Having a valid passport is certainly necessary for traveling abroad, and flying domestically usually does not need it. But now in some countries, such as the US where the REAL ID Act will take effect on 2025, a passport is required for domestic flights as a way to prove your identity. To learn more about the details, let’s read on!
Do you need a passport for domestic flights?
The answer is not always. Currently, a passport has not become a must for domestic flights yet. But it does not mean everyone can fly domestically without his or her passport at all. In general, it depends on whether you have an identification of the country you are going to travel.
Flying domestically when you have the identification
If you bear citizenship of the destination country, normally you do not need to carry a valid passport when boarding a domestic-flight plane. In countries like the UK, you are just required to take your photographic identity document such as your driving licence or citizen card. Passport is of course OK.
If you are not a citizen of the destination country but you live there and have any form of the country’s identification, you can board a domestic flight without a passport as well, such as in Canada. The photographic identity documents issued by the country’s government are sufficent in such cases, for example, a permanent resident card or a driver’s license.
Notice that the acceptable identity documents vary in different countries and even in different airlines like the British airlines. Thus it is recommended you to check the relevant latest regulations on the official website of the airline of your destination country before your journey. If you consider it complicated and troublesome, carrying your passport around with you is a sure way to make a smooth start of your domestic flight.
Flying domestically when you do not have the identification
If you do not have any form of the destination country’s identification, you are probably a foreign tourist. In the circumstance, you must check the airline official website of the country to see what identification it requires for domestic flights, because the requirements may be different for people from certain countries. For instance, when you are a US citizen or a permanent resident of the US, you can use your NEXUS card, Green Card, or Enhanced Driver’s License (for leisure or business purposes) to take a domestic flight in Canada, in addition to your passport, which means passports are not a necessary option.
However, if you are not eligible for the above circumstance, a valid passport is required when flying within the destination country. The driving license, health card, and other documents issued by your country are not acceptable as a valid idenfitication for a domestic flight in the destination country. You are likely to be denied entry to the airplane if you do not have the passport with you.
A new change in the US
On the other hand, it should be noted that the US will implement the REAL ID Act in 2025. When the act goes into effect on May 7, 2025, any person will need to present a REAL ID to fly within the US, even if you are a US citizen. The REAL ID includes Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), Enhanced Identification Card (EIC), Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), US Passport Book/ Card, US Military ID, Permanent Resident Card and so on. To see the full list, please visit the official website of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Identification | Transportation Security Administration (tsa.gov). In other words, a valid passport will be required in the US to initiate a domestic air travel in 2025. Also you can choose to upgrate your driver’s license or ID to the EDL or EIC but that’s not the point of this article.
In addition, passport card and passport book are not the same in functions. A passport card is generally not valid for an international air travel while a passport book can be used in both international and domestic flights. However, the passport card is recognized when you enter the US at land-border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Therefore, if you are going to fly nationally in America, a passport book is what you require and there is no need to apply for a passport card.
Summary
In a word, we recommend you to take your valid passport to have a domestic flight as it can minimalize the possibility of failure to have an air travel domestically because of bringing a wrong type of identity documents. Notice that for international travelers, a passport is absolutely required for a domestic flight unless you are certain there are special regulations.
FAQs
- Do children need a passport for domestic flights?
Generally speaking, children under the age of 16 do not need a passport to fly domestically, but they need to be accompanied by at least one adult who should carry a passport or other acceptable forms of identification and vouch for the child’s identity. In some countries like the US and Canada, the age limitation is up to 18. In fact, the document requirements for minors are much less than for adults typically. But it is still worth bringing your child’s valid passport along with the travel in case suddenly you need to prove his or her identity for any reason.
- How do I get a valid passport?
Applying for a passport is not complex in most countries. If it is your first time to apply for your passport, you should gather all the required documents, such as several passport photos, your identification as well as a completed application form, and then submit them to the passport facility in person. You can also apply an urgent procedure to obtain a new passport, which may create extra fees. If you need to renew your current passport, things are even simpler because the renewal can be accomplished by mail, as long as you have prepared well all the needed documents.
Noted that the requirements for passport applications may vary from country to country. To get your passport sucessfully, please check with your local passport authorities.
Erin Lo