Do newborns need passports?
Christopher Ramos
Updated on May 05, 2026
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.
Can a baby travel without passport?
Every US citizen, regardless of age, must have a passport to travel abroad. Newborn babies, infants, and toddlers all need a passport to leave and enter another country. Just as if an adult was applying for a passport, babies must have Form DS-11 filled out and submitted.How soon after a baby is born can you get a passport?
The exact process of getting the birth certificate varies around the country, but in normal times it is often it is possible within the first week or two of life. You don't have to have your baby's social security number to get a passport, though if you have one, it must be provided.Can a 2 month old baby travel on a plane without passport?
International TravelAll children must present a valid U.S. passport for international air travel. This rule applies regardless of age, including infants and newborns. If you are applying for a passport for your child for the first time, allow ample time for the passport application process.
What happens if a baby doesn't have a passport?
Will they both need passports? Answer: Every citizen of the United States, independent of age (even newborn infants), is required to have a valid passport when traveling outside the United States. There is an exception for travel on a closed-loop cruise or travel by land to Canada.Can babies travel without a passport?
What documents do I need to travel with my baby?
Documentation required for lap infants
- Child's passport (how to get a U.S. passport for an infant and things to know about children's passports)
- Child's birth certificate.
- Child's immunization form or other medical records may also work domestically.
Can a baby travel in Europe without a passport?
Children cannot travel under their parent or guardian's passport. The child needs to have their own passport to travel to Europe. Among the ETIAS requirements, besides having a valid passport, the applicant needs an email address.Do babies fly free internationally?
Infants under the age of 2 traveling without a seat (lap infant) within the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands don't require a ticket. Infants traveling internationally (including to Canada, Guam and Mexico) without a seat are required to have a purchased ticket and are subject to infant fares and taxes.How do you travel with a newborn?
You actually have the most options for getting around where you're going while traveling with a newborn baby–from supportive carriers or slings, their car seat/infant carrier, to a stroller with a flat-enough recline that's suitable for a young baby–or all of the above!How do you fly with an infant?
Here's what we recommend:
- Get to the Airport Early When Flying With a Baby. ...
- Use Curbside Check-In. ...
- Gate-Check Your Stroller and Car Seat. ...
- Wear Your Baby and Your Diaper Bag. ...
- Board the Plane Separately. ...
- If You Can Afford It, Buy the Baby a Seat. ...
- Fly During Nap (or Happy) Time. ...
- Book Two Aisle Seats Across From Each Other.
When can a newborn fly on a plane?
When is it safe to travel with a newborn baby by plane? In general, doctors recommend you wait to fly until your baby's immune system is better developed. This could be as soon as one month for full-term infants, though most doctors recommend anywhere between three months and six months.How do I apply for a new passport for my newborn?
How to get a Passport for a New Born Baby:
- Birth Certificate of the baby.
- Proof of current address (if parent has a Passport then this will suffice)
- Filled and signed Annexure H which can be procured from the Passport Seva Kendra website.
- Passport photo of the baby against a background that is white.
- Appointment receipt.