We are planning a cruise to Mexico next March.?

Question

I already know about the new law dealing with passport requirements My question is, does my 8 r. old child have to have a passport? What is the age limit? Will his birth certificate be enough as long as he is under age 16?

Answer 1

I have been on many cruises, and I do have a passport. I am not quite sure what the exact laws are regarding children, however I do know that the laws involving passports are consistantly changing and they are really really behind in getting passports turned around. So my advice would be to get a passport just in case of the law changing again and I would get it soon b/c I am not sure just how backed up they are.

Answer 2

we live in Florida and use Carnival as our yearly family vacation (our next being Sept 07), and do not (yet) have passports, so we are following the news and laws, they are always changing, especially the requirements for children, and even rumor of pass cards for cruise travel to the Caribbean and Mexico, but info is so have to find.

we will in the end have ot break down and get passport for all 4 of us, children too.

Answer 3

Tough question.  The state department is being ambiguous about the requirements and timetables.  I have seen a couple of news stories at CNN and MSNBC several months ago that quoted Michael Chertoff as stating that they were not going to require passports for anyone under 16, but I cannot find any documentation about that now.  Best I can advise is that you get them.  Yours are good for 10 years, and the children's for five years.  

There is talk about a PassCard that will be coniderably cheaper, but no news on this since last Dec.  

We are going on a cruise in Sept, and we do not need them, but this will probably be the last time.

Next year, I will probably just take a short, inexpensive cruise so that I can purchase the documents needed, and then probably start looking at Alaska after that.

Answer 4

i took a cruise to mexico and i did not need a passport.  i didn't think anyone did.  are you sure you need one at all? p.s. i went only 3 years ago

Answer 5

If you go to the website below you will see that ALL travellers, even babies, must have a passport.  The law requiring passports for sea travel is set to go into effect in January.  Even now, most cruise lines require passports.  At the website below you can read all info needed to apply for passports and print out the forms.  it would be wise to submit your applications pronto.  it is currently taking about 4 months to get passports.  As next Jan. draws near, there will be another grand rush  for passports.  Hope all goes well for you and have a great trip!!  Oh, the 2nd website is a copy of the WHTI ( the new passport law).

Answer 6

laws are changing.  your child need a passport.