passport rules?

[essom71]

This might be a stupid question but... at the last minute my son's friend ( he is 13) decided he wanted to join us on our trip in August to Disney. He doesnt have a passport. We are going to go and apply for one in a couple of weeks but I was wondering would he be able to fly without one from detroit to orlando?

 

[OntFamily]

He is in luck.

There is no need to have a passport for flying domestically within the USA (if you are over 18, you do need a government accepted photo ID).

However, for crossing the USA border via land, he will require his birth certificate (and you should have a notarized letter from his parents authorizing you to take him across the USA border).

 

[SplashMountainMama]

I'm assuming you would be crossing the Canada-US border at Windsor or Sarnia by car. If so, then you don't need a passport since the Detroit-Orlando flight is a domestic flight. You would only need to have his proof of citizenship when crossing the bridge. For a 13 yr old only a birth certificate is necessary. I would recommend having a letter from his parents that gives you their permission to take him over the border in case they ask.

 

[Gigi22]

Also you need written authorization from his parents to enable you to seek medical treatment for their son. And medical insurance for him.

 

[rjan67]

I would also suggest that his parents are reachable by phone at the time of crossing. Just in case they call.

 

[rjan67]

I would also suggest that his parents are reachable by phone at the time of crossing. Just in case they call.

 

[essom71]

Thanks all so much. We live near the border so we cross with "extra" kids regularly, and I can tell you I have been asked for both a letter, and they have called the parents once.

I still would prefer the passport but was hesitant to buy the plane ticket in case it didn't come through in time.

Wish me luck... thats my husband and I plus 4 teens now ( my 2 plus 2 extra)!

 

[ottawamom]

While he doesn't need a passport to take the flight it is still a good idea to have one. The child's passport is only $37. My recent experience was that it arrived in less than a week.

 

[buxomlisa]

Hi, does anyone know what the rules are for a 17 year old? can they travel without parents permission. I'm 30 and I'm taking my 17 year old cousin to disney as a graduation present and she does have verbal permission from her parents and a passport, so I should be ok with just her passport right? I dont know the age when teens can travel on their own, it says on aircanada you are adult and can buy airfare when you are 16, but i know you have to be 18 to rent a hotel room!


we are leaving from halifax to orlando

 

[essom71]

If possible I would try to have a letter from the parents with me. It all depends which border guard you get. In general I think they probably wouldn't bother you but as I said before we live on a border city and frequently take "extra" kids across the border and have been asked for both a letter and had calls made to parents.

 

[bdoyledimou]

Hi, does anyone know what the rules are for a 17 year old? can they travel without parents permission. I'm 30 and I'm taking my 17 year old cousin to disney as a graduation present and she does have verbal permission from her parents and a passport, so I should be ok with just her passport right? I dont know the age when teens can travel on their own, it says on aircanada you are adult and can buy airfare when you are 16, but i know you have to be 18 to rent a hotel room!


we are leaving from halifax to orlando

This situation would throw up red flags at the border.. Get a letter! its simple and

(personal experience, i had a friends daughter from the US who was 18 spend the summer with my family 4 years ago, and ended up sitting in a Immigration office for 4 hours while they tried to track down her family, and she was an ADULT!)

 

[buxomlisa]

does the letter from her parents have to be notorized? She is 17, I don't know why that would send red flags, you can move out of your parents house and buy your own plane tickets at 16. It must just be because I'm taking her out of the country.

 

[bdoyledimou]

does the letter from her parents have to be notorized? She is 17, I don't know why that would send red flags, you can move out of your parents house and buy your own plane tickets at 16. It must just be because I'm taking her out of the country.

It would be the taking her out of the country part.

Getting the letter notarized is recommended, but probably not necessary at her age. Even then , to get the letter notarized is a quick trip to city hall and a chat with a clerk.


always safer than sorry.

(Thinking about it now, it may have been that I am a MALE and she was female that they held us up.. they didn't really ask any questions , just sat us down and started making phone calls..)