Any U.S. citizen or national traveling outside the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda must carry a passport, regardless of age. Minors must apply for a passport in person with both their parents. The passport is good for five years.
You once could fly to some countries with a birth certificate and/or driver's license, but laws have changed. Your child will need a passport to fly to any foreign destination, even to Canada or Mexico.
Americans can choose to use a passport card when going to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda by land or sea. The passport card costs less than a traditional passport. On the other hand, you'll still need passports if an emergency forces you to fly home suddenly.
Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington offer a relatively inexpensive "enhanced" driver license (EDL) for travel to Canada. Motor vehicle departments can also issue enhanced IDs for minors.
Minors only may travel with an original birth certificate to and from Canada. Other qualifying documents are a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
