Question about ID for a 16 year old

[2boyzmommy]

DCL states that 16 year olds need a government issued ID and a birth certificate to board. My daughter just turned 16 and doesn’t have a passport or drivers license. Has anyone had this situation? Was the 16 year old able to board with just a birth certificate? Thanks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

DCL states that 16 year olds need a government issued ID and a birth certificate to board. My daughter just turned 16 and doesn’t have a passport or drivers license. Has anyone had this situation? Was the 16 year old able to board with just a birth certificate? Thanks.

How about a state ID? That's acceptable.

EDIT: I found this fairly recent information on https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...rned-able-school-id-birth-certificate-598744/

• On Jan 6, 2025
  Quani from TX AskedPlease note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.“
  

  My son just recently turned 16, would we be able to use his school ID and birth certificate to board our cruise?​

  Ahoy there, Quani! Thank you for visiting planDisney with your question. You are just a few days away from sailing on Disney Cruise Line!
  
  Guests who are at least 16 years of age and are using their original state-issued birth certificate must also present a physical government-issued photo ID. A student ID is not considered a valid government-issued ID. A digital/mobile state-issued ID is not acceptable to sail either.
  
  Quani, I know this is probably not the news you wanted to hear, but I hope this helps you make plans for your son to obtain the government-issued identification he needs over the next few days. If you have any other questions, please sail back to planDisney.
  
  Happy Sailing!
  JoVonn

 

[DWillowBay]

Yep. They'll accept a State ID as PrincessShmoo says. I don't know what other states do, but we go to the DMV but just apply for the ID. She'll need it elsewhere in her life now that she's 16. Ah, the perils of getting older!

 

[ChanMom]

Get the passport. She will need a "real i.d." to fly domestically once she turns 18.

 

[Mommb]

Getting a state ID would be a very good idea. If your daughter gets a Real ID compliant ID card, she can use it to board airplanes if she doesn't have driver's license by the time she turns 18.

Getting a passport is also a good idea, but that does take considerably more time and money.

 

[2boyzmommy]

Thanks everyone!

 

[lanejudy]

We just got a state ID for DD a couple of years ago. Make an appointment at the DMV and it’s fairly easy. Just be sure to bring the right documents to make it a REAL ID. It does take a couple of weeks to receive it in the mail so hopefully you have a little time before your cruise. A passport uses pretty much the same documents but will probably take much longer.

 

[Kit Jackson]

All states will issue a non-driver ID. I would recommend getting that, and check on the DMV website to see what documents/information you need to bring make sure it is a "Real ID" so she can use it as a form of ID to board a plane.

 

[Moonspinner]

I would also do the passport
We resisted doing this for our first kid but did it for the next ones and we found it makes life so much easier. Also I’m pretty sure if you get the passport when your child is 16 it has the adult expiration date.

Just an aside, but I think some university IDs will count as state IDs. I was surprised to find this out. Not that it applies in your situation.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Late driver here: I wish I had just gotten a state ID before I left for college. Bringing a passport to 18+/21+ places was obnoxious.

I had a passport first because of international travel in high school, but they aren't convenient to carry.

 

[mjkacmom]

Late driver here: I wish I had just gotten a state ID before I left for college. Bringing a passport to 18+/21+ places was obnoxious.

I had a passport first because of international travel in high school, but they aren't convenient to carry.

All of us have passport cards as well, not getting real ID yet (impossible in my state right now). They cost $30.

 

[princesscinderella]

We were all issued ID cards when we got global entry, wonder if they would count since it’s government issued.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

All of us have passport cards as well, not getting real ID yet (impossible in my state right now). They cost $30.

Yeah, playing the appointment game for my in laws in NJ. They let their passports expire and didn't go to the DMV for their last renewal to get Real ID. For NJ, they release the 60 day appointments each morning, so you can snag one for a couple months out as long as you're online at 6am.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

We were all issued ID cards when we got global entry, wonder if they would count since it’s government issued.

Yes, GE cards are government issued ID (they're real ID approved as well) but you have to already have a passport to get one.

 

[snowwite]

If you have AAA check and see if your local office can do it. My husband just got his real ID at triple A which is a lot better than the RMV

 

[Travel60]

Get the passport if you have time. Safer to travel with it in case of illness or injury. Need passport to fly home.

 

[WinterSolider]

DCL states that 16 year olds need a government issued ID and a birth certificate to board. My daughter just turned 16 and doesn’t have a passport or drivers license. Has anyone had this situation? Was the 16 year old able to board with just a birth certificate? Thanks.

I would not sail without a passport whether the person was 16 or 6 or 66.

Too much can go wrong without a passport as insurance policy.

 

[tvguy]

Get the passport if you have time. Safer to travel with it in case of illness or injury. Need passport to fly home.

As far as I am concerned, every one should have a Passport. Especially High School and College Students. There may be International travel opportunities during school that require a Passport. My son went to France as part of his High School French class. High School bands and choirs have been known to take International trips. I went to Europe (England, West and East Germany, Poland and Austria) for a month as part of a College Winter Term class.
We had a bad experience with Canadian Immigration when our son was 3 traveling with just a Certified Copy of his Birth Certificate. The actual birth certificate with a raised seal. Immigration Officer detained us, and even though I also had a letter from the Canadian Consulate saying the certified copy of a Birth Certificate is all that was needed, since there was no photo, they had no way of verifying the child listed on the Birth Certificate is the child with us. So from that point on, we never traveled with our kids without a Passport.
I will also note it expedited our kids getting Driver's Licenses. As the DMV clerk explained, if you come in with a Birth Certificate, three people of various levels of rank at the DMV have to look at it, and certify it is authentic. With the Passports, the clerk and the window only needs that to proceed.