The two most important documents are the child's ID and a consent form from their legal guardian. ID: The TSA does not require minors under the age of 18 to show ID when traveling with an adult companion within the United States, but some airlines do.
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If you are traveling with a child who is not yours, bring signed and notarized consent forms from the child's parents or legal guardians. Consent form requirements vary by destination, so you may not be asked to produce them, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.
You'll need to fill out an unaccompanied minor form and any necessary Customs and Immigration documents for the day of departure. This form must remain with your child during their journey. At check-in, parents / guardians will also need to provide: A birth certificate or passport as proof of the child's age.
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requests written consent from both parents or the parent who is not accompanying the minor for minors (those less than 18 years of age) traveling to the U.S. alone or accompanied by only one parent. This written consent must be in English.
Child age at the time of unaccompanied travelChildren ages 15-17 are permitted to travel as a standard passenger, Go to footer note, provided they can present a valid ID to security personnel. If parents or guardians prefer, they can also travel as an unaccompanied minor.
A Child Travel Consent gives a minor child permission to travel without their parents or legal guardians. Use this form when your child needs to travel alone or with another adult, who is not their legal guardian (e.g., a grandparent, friend, or teacher).
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.
An adult must take the child to the departure gate and stay until the flight is airborne. When you get to the gate, tell the gate agent you have an unaccompanied minor traveling on the flight. We'll board your child early so they can meet the flight crew and learn about the plane's safety features.
It is not illegal for a grandparent to transport a grandchild without a letter of permission, but the letter could be helpful in those rare cases of emergencies or if for some reason you must deal with law enforcement officials. Ideally, the letter should be signed by both parents.
Lap children between the ages of 6 to 36 months can travel onboard in car seats. Further, if you prefer this option, you have to pay full fare for that particular seat for the baby, irrespective of the baby's age.
If you are traveling with a child who is not yours, bring signed and notarized consent forms from the child's parents or legal guardians. Consent form requirements vary by destination, so you may not be asked to produce them, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.
At that point, US travelers 18 and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, identification card, state-issued enhanced driver's license (EDL), or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States. REAL IDs also will be needed to access certain federal facilities.
Children or infants traveling outside the U.S. are required to have the same documentation as an adult. If anyone under 18 is traveling internationally without both parents, they may be required to present a Letter of Consent.
If a minor is traveling without their parents (alone, in a group, with other relatives, etc.), they will need a Minor Travel Consent Form. These forms grant parental permission for the minor to travel.
Generally, no ID is needed: Babies and kids (or, those under the age of 18) do not need to present any identification for domestic travel within the United States (or its territories, like Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands).
Yes, a 17 year old can travel alone by air within the United States. The requirements vary depending on the airline and destination, but generally speaking they will need to present valid identification such as a passport or driver's license at check-in.
A signed, notarized letter for a minor to travel from both parents is required if a child travels internationally alone or with an adult who is not their legal guardian. The other parent must also sign the consent form if they are traveling with just one parent.