Do babies need ID to fly domestic in the US? TSA rules, birth certificates, DS-11 baby passports & Global Entry (2026)

Q: 3. Do babies need a passport on a US closed-loop cruise?

Under US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules for closed-loop cruises (a cruise for US citizens that begins and ends at the same US port — such as Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, or Seattle — and visits ports in the Western Hemisphere like the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, or Alaska):

Q: Do babies need ID or a birth certificate to fly domestically in the US?

At the TSA security checkpoint , no — children under 18 do not need an ID or birth certificate for domestic US flights. However, at the airline check-in counter or gate , airlines (especially Southwest, Delta, United, and American) can ask for proof of age (such as a birth certificate copy or passport) to verify that a free lap infant is under 2 years old. Always carry a photocopy or phone photo of your baby's birth certificate.

Q: How much does a US baby passport cost and how long is it valid?

A US Passport Book for a child under 16 costs $135 total ($100 State Department application fee + $35 acceptance facility fee; expedited service is an extra $60) and is valid for 5 years . Both parents and the baby must attend the DS-11 appointment in person.

Key facts

Short answer: children under 18 do not need an ID or REAL ID at TSA security for domestic US flights, though airlines (especially Southwest) may ask for a birth certificate copy to verify a free lap infant is under 2. For international flights, every baby needs a US Passport Book ($135 total via Form DS-11, both parents in person), and Global Entry is now FREE ($0) for under-18s when a parent is a member or applying.

If you are getting ready for your baby's first flight in the United States, you will hear two seemingly contradictory things from friends: "TSA doesn't ask for ID for anyone under 18" and "Southwest made us show our baby's birth certificate at the check-in counter."

Both statements are true — because TSA airport security and airline check-in counters enforce two different sets of rules! Here is the complete, sourced guide to domestic US ID & birth certificate rules, how to apply for a first US baby passport (Form DS-11) for international flights or cruises, and why every baby needs their own Global Entry membership (now free for children when a parent holds or applies for Global Entry!) (checked October 2026).

Quick answers: US baby ID, birth certificates & passports

Travel Scenario	Official US Federal / Airline Rule	Source
TSA Security (Domestic US flights, including Hawaii & Puerto Rico)	Babies & children under 18 do NOT need a passport, REAL ID, or birth certificate at the TSA security checkpoint when flying domestically with an adult who has valid REAL ID / passport (TSA Identification Rules)	TSA.gov
Airline Check-In (Lap Infant under 2 on Domestic US flights)	Airlines (especially Southwest, Delta, United, American) may require proof of age (a copy or original Birth Certificate, hospital birth record, or passport) to verify that a free lap infant has not yet turned 2 years old!	Airline Contract of Carriage
Newborns under 7–14 days old	Many airlines require a pediatrician's fit-to-fly medical letter if your newborn is under 7 days old (American, JetBlue) or under 14 days old (Southwest)	Airline Baby Rules
International Flights (including Canada, Mexico, Caribbean & UK/Europe)	Every baby — even a 2-week-old newborn — MUST have their own valid Passport Book to fly internationally (Passport Cards are NOT valid for international air travel!) (travel.state.gov)	US Dept. of State
US Baby Passport (Form DS-11) Cost & Validity	$100 application fee + $35 acceptance fee = $135 total (+ $60 if expedited); valid for 5 years; both parents and the baby must appear in person	travel.state.gov
Global Entry for Babies (CBP)	Every baby needs their own Global Entry membership to use the Global Entry lane — and as of Oct 2024, the $120 fee is WAIVED ($0 / FREE) for applicants under 18 when a parent/guardian is a member or applying! (cbp.gov)	US Customs & Border Protection

1. Domestic US flights: TSA REAL ID vs airline birth certificate checks

At the TSA Security Checkpoint:
Under official TSA Identification regulations, TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when travelling with a companion inside the United States (including flights to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands).
Adult REAL ID reminder: Adults 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license (marked with a star), a US or foreign Passport, a DHS Trusted Traveler card (Global Entry / NEXUS / SENTRI), or another acceptable federal ID.
At the Airline Ticket Counter or Gate (Why you should always pack a birth certificate copy):
Because infants under 24 months fly free on an adult's lap on domestic US flights (while a child who turned 2 yesterday requires a full-price ticket), airlines reserve the right to verify your child's date of birth before issuing a Lap Infant Boarding Verification Document.
Southwest Airlines is famous for checking proof of age for lap infants (especially tall 18-to-23-month-olds!). Southwest accepts an original or photocopy/digital photo of a government-issued birth certificate, passport, or hospital birth certificate for newborns.
Our rule of thumb: Keep a clear PDF/photo of your baby's birth certificate saved in a "Favorites" album on your phone AND a paper photocopy in your diaper bag on every domestic trip.

2. How to get a US baby passport (Form DS-11): Step-by-step

If you are flying to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Europe, your baby needs a US Passport Book (do not order only the $15 Passport Card unless you are strictly driving across the Canadian/Mexican land border or taking a closed-loop cruise, because Passport Cards cannot be used for international flights):

Complete Form DS-11 (Do not sign it yet!): Fill out Form DS-11 online or on paper via travel.state.gov. Wait to sign until the Passport Acceptance Agent instructs you to.
Book an in-person appointment (Baby + BOTH Parents must attend):
All child passports (under age 16) require an in-person appointment at a Passport Acceptance Facility (USPS Post Office, county clerk, or public library).
Both parents/guardians listed on the birth certificate must appear in person with the baby. (If one parent cannot attend, that parent must complete and notarize Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent within the last 90 days and provide a front-and-back photocopy of their photo ID — see our child travel consent letter guide.)
Bring originals + single-sided black-and-white photocopies of:
Proof of US Citizenship: Certified US Birth Certificate (with raised seal and both parents' full names), Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or Certificate of Citizenship, plus a photocopy.
Proof of Parental Relationship: The certified birth certificate showing both parents' names (note: a previous US passport does not show parental names, so you still need the birth certificate even when renewing a toddler's passport!).
Both Parents' Photo IDs: Valid driver's license or passport, plus front-and-back photocopies on 8.5 × 11 inch white paper.
How to take a US baby passport photo (2 × 2 inches) without tears:
Lay your baby flat on their back on a plain white crib sheet or white poster board on the floor in bright, even natural daylight (so there are no shadows behind their ears).
Stand directly above them to take the photo: their eyes should be open, mouth closed (no pacifier, no toys, no parent hands visible in the frame, and no hats or headbands). For newborns, the State Department allows some leniency if a newborn's eyes are not fully open, as long as their face is clearly visible and facing forward.
US Child Passport Fees & Processing Times (2026):
Application fee (paid to "U.S. Department of State" by check or money order): $100 for a Passport Book.
Execution/Acceptance fee (paid to the Post Office/facility): $35.
Total routine cost: $135 (routine processing typically takes 4 to 6 weeks; add $60 for Expedited Service to cut processing to 2 to 3 weeks, or book an urgent appointment at a Regional Passport Agency if flying internationally within 14 days).

3. Do babies need a passport on a US closed-loop cruise?

Under US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules for closed-loop cruises (a cruise for US citizens that begins and ends at the same US port — such as Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, or Seattle — and visits ports in the Western Hemisphere like the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, or Alaska):

US citizen infants and children may legally board with an original or certified copy of their government-issued Birth Certificate instead of a passport.
Why we still strongly recommend getting a Passport Book for a baby cruise: If your baby falls ill in Nassau, Cozumel, or Grand Cayman and your family has to fly home to the US from a foreign airport, you cannot board an international flight with a birth certificate — only a valid Passport Book is accepted for international air travel! (See our Cruise Line Baby Rules and Disney Cruise with a Baby guide.)

4. Global Entry & TSA PreCheck for babies: What's free and what requires an application

TSA PreCheck (Domestic security lanes): Children 12 and under can accompany a parent or guardian who has TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass through the TSA PreCheck lane for free, with no separate application required.
Global Entry (International customs return lanes): Unlike TSA PreCheck, there is NO age exemption for Global Entry! Even a 6-week-old baby must have their own approved Global Entry membership for your family to use the Global Entry kiosks when returning from an international flight.
Great news for parents: Under US CBP's updated fee structure, the $120 Global Entry application fee is now $0 (FREE) for applicants under age 18 when a parent or legal guardian is already a Global Entry member or applies at the same time! Apply online via TTP (Trusted Traveler Programs) as soon as your baby's passport arrives, and complete their 5-minute enrollment interview on arrival (Enrollment on Arrival / EoA) at the airport without needing a separate appointment.

FAQs

Do babies need ID or a birth certificate to fly domestically in the US?

At the TSA security checkpoint, no — children under 18 do not need an ID or birth certificate for domestic US flights. However, at the airline check-in counter or gate, airlines (especially Southwest, Delta, United, and American) can ask for proof of age (such as a birth certificate copy or passport) to verify that a free lap infant is under 2 years old. Always carry a photocopy or phone photo of your baby's birth certificate.

How much does a US baby passport cost and how long is it valid?

A US Passport Book for a child under 16 costs $135 total ($100 State Department application fee + $35 acceptance facility fee; expedited service is an extra $60) and is valid for 5 years. Both parents and the baby must attend the DS-11 appointment in person.

Does my baby need their own Global Entry to use the Global Entry line with us?

Yes. Every person entering the Global Entry lane — including newborn babies — must have their own Global Entry membership. However, CBP now waives the $120 fee (making Global Entry FREE for children under 18) when a parent or legal guardian is already a Global Entry member or applies simultaneously.

Sources

Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint — Children Under 18 (checked October 2026)
US Department of State: Apply in Person for a Passport for Children Under 16 (Form DS-11) (checked October 2026)
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Global Entry for Children & Fee Exemption Under 18 (checked October 2026)

Last checked and updated: 30 October 2026 · Kiddieko · How we check facts

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