Do You Need a Passport to Fly Online?
Traveling without proper identification can be a hugely detrimental mistake, Do You Need a Passport to Fly? preventing you from traveling at all or leading to major problems at points of entry abroad. Understanding whether or not a passport is needed for flying can help ensure that all essential identification requirements for your journey have been fulfilled.
Travel within the US does not require a passport; however, to avoid additional TSA screening and more comprehensive identity verification processes, make sure any state-issued ID you use meets REAL-ID compliance before May 2023; this will be marked with an “i” symbol in either corner of your driver’s license or ID card.
As for now, when flying domestically, it is essential that you carry either your passport or another form of identification with you. Be ready to give fingerprints or photos at check-in; this requirement applies specifically to passengers from countries that have visa waiver agreements with either Canada or the U.S., as well as members of Trusted Traveler programs such as Global Entry or NEXUS.
If you reside in a country without an agreement between the US and Canada that allows visa waiver travel, obtaining a passport will be necessary for international flights.
