Do Children Need ID to Fly?

When a child needs identification for a domestic or international flight, what counts, and the paperwork that avoids trouble at the gate.

By WarBird Flight editors · Updated September 25, 2026 · 2 min read

Domestic flights: usually no ID for children

For domestic US flights, a child traveling with an adult generally does not need to show identification — the adult presents ID, and the airline treats the child as part of the booking. The airline can ask for proof of age for a lap infant flying free, so carrying something that shows the child's birth date is wise even when no ID is strictly required. Policies vary a little by airline, so it is worth a quick check when you book.

International flights: every traveler needs a passport

International travel is different: a child needs their own passport, including infants, and children's passports expire sooner than adults' and are easy to forget. Some destinations also apply the six-month passport-validity rule to children, and a few ask for extra documentation when a child travels without both parents. If your trip crosses a border, treat the child's passport as the first thing to sort out, not the last.

Every international traveler, regardless of age, needs their own valid passport.
Children's passports are valid for fewer years than adults' — check the expiry well before the trip.
The destination's passport-validity and entry rules can apply to children too.
A child flying with one parent or another adult may need a consent letter — check the destination's rule.

When a child travels alone

A child flying without a parent falls under the airline's unaccompanied-minor program, which has its own rules, fees, age limits, and paperwork — and that paperwork does involve identifying the child and the adults dropping off and picking up. That is a separate process from ordinary ID, and it is worth setting up in advance rather than discovering the requirements at the counter.

Sort the paperwork before you go

Requirements shift with the child's age, your airline, and whether the trip is domestic or international. Call (708) 866-8751 and a licensed agent tells you exactly what your child needs for your specific trip — proof of age, a passport, a consent letter, or an unaccompanied-minor booking — so nothing stops you at the gate.