Travel Requirements For Children Traveling With Parents. Do my children need to get passports?
Question I will be traveling to Canada with my children. I know the travel requirements for children are a little different. My daughters are 16 and 17 years old. My son is 12 years old. None of my children have passport. Will we be able to travel to and from Canada with just my passport? Do my children need to get passports?
Answer Any United States citizen that is over the age of 16 will have to provide a valid United States passport or Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) when entering Canada from the United States. WHTI include Enhanced Driver’s License, Trusted Traveler Programs (NEXUS, FAST, SENTRI), United States Military identification with traveling orders, etc.
NOTE: All U.S. citizens traveling by air from Canada into the United States will have to provide a valid U.S. passport.
U.S. citizens under the age of 16 must provide a certified birth certificate to prove he/she is a U.S. citizen. In addition, a government photo identification when entering Canada.
Now, you must obtain passports for your 16 and 17 year old daughters in order to travel to Canada. Your 12 year old son can travel across the border to and from Canada with proof of U.S. citizenship and a government photo identification.
You will have to take your daughters who are over 16 to a passport application acceptance facility and complete necessary forms and provide appropriate documents to obtain their passports. One parent will have to be present with your 16 year old daughter. Regular processing usually takes about 4-6 weeks to obtain a passport. But, you can use and expedited passport service which will process your daughters’ passport within 2-3 weeks.
Lastly, when traveling to Canada, be sure to have a notarized consent document granting you permission from the non-traveling parent to travel with your 12 year old son to Canada.
The following link will provide you with more information on obtaining a passport for your daughters.
