Do children need their own visa to travel internationally?
Children need their own passport and usually their own visa for international travel. Learn about fee exemptions, consent letters for solo-parent travel, and what to prepare.
Updated
Quick answer: Yes, in most countries children need their own passport and visa to travel internationally. Being listed on a parent's passport is no longer accepted in the vast majority of countries. Each child must have their own travel documents.
Do children need their own passport?
Yes. Most countries - including all EU member states and the US - require every traveler, including newborns, to hold their own passport. Some countries still allow a child to be listed on a parent's passport for domestic travel, but for international travel, separate passports are almost universally required.
Do children need a visa?
Visa requirements for children are the same as for adults - they depend on the child's nationality and the destination country, not the child's age. If adults from your country need a visa for the destination, so does your child. Some countries waive fees for younger children but not the visa requirement itself.
Visa fee exemptions for children
| Country/Region | Child fee rule |
|---|---|
| Schengen Area | Free under 6; 45 euros for 6-12; full fee 12+ |
| Egypt (VOA) | Free for children under a certain age (varies by nationality) |
| Jordan | Free for children under 12 with Jordan Pass |
Traveling with one parent or a guardian
If a child is traveling with only one parent, or with someone who is not their legal parent or guardian, many countries require a notarized consent letter from the absent parent. Some countries, particularly in Latin America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia, enforce this strictly and can refuse boarding without it.
The consent letter should include the child's full name and passport number, the traveling parent's details, the non-traveling parent's signature and contact information, travel dates and destination, and ideally a notary's stamp. Check the specific requirements of your destination country before you travel.
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Children and International Travel Visas - FAQ
Yes, whenever an adult with the same passport would need one. Visa rules depend on the child's nationality and the destination, not on age, so babies and toddlers are not exempt. For US visas, the State Department says each person who needs a visa submits a separate application, including family members listed in a parent's passport.
Yes, if the child is a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country and travels for tourism or business for up to 90 days. US Customs and Border Protection says every child, whatever their age, needs their own approved ESTA and their own passport. Children listed on a parent's passport do not qualify, so they would need a visa instead.
Yes. Visiting children from Visa Waiver Program countries need their own unexpired passport to get an ESTA, and children listed on a parent's passport do not qualify. A child who is a US citizen must travel on a US passport and cannot get a US visa, even if they also hold another nationality.
It depends on the destination. A Schengen visa is free for children under 6, costs 45 euros for ages 6 to 11 and 90 euros from age 12. For a US visitor visa, each child applies separately and pays the same 185 US dollar application fee as an adult. Visa centres can add their own service fee on top.
Often, yes. Many countries expect a signed, ideally notarized, letter from the absent parent, and some refuse boarding without it. For children entering the US, USAGov advises a consent letter from the other parent, preferably in English and notarized. Include the child's name and passport number, both parents' details, the travel dates and the destination.