Can children cross the US border with just a birth certificate?

U.S. citizens under age 16 may present a birth certificate or alternative proof of citizenship when entering by land or sea. All travelers must have a passport book for international air travel. Please note that hospital-issued birth certificates, voter registration cards, and affidavits cannot be used.



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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.

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Children. TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States.

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U.S. citizen children traveling abroad You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian.

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If your upcoming trip is an international one, you're probably wondering whether or not your baby will need a passport. The answer is yes: Every person, no matter how young, needs a passport if she will be leaving one country and entering another.

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Travel by land or water
a valid passport. a Trusted Traveler Program card. an enhanced driver's licence (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EIC) from a province or territory where a U.S. approved EDL/EIC program has been implemented.

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Entry into the United States: When traveling by air from Canada, U.S. citizens must present a U.S. passport book or other approved identification document. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website provides a full list of allowable documents.

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Thus, the penalty is the possibility of denied or delayed entry into the US, as well as the associated costs (e.g. missing connecting flights or meetings).

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Expired passports cannot be used to travel from the United States to an international destination or to travel to a foreign country for any length of stay longer than an airport connection in route to the United States or United States territory.

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If you are departing from a U.S. port and returning to the same U.S. port, passports are not required for U.S. citizens. All children 15 years of age or younger need only an original or copy of their state-issued birth certificate.

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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.

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What is a Child Travel Consent form? 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).

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How do I write a consent letter for my child to travel?
  1. List your child's name, birth date/place, and passport details.
  2. Provide the parent's/guardian's name, custody information, and passport details.
  3. Add contact information for the non-traveling parents/guardians.
  4. Detail the child's destination and dates of travel.


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