# TSA and a minor's need for ID **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 11, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839 "2015-07-11T04:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![May\_20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@May\_20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May_20)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/1 "2015-07-11T04:21:16Z")
My daughter (17) and I will be flying at the end of next week. She does not have her driver license yet. She also does not have any sort of state ID card. She will be with me at all times while traveling, so what sort of ID do I need to make sure she has to make our gauntlet through TSA as swift as possible? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/2 "2015-07-11T04:31:07Z")
[https://www.tsa.gov/contact-us](https://www.tsa.gov/contact-us) > [@](#): > > **Q. What ID is needed for minors traveling domestically/internationally?** > A. Minor children (younger than 18) are not required to provide an ID at the airport security checkpoint. They will just need their boarding pass. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/3 "2015-07-11T08:01:24Z")
I’ve often wondered how you would go about proving to the TSA that the child was under 18 and doesn’t need an id? Why don’t you just go get a state non-driver ID card for your daughter and save everyone the headaches? It will be useful for all sorts of things in addition to flying. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/4 "2015-07-11T10:25:28Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I’ve often wondered how you would go about proving to the TSA that the child was under 18 and doesn’t need an id? Yeah, I always wondered about that. I used to fly by myself quite often when I was under 18 and I always looked pretty old for my age. When asked for ID, I always said I was under 18, and they never questioned it. But this was pre 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/5 "2015-07-11T11:18:52Z")
When I flew internationally with my son, in addition to his passport I had a notarized letter from his mom acknowledging that I wasn’t [del]a pervert[/del] that kinda pervert. There was scrutiny. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/6 "2015-07-11T11:21:47Z")
Birth certificate worked for land crossings from US/CN before 9-11, however I didn’t know if that was required. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/7 "2015-07-11T11:41:50Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I’ve often wondered how you would go about proving to the TSA that the child was under 18 and doesn’t need an id? I’d imagine that the worst that would happen is they treat them like an adult without ID. That’s inconvenient but it doesn’t mean they necessarily get kept off the plane. At even a mildly busy airport, teenagers go through each checkpoint dozens or hundreds of times every day. This shouldn’t be some super-bizarre thing they’ve never dealt with. ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/8 "2015-07-11T15:08:08Z")
It won’t be possible by next week but why not start getting her a passport? It’s kind of cool thing for a teenager to have and might inspire her to explore the world as she gets older. ---
**Author:** ![May\_20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@May\_20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May_20)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tsa-and-a-minors-need-for-id/724839/9 "2015-07-11T15:25:21Z")
Thanks, everyone. I’m much less concerned now. She’ll test for her driver license in the next few weeks, so I’m not sure about getting her a state ID, though that is an excellent idea. If she weren’t going to test, I’d certainly do that because she will need some form of state ID very soon. And she will probably have a passport by this time next year, but as you said, that’s of no help now. I think I’ll photocopy her birth certificate and tuck it in my purse in case there are any questions.