Thus, when traveling with an infant domestically, you will not need to present their passport. Instead, you can use their birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or other documentation that identifies them.

You can take your baby on a plane without a passport only for domestic travel within your own country. In 2026, for flights within the United States or most other nations, infants under the age of two typically do not require photo identification. However, you must carry the baby’s original birth certificate or a certified copy to prove their age, especially if they are traveling as a "lap child" (for free or a reduced fare). Some airlines also accept a hospital-issued birth record or immunization record for newborns. For international travel, there are absolutely no exceptions in 2026: every person, regardless of age, must have their own valid passport. Even a week-old infant requires a passport and, depending on the destination, a visa. If you are a single parent or traveling without the other legal guardian, you should also carry a notarized "Consent to Travel" letter to prevent issues with border control. For domestic trips, always check your specific airline’s 2026 policy via their app, as some now require digital verification of birth records prior to check-in.

You can only take your baby on a plane without a passport if you are traveling on a domestic flight within your own country. In 2026, for domestic travel (such as flying from New York to Los Angeles or London to Edinburgh), most airlines only require a government-issued birth certificate or a hospital record to verify the infant's age, though many do not require any ID for a "lap infant" under the age of two. However, for international travel, there is no exception: every person, regardless of age (even a newborn only days old), must have their own valid passport to cross borders. A parent's passport cannot "cover" a child. If you are traveling domestically in 2026, it is a "pro-tip" to carry a digital or physical copy of the birth certificate just in case of any disputes regarding the "lap infant" status. If you are a single parent or traveling with a child that is not yours, you should also carry a notarized consent letter from the other parent to avoid any issues with local child-protection authorities at the gate.