concerned about child abduction in custody cases, as well as trafficking.

Can babies use Real IDs instead of passports?

No, babies cannot use Real IDs instead of passports for international travel. Minors do not need to present ID for domestic travel if they are traveling with an adult companion.

Our tips for your baby’s passport application

Be sure your baby’s passport photo is compliant with all standards, including a white or off-white background, a color image and an image that is less than six months old.
Don’t forget to have your child’s social security number on hand. If they don’t have one yet, you’ll need to declare under oath that they do not have a social security number.
If your travels abroad are limited to Canada or Mexico by land or sea, consider applying for a passport card instead of a passport book for your child. The application is $15 versus $100 for the book.
Keep in mind that passports for children under 16 expire every 5 years.

Conclusion

Babies need passports to travel internationally unless they are traveling to Canada or Mexico by land or sea, or on closed-loop cruises. Still, it’s worth applying for a passport when your baby is a newborn to give your family the most options for traveling abroad. For more information about traveling with infants, check out our guides to babyproofing your vacation rental and breastfeeding while traveling.

How KAYAK knows what to put in this guide

As a travel writer, I always stay up to date on the latest passport regulations, including the time it takes for applications and renewals. As a supporter of family vacations abroad, I believe it is in a parent’s best interest to get a passport for their child as soon as possible. For this guide, I researched the passport policies for minors of the U.S. Department of State, the agency responsible for U.S. passports.

Young Asian business woman going on a business trip. Business and leisure travel.

Frequent questions about passports for babies

Yes, babies need passports to go to Mexico if they are traveling by air. If they are traveling by land or sea, they only need to bring their birth certificate.

Yes, babies need passports to go to Canada if they are traveling by air. If they are traveling by land or sea, they only need to bring their birth certificate.

It depends on the cruise. Closed-loop cruises that start and end in the U.S. technically don’t require passports for passengers. Other cruises do require passports for babies.

The foregoing article was last updated on the 24th of November 2023. It does not contain legal advice and is for informational purposes only. KAYAK does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any of the information contained in this article and/or any of the content linked to within it. Always check the official government website of your departure and arrival destinations prior to travel for up-to-date information.
Sources:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/your-trip
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/get-fast.html
https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/passport-help/faqs.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html

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