Jazmin Li
Birth certificates are essential documents for many official purposes, including travel. While birth certificates are not a valid form of identification for international travel, they can be used to obtain a passport, as proof of age for babies who are flying, and as a way to confirm your identity if your ID is lost or stolen. For children, the requirements for flying vary depending on their age and accompanying status. For example, a child under the age of 2 flying domestically as a lap child may need a birth certificate as proof of age, while a child travelling internationally will require a passport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you bring your birth certificate to the airport? | Yes, you can bring your birth certificate to the airport, especially if you are travelling with a baby or child. |
| Can you use a birth certificate to fly? | No, a birth certificate is not a valid form of identification for international travel. |
| Can you use a birth certificate as a form of identification at the airport? | Yes, in some cases, a birth certificate can be used as a way to confirm your identity if your ID was lost or stolen. |
| Can you use a birth certificate as a form of identification for children at the airport? | Yes, a birth certificate can be used as a form of identification for children under the age of 2. However, some airlines may have different requirements, so it is important to check in advance. |
| What other forms of identification are accepted for children? | A passport, a government-issued photo ID, or a notarized consent letter from a non-traveling parent. |
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What You'll Learn
- Birth certificates are not a valid form of ID for international travel
- Minors travelling with an adult don't need a photo ID to board a plane
- A birth certificate is required for a child under two flying as a lap child
- A birth certificate can be used to obtain a passport
- A birth certificate may be used to confirm identity if your ID is lost or stolen
Birth certificates are not a valid form of ID for international travel
While birth certificates were previously accepted as valid identification for international travel, this is no longer the case. For international travel, individuals must carry a passport, regardless of their age. This is especially true for travel to and from the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
In the past, individuals could travel to Canada and Mexico using only their birth certificate. However, after 9/11, the requirements changed, and a passport became mandatory. Today, a birth certificate is not considered sufficient proof of identity for international travel.
For US citizens, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other state photo identity card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) is also accepted as identification for domestic flights. However, for those without a REAL ID, a passport is necessary.
While the TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when travelling within the US, unaccompanied minors who are eligible for TSA PreCheck must show an acceptable ID to receive expedited screening. For international travel, children are required to have a US passport or Trusted Traveler Program card. In some cases, an original or certified copy of their birth certificate may be accepted.
Therefore, while birth certificates may be useful as a secondary form of identification, they are not a valid form of ID for international travel. For such travel, it is essential to carry a passport or other approved identification.
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Minors travelling with an adult don't need a photo ID to board a plane
For minors travelling with an adult, there is generally no need to bring a photo ID or birth certificate to board a plane for domestic U.S. travel. Airlines will accept identification from the accompanying adult on behalf of the minor(s). This means that children under the age of 18 will not need a photo ID or birth certificate to pass through security and board a plane in the U.S. if accompanied by an adult.
However, there may be some circumstances where a photo ID or other official documents , such as a birth certificate, may be needed for minors to board. This can depend on the age of the minor, the airline, and the destination country. For example, infants under two weeks old may require a note from a physician stating they are healthy enough to fly. Children turning two years old during a trip may need to pay for a full-priced, round-trip ticket. Additionally, some airlines, such as Southwest Airlines, always require a copy of the birth certificate or government-issued photo ID at check-in if a child will be flying as a lap child.
It is important to note that for international travel, including to Puerto Rico, minors under the age of 18 must present the same travel documents as adults, which typically includes a passport. Additionally, children under 18 may need a Letter of Consent to travel internationally without both parents and some countries have additional restrictions for children travelling with guardians or as unaccompanied minors. Therefore, it is recommended to contact the airline directly to inquire about specific requirements and to plan accordingly.
While birth certificates are generally not required for minors travelling with adults, they can be useful in certain situations. For example, in the rare case that an adult passenger has no approved ID, they may be able to present a birth certificate along with other forms of identification and undergo additional screening to be allowed to travel at the discretion of the TSA. However, it is important to note that the TSA will not accept certain types of birth records, such as Birth "Registration" or "Notification" Cards, and has specific requirements for acceptable birth certificates.
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A birth certificate is required for a child under two flying as a lap child
A birth certificate is not always required for a child under two flying as a lap infant, but it is highly recommended that you carry one. While children don't need an ID for TSA, they do need to prove they are under two years old to fly as a lap infant.
Southwest Airlines is known to ask for proof of age for lap infants, even if the child looks under two. They will ask for a boarding verification document, which is a boarding pass confirming the child's age has been authenticated by an airline representative. This is usually done by reviewing the birth certificate. Some parents have reported that a printed copy or a photo of the birth certificate was enough, while others have said that a photocopy was sufficient. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry, and having the original birth certificate is a good idea.
Other airlines may also ask for proof of age, so it is best to be prepared. It is recommended to keep a copy of the birth certificate in the front pocket of your suitcase or an electronic copy on your smartphone. This way, you can easily show it to the ticket agent if needed.
In addition to the birth certificate, there may be other requirements for flying with a lap infant. For example, you may need to provide a passenger medical form signed by a physician stating that the baby is healthy enough to fly. You may also be limited in the amount of carry-on luggage you can bring for the infant.
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A birth certificate can be used to obtain a passport
While a birth certificate is not sufficient identification to get you through airport security, it can be used as evidence of U.S. citizenship when applying for a passport.
To apply for a U.S. passport, you must submit physical evidence of U.S. citizenship. This can be a U.S. birth certificate, but it must meet certain requirements. These include showing the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state of birth which issued it; the applicant's full name, date of birth, and place of birth; the applicant's parent(s)' full names; the date filed with the registrar's office (within one year of birth); and the registrar's signature.
If you were born outside the United States and acquired U.S. citizenship through the naturalization of your parent(s), you must submit a foreign birth certificate listing your parent(s), along with evidence of your parent(s)' U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), or naturalization certificate.
If there is no U.S. birth certificate on file in the state where you were born, you will receive a "Letter of No Record" from the registrar. In this case, you must submit this letter, along with one early public record/document and one early private record/document from the first five years of your life, such as a U.S. Census record. Foreign language documents must include a professional English translation, along with a notarized letter from the translator confirming the accuracy of the translation and their ability to translate.
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A birth certificate may be used to confirm identity if your ID is lost or stolen
While birth certificates are not a valid form of identification for international travel, they can be used to obtain a passport. They can also be used as proof of age for children flying, especially if they are travelling on a parent's lap. In some cases, a birth certificate may be used to confirm your identity if your ID has been lost or stolen. However, this is only in conjunction with other documents and is at the discretion of the TSA.
For children, a birth certificate may be required for international travel if they do not have a passport. This is to prove their age and that they are authorised to travel with only one parent. If the child is under the age of two, they may be required to provide a birth certificate to fly for free on a parent's lap. This is to prove their age, especially if they look like they might be over two years old. Some airlines are more lenient than others, but it is always best to be prepared. For example, Southwest Airlines always requires a birth certificate or government-issued photo ID for lap children.
For adults, a birth certificate is not a valid form of identification for international travel. However, if you are travelling domestically, a birth certificate may be used as supporting evidence if your original identification was lost or stolen. In this case, it would be used in conjunction with other documents to confirm your identity. While a birth certificate cannot be used as a primary document when flying domestically, there are many other forms of ID that can be used, including a driver's license, passport, passport card, or trusted traveller card.
It is important to note that the TSA will not accept birth "registration" or "notification" cards, or birth registration/certificate of birth registration records. Only long-form, state-issued, certified/sealed birth certificates are accepted. Additionally, only Puerto Rican birth certificates issued on or after July 1, 2010, will be accepted as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship due to security concerns.
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Frequently asked questions
No, a birth certificate is not a valid form of identification for international travel. You will need a passport for this.
For adults, a birth certificate is not a valid form of ID for domestic travel either. You will need a driver's license, passport, or other state-issued photo ID. However, a birth certificate may be used as supporting evidence if your original ID was lost or stolen.
Children under 18 travelling with an adult do not need a photo ID or birth certificate to board a domestic flight. However, it is recommended to have some form of ID for them, and a birth certificate can be useful as proof of age for babies and toddlers.
Children will need a passport for international travel. A birth certificate can be used to obtain a passport, but it is not sufficient on its own for air travel.
Yes, if your ID has been lost or stolen, a birth certificate can be used as supporting evidence to confirm your identity.
