In general, if traveling by air to a foreign country, all passengers must have a valid passport irrespective of their age, including babies and infants.
Children must have their own passport, visa or other international entry documentation required of adults. In addition, certain countries require children leaving that country without both parents and a legal guardian to have a letter of consent, in some cases notarized.
The letter should say I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission. If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
If you're traveling internationally, the short answer is no, you cannot use an expired passport. You must renew your passport if it's expired or will expire within the next six months.
The most likely scenario is that you will be prevented from boarding transport by the staff on duty. If you managed to avoid that situation, you could be blocked from entering your destination by border authorities upon arrival. Generally, it is necessary to have a valid passport if you want to travel abroad.
Child Travel Consent/Parental Authorization FormIn the UAE, a person is considered a child flyer if they are under the age of 16. A Parental Authorization allows a minor child to travel without the presence of their parents or legal guardians.
Bottom line: You can fly to all 50 states and surrounding territories without a passport. Just make sure to carry either your driver's license or a state-issued ID. To avoid frustrations in the future, ensure your driver's license and other ID are REAL-ID compliant before May 2025.
A Child Travel Consent letter is a legal document that gives permission for minors to travel without their parents or legal guardian. If a child is traveling with an adult who is not their legal guardian, both the parents need to sign the consent letter.
A child travel consent form allows a minor to travel alone or with another person or group. It is written by one or both parents and can be used for domestic or international travel.
A secure document is a passport, U.S. permanent resident card, or Stateless travel document, Re-Entry Permit, NEXUS card, U.S Merchant Mariner Card, military ID or emergency travel document issued by an embassy or consulate. U.S. passport cards are not valid for air travel outside the United States.