is a passport needed for 13 year old

[itsrikkig]

i am traveling on an eastern caribbean cruise with my dh we have decided to take our 13 year old niece.does she need a passport or will a certified raised seal birth certificate and picture id be ok. we already have the pemission form from her mother (she has sole custody)giving us permission to take her on the cruise. thank you for all help.

 

i have contacted the cruiseline asking the same question just waiting for a response from them.

 

rikki

[cherylandtk]

Rikki,

The need for a passport is not age dependant; if one is needed, it applies to a week old baby just as much as an adult.

 

That said, Caribbean cruises RT from the US do not need a passport; the certified BC and picture ID will be just fine in 2009.

 

I would add that a passport has other advantages, and you should still consider getting one for your niece. It is always possible (although unlikely)that the regulations could be re-written before implementation or the port countries could choose to require passports. So stay aware of changes to the regulations between now and next year. If you decide not to go with the passport, consider your insurance options and emergency plans with care as you will be limited in what can be used.

 

One more bit regarding custody: There is a difference between sole physical custody and sole legal custody. If there is a father listed on the BC you will need either a certified copy of the sole legal custody issued by a court OR the father's approval to travel. That is required for both getting a passport and getting on a ship. Particularly since the child is not your own child; they are often a bit more lenient when the child is travelling with at least one parent.

[janetz]

Under 18 needs a birth certificate with the raised seal and a picture ID such as a school ID. :)

[dforeigner]

The answer to your questions may be found inside the horse's mouth. :D

 

Click on this logo to get the answers from CBP.

[cherylandtk]

Picture ID is not a government requirement for those under 18 according to the 'Horses Mouth' link provided by foreigner...

[sapper1]

While your niece may not need a passport to cruise, should you encounter a family emergency and have to fly home, your niece will not be allowed to fly without a passport. You would be faced with not being able to get home quickly because you couldn't very well abandon a 13 year old. ----Just food for thought.

[paul929207]

While your niece may not need a passport to cruise, should you encounter a family emergency and have to fly home, your niece will not be allowed to fly without a passport. You would be faced with not being able to get home quickly because you couldn't very well abandon a 13 year old. ----Just food for thought.

 

Actually, while it will be a hassle, you can get back into the USA. You CANNOT fly out of the US without a passport. If you miss the ship, you will just head home and forget the cruise.

[dkjretired]

A couple of points, official birth certificates do not necessarily have a raised seal anymore. Many states are issuing new, more modern forms of birth certificates, some look like driver's licenses with holograms on them.

 

The things you should do is:

1. Check with the cruise line for the time you are leaving and find out what they require.

2. Get whatever they require in writing and bring that letter to the pier.

3. Check into the following things with the cruise line.

A. what passport requirements are needed.

B. Bring a medical release form signed by both parents.

C. Permission to bring the child out of the country from both parents.

4. A passport for a child is not considered permission for the child to travel out of the country. Permission is needed for each and every trip above and beyond the passport.

[itsrikkig]

thank you all for your advice. yes her mother has sole legal custody. i will talk with her mother regarding her passport.

 

 

rikki