Can a newborn baby travel to another country with only a birth certificate instead of a passport and visa?

by Gayathri
(Fords, NJ, USA)

Question: I have a 1 month old baby. I need to travel to India and will be back within 3 months. Can I take my baby without a passport? Instead of a passport, can I take her birth certificate for identification?

Answer: All U.S. citizens who travel to India must possess a current, valid passport (including infants) with a valid India visa stamped in it. You CANNOT take your baby to India using the birth certificate as identification.

You can access the instructions for obtaining a U.S. passport for a child by clicking the link below.

How to Get a Passport for a Child

For information on getting a visa, click the link below.

How to Get a Visa to India

Comments for
Can a newborn baby travel to another country with only a birth certificate instead of a passport and visa?

Click here to add your own comments

Constitution of India does NOT allow dual citizenship
by: gayathri

Despite all the news coverage and excitement over this issue, please understand clearly that the Constitution of India does NOT allow dual citizenship, i.e., holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously.

Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) which most people mistakenly refer as 'dual citizenship'. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws.

If you get OCI, it is NOT same as being regular Indian citizen:

You do not get Indian passport.

No voting rights.

Can not be candidate for Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council

Can not hold constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc.

Cannot normally hold employment in the Government.

As OCI, you get following benefits:
Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;

Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and

Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Passports for Minors FAQ

Latest Passport & Travel Updates

Passport Requirements
List and description of documents required for citizens of the United States to obtain passports.

Passport Book vs. Passport Card
Learn the similarities and differences between the traditional passport book and the newer passport card.

Rush Passport Expediting
Requirements, fees and processing times for getting rush passport expediting.

Multiple Entry Visa Information
What is a multiple entry visa and how do you apply for one. Get the general requirements for obtainings visas with multiple entries.

A Day in the Life of a Tourist in San Juan
You wake up at your resort and look at the stunning view of Condado Beach. Even though it's early, children are already playing in the sand. The waves ...

Playa del Carmen, Mexico - The Perfect Tropical Paradise for Your Vacation
Discover why Playa del Carmen is such a popular vacation spot for any season of the year. Find out what to do and see as well as where to stay in this lush tropical paradise of MexicoÂ´s Mayan Riviera.

Ein Bokek at the Dead Sea Israel
Ein Bokek - A fabulous oasis in the desert and a magnet for health seekers and tourists alike. Ein Bokek is located on the southwestern shore of the ...