Required Documents

View changes to passport requirements.

General Requirements

Proper travel identification and documents are required for all domestic and international travel. Also, you will need to show your photo identification at the ticket counter, security checkpoints and possibly when you board the plane.

Requirements for Domestic Travel (U.S. only):

Unexpired state-issued photo driver's license OR
Unexpired state-issued photo identification card OR
Unexpired passport OR
Employee ID issued by a Federal, State or local government agency

Find additional requirements for travel in the United States.
Find more information on baggage requirements.

Effective February 1, 2007 to May 15, 2007: A common visa policy has been established between Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago, which creates a Single Domestic Space. Most nationalities now require a CARICOM Special Visa to enter those areas, which over-rides any visa exemptions. Once within these specified areas, anyone with a "CARICOM Special Visa" can move freely throughout the regions.

Nationals of the Caricom, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Africa, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States are exempt from the visa requirement. For the most up-to-date information, citizens from all other countries should consult an embassy prior to making travel arrangements.

Passports

A passport is always the preferred method of identification for international travel. For many countries, it is the only acceptable document. For any destination, a passport may help to expedite border clearance. Passport requirements changed January 23, 2007.

Effective October 2003, customers from Visa Waiver countries are required to have a machine-readable passport. If your passport is not machine-readable, you must either get a new passport before travel or obtain a visa from a United States consulate or embassy.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct documents needed for travel to any international destination, including Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. If you do not have the required documentation and identification for your destination, you will not be allowed to board the plane.

Requirements for International Travel to the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe

A valid passport or passport and visa may be required depending on your nationality, travel destination, and the country or countries in which your connections take place. Specific documentation requirements for each country may be found on the Star Alliance website.

Requirements for International Travel to Mexico and Canada

U.S. citizens traveling to/from Mexico and Canada are required to show one of the following documents to check in for their flight:

a valid U.S. passport*
an original county- or state-issued U.S. birth certificate (hospital issued birth certificates are not accepted)
a certified copy of a county- or state-issued birth certificate and a government issued photo I.D.

*Beginning January 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens (including infants and children) now require a valid passport to travel to and from Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). If any portion of your trip will take place on or after January 22, 2007, you will need a valid passport to re-enter the U.S. This policy also applies to foreign nationals of Canada, Bermuda and Mexico.

Non-U.S. Citizens: Please check entry requirements with the consular officials of the countries to be visited well in advance. It is your responsibility to obtain visas, where required, from the appropriate embassy or nearest consulate of the country or countries being visited, including any connecting countries.

Requirements for Minors

Customers under the age of 18 are not required to present ID for domestic U.S. travel. Identification from the responsible adult will be accepted on behalf of the minor(s); however, it is recommended that minors traveling alone have a form of identification. Children, regardless of age, must possess all necessary travel documents as required by the countries visited on an international itinerary.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry and exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry and departure.

Useful Links

Star Alliance - Interactive list of travel documentation requirements
Passport Services - U.S. Department of State Passport Services
US-VISIT Program - U.S. Entry/Exit requirements for non-U.S. citizens
Visa Waiver Program - Passport controls for citizens of VWP countries visiting the U.S.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative - For travel between the U.S. and the Caribbean, Latin America, and Canada
Foreign Entry Requirements for U.S. Citizens Traveling on Tourism/Business - Passport, visa, and health requirements for entry into foreign countries
Visas for Citizens of Foreign Countries - For non-U.S. citizens visiting the United States
Foreign Consular Offices in the United States - U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens can contact foreign consular offices for more information on required documentation for entry into a specific country
U.S. Department of State Passport Services - U.S. passport applications, visa and traveler health/immunization information, travel tips
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Travel document and re-entry permit information for non-U.S. citizens
U.S. Customs & Border Protection - U.S. travel alerts, entry and exit policies, prohibited and restricted goods
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Specific health information, required vaccinations for travel
Iris Recognition Program - Facilitates entry through immigration in the UK

Emergency Contact Information

The Department of Transportation requires that U.S. airlines obtain emergency contact information from U.S. citizens traveling internationally. Emergency contacts do not have to be relatives and all information is kept confidential. All US Airways international customers flying between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean and Europe must provide this information.

I-94 Form

This form will be distributed at check-in or in-flight returning to the U.S., and must be completed by all persons except:

U.S. citizens
Returning resident aliens
Aliens with immigrant visas
Canadian citizens visiting or in transit

For more information on filling out the I-94/I-94W, visit the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website. Or, if you're traveling on or after January 12, 2009, print a copy before you fly.