Travel Documents for Under 16???

[RUDisney]

My parents are considering a vacation with us next month with my youngest sister.

We are going to Punta Cana and processed passports for our kids today because they don't have US birth certificates. So, no problem for us.

Well, my Dsis' passport expires on June 28th. She is 15 and Mom doesn't want to renew it until she's 16 (in December) so she'll have a 10 year passport. She has a valid, US birth certificate and Mom keeps insisting that she also needs a valid photo id.

I went to the PA DOT website and they will issue photo id's for people over 16. I told my Mom that I don't think my sister needs a photo id, she insisted that she does.

So, my question is... will my 15 yo sister need a photo id to travel to the Dominican Republic or not?

 

[LisaB]

I don't believe that she will need it plus I would think that her expired passport would be okay for the picture part of the id

 

[Tink522]

She will need a photo id if she does not have a vaild passport and will be using her birth certificate.

Here's the requirements:



"Entry and Exit Requirements

For Canadian and U.S. citizens, a valid passport, or a birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship, along with photo identification, are required for both entry and exit. All tourists must purchase a visa/tourist card at a cost of $10.00 U.S. to enter the Dominican Republic. Canadian travellers are provided with this visa/tourist card before leaving Canada. Visitors who do not obtain a visa/tourist card prior to entry must purchase one at the airport when they arrive in the Dominican Republic.

See Sample of Tourist Card/Visa

There is a departure tax of $20.00 U.S. per person. Canadian or other foreign currencies are not accepted for the departure tax.


When children travel to the Dominican Republic with only one parent, or with non-parents, they do not require any special letter of authorization, as long as they leave the DR with the same people they arrived with. (Note that it had previously been indicated that minors traveling with only one parent or non-parents had to have a letter of authorization legalized by the Dominican Consulate. This in fact pertains only to Dominican minors under 18, not to foreign travelers.) I would suggest it is probably a good idea to get something in writing signed by the parent(s) just in case there are any questions.

Children should have their own passport when traveling alone or with non-parents. Birth certificates are only acceptable when traveling with one or both parents and a child is under 13. Children over 13 need a student card along with the birth certificate as photo ID, or a passport.

Note: If a minor child is not leaving the Dominican Republic with the same people they arrived with, the parents or legal guardians must provide to the new companion, a letter of consent, legalized at the nearest Dominican Republic Consulate to the parents' residence.

If any further clarification is needed, please contact your nearest Dominican Consulate. You should also verify to see if there are any other requirements of the airline in order to board from your country of origin"