There is so much to think about in the first year of your baby’s life, and if you’re planning an international trip, you may also be wondering whether or not you need to apply for a passport for your one-year-old baby.
Every child, including one-year-olds, are required to have a passport when traveling internationally by air, with no exceptions. However, if traveling by land or sea from the U.S. to Canada or Mexico, minors under the age of 16 do not need a passport, and a birth certificate will suffice.
Still asking yourself: Does my child need a passport? Here is a quick list of FAQs to make it more clear:
| Travel situation FAQ | Does my child need a passport? |
|---|---|
| Are you flying internationally (anywhere in the world)? | Yes, your child needs a passport |
| Are you driving (or traveling by sea) internationally between the U.S. and Mexico? | No, your child (under the age of 16) does not need a passport. Bring their birth certificate. (source) |
| Are you driving (or traveling by sea) internationally between the U.S. and Canada? | No, your child (under the age of 16) does not need a passport. Bring their birth certificate. (source) |
| Are you traveling (any sort of transport) within the United States? | No, your child does not need a passport — no one needs a passport to travel within the United States. However, the airline may require you to show proof of age (a passport or birth certificate) for your child if they are flying as a lap infant. |
| Are you traveling to a U.S. territory (Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, etc.)? | No, your child does not need a passport — No U.S. citizens need a passport to travel to U.S. territories.* However, the airline may require you to show proof of age (a passport or birth certificate) for your child if they are flying as a lap infant. |
*I am putting asterisk here because technically U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to fly to U.S. territories, but you’ll notice that it’s not quite worded that way on some of the government and travel websites. I personally would not ever attempt to fly anywhere without a passport.
Still unsure about your situation? Please review the 6 documents you may need to travel internationally with your baby.
My sister and her family were recently waiting for their new U.S. passports to process, but didn’t get them in time to attend my wedding in Canada. She and her husband took a chance anyway and drove from New York to the border with their toddler daughter —
and the border guards gave all three of them NO ISSUE. at. all! All three of them were allowed to cross into Canada with only their birth certificates and come to my wedding. Phew! But they were lucky…
It’s always a good idea to have a passport for your child, no matter their age and no matter how or where you’re traveling (just in case!). But if you’re in a pinch with an upcoming trip to Canada or Mexico (and you’re not flying), then pack your baby’s birth certificate and enjoy your travels. Apply for that passport when you get back.
Please scroll to the bottom of this article to see how you can apply for your baby’s U.S. passport.
Does a 1-year-old need a passport to travel within the U.S.?
A 1-year-old does not need a passport (or any other form of documentation) to travel within the U.S. This includes the 48 continuous United States as well as Hawaii and Alaska.
Keep in mind that even though you won’t need a passport, you may need to show a birth certificate. If you’re flying, as opposed to driving, the airline may require you to show a birth certificate as proof of age if your baby is flying as a ‘lap child.’ Babies under 2 years old can fly for free or cheaply and you may need to prove that your baby is young enough to qualify.
However, if you’re driving, you will not need documentation to travel between states with your baby.
Does a 1-year-old need a passport to travel to U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands)?
You might not have realized it but you have more options than you think for tropical and unique vacations as a U.S. citizen — your next family vacation could be something super special without technically leaving the country.
Because U.S. territories are technically considered part of the U.S., a 1-year-old does not need a passport to travel to these areas. And in fact, neither does an adult.
There are 5 inhabited U.S. territories where you can visit (yes, both you and your baby) without a passport: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Personally, I would still make sure and get that passport for my baby if I had the time. It’s worth it to have a super official piece of document (recognized anywhere in the world) for your child.
Does a 1-year-old need a passport to travel to Mexico and Canada?
If traveling by air, a one-year-old is required to have a passport to cross the border to Mexico or Canada.
However, if you are traveling by land or sea, children under 16 years old do not need a passport to cross into Mexico or Canada. A birth certificate will be enough.
If I were traveling to Mexico or Canada with my one-year-old son, even if I were driving, I would still bring his passport along just in case.
Do I need a notarized letter of consent if I’m traveling solo with my baby?
It’s also important to note, if you’ll be traveling solo with your baby internationally, that you may be required to show a letter of consent from the absent parent stating that they have been informed about the trip and are okay with it.
This is to prevent international kidnappings and is in a child’s best interest, but it can be a bit of a pain to make sure you have this letter/form and get it notarized before traveling. If I were to travel internationally without my husband, I would be sure to have one of these handy just in case.
How to apply for your 1-year-old’s first U.S. passport
I recommend getting a passport as soon as possible for your baby if you plan on traveling together as a family. For minors (children under 16), you have to go in person with your partner to apply for your baby’s passport. Their passport will be valid for 5 years.
You can find your nearest passport office here. Some require you to make an appointment, while others have walk-in availability. When you visit the passport office in person, you’ll need to bring:
- Form DS-11 filled out
- Proof of U.S. citizenship
- Photocopy of evidence of U.S. citizenship
- Proof of parental relationship to your child
- Identification for the parents
- Photocopy of identification
- Parental consent (if one parent is not present)
- Photo
- Payment
You can check the most recent processing times on the State Department website here to get an idea of how long it’s going to take to receive your child’s passport in the mail.
Review all of the important details and updates on the State Department website for applying for a passport for minors. Remember that you cannot submit a mail-in or online application for children under 16.