Entering the USA with Children: Passport, ESTA and Consent Letter

To enter the USA with children, every child, including a baby, needs their own electronic passport and their own ESTA approval or a visa. Germany stopped issuing the children's passport (Kinderreisepass) on January 1, 2024, and it never allowed entry with ESTA anyway. If a child travels with only one parent, with grandparents or alone, U.S. authorities also recommend a written letter of consent from the parents who are not traveling, ideally in English and notarized.

This guide goes deeper into the family questions that our overview Your first trip to the USA only touches on: documents for every family situation, ESTA and visas for minors, children and teenagers traveling alone, baby food at security, car seats and vaccinations. It is non-binding guidance as of November 2026. Whether you and your children may enter is decided solely by the officer of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on arrival.

Which documents does your child need? Overview by situation

The basics are the same for everyone: an electronic passport and an approved ESTA or a valid visa. Which additional papers make sense depends on who travels with whom.

The table reflects what authorities recommend and what works in practice. By law, U.S. entry only requires the passport and ESTA or visa. The other papers help you answer questions at the border quickly.

Why does every child need their own electronic passport?

Anyone entering without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) needs an electronic passport with a chip. There is no age limit. According to CBP's ESTA FAQ, it is not enough for a child to be listed in a parent's passport: children must have their own valid passport. A German ID card is not sufficient for the USA either.

Germany has not issued or extended the Kinderreisepass since January 1, 2024. The Federal Foreign Office states that with a Kinderreisepass a visa is always required and ESTA is not possible. If your child still has an old one, the best option for a U.S. trip is a regular passport.

What to expect at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt):

• Validity and fee: For applicants under 24, the passport is valid for six years and costs EUR 37.50. An express passport costs EUR 32 extra (according to the Berlin service portal, as of November 2026).
• Processing time: It depends on the municipality and can take several weeks. Berlin states up to eight weeks, usually a few working days for express.
• Presence and consent: The child must attend the appointment. With joint custody, both parents must consent. If one parent cannot come, the other brings a written consent and the absent parent's ID.
• Photo: The biometric photo is now taken digitally, either at the office or at a certified photo studio.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, the passport must be valid for the entire stay, including the day of departure. A few months of reserve still make sense in case your return is delayed.

Important: An ESTA is linked to the passport. If your child gets a new passport shortly before the trip, you must apply for a new ESTA, even if the old approval would still be valid.

ESTA for children and babies: how does the application work?

The ESTA FAQ is clear: accompanied and unaccompanied children need their own ESTA approval "regardless of age". This explicitly includes infants traveling on a parent's lap without their own ticket. There is no family ESTA.

Parents or other guardians apply on the child's behalf, on the official website esta.cbp.dhs.gov or in the ESTA Mobile app. Keep in mind:

• Third-party application: At the end, tick the third-party option in the waiver of rights section ("Third Parties Only") and answer all questions truthfully as the child's guardian.
• Fee: USD 40.62 per application since October 16, 2026, with no reduction for children. If an application is denied, only USD 10.62 is charged.
• Employer: For children, enter "CHILD" or "STUDENT" in the mandatory employer field, as the ESTA help text allows.
• Photo: In addition to the photo of the passport data page, CBP requires a current selfie. For third-party applications, it must show the passport holder, meaning the child, and it may not be the same image as in the passport.
• Group application: The website lets you submit several applications as a group and pay once. Each child still receives an individual approval.
• Timing: Apply as soon as your travel plans are set, and no later than 72 hours before departure.

The exclusion rules apply to children too. A child who has been to Cuba since January 12, 2021 needs a visa, as does a child who, through a parent, also holds Iranian or Syrian citizenship, for example. Our ESTA guide walks you through the form, and ESTA or visa explains whether ESTA fits at all.

When does a child need a visa, and do children have to attend an interview?

Your child needs a visa if ESTA is ruled out or the purpose does not fit. Typical cases are stays over 90 days, a school year or full-time language course, one of the exclusion grounds, or a passport that is not ESTA-eligible. For family holidays and visits to relatives, this is the B-2 visitor visa, explained in our article on the B-1/B-2 visa.

Since October 1, 2025, an interview is generally required at any age for nonimmigrant visas, including children under 14. The exception for renewals without an interview requires, among other things, that the applicant was at least 18 when the previous visa was issued, so it practically never applies to children. Plan appointments for the whole family. As of late October 2026, waiting times for visitor visas were under 15 days in Berlin and Munich and about 2.5 months in Frankfurt. Current figures are published by the State Department on travel.state.gov.

Costs are not lower for children either. The B-1/B-2 application fee is USD 185 per person, and the State Department's fee schedule (22 CFR 22.1) provides no age-based reduction. The Visa Integrity Fee of at least USD 250, adopted by law, is not yet being collected as of November 2026. How the interview works and how to prepare children is covered in Visa interview at the embassy. We are happy to help with applications and appointment planning for your family; see our services.

Consent letter: when is it advisable, and what should it contain?

Border authorities pay special attention to preventing international child abduction. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which CBP belongs to, therefore gives clear recommendations:

• If a child travels with only one parent, that parent should carry a note from the other parent.
• If other adults accompany the child, such as grandparents, an aunt or friends, they should carry a letter from both parents.
• If one parent has sole custody, a copy of the court custody document can replace the letter.

As a template, DHS suggests wording along the lines of "I acknowledge that my wife/husband is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She has my permission to do so." The official U.S. portal USAGov adds that the letter is preferably in English and notarized.

The letter is not required by law. CBP does not have to ask for it, but may do so at any time. If you cannot show it, expect questions and delays, possibly in secondary inspection as described in Entry, customs and CBP.

Germany's Federal Foreign Office recommends an informal declaration with details of the child, the guardians and how to reach them, the itinerary and the accompanying adults. Include these points:

1. Child: full name, date of birth, passport number.
2. Guardians: names, address, phone number, email and passport numbers.
3. Accompanying adult: name, relationship to the child and passport number; for group trips, the person in charge.
4. Trip: dates, flight numbers, route and addresses in the USA.
5. Consent: a clear sentence that you agree to the trip. Many parents add an authorization to arrange medical treatment in an emergency.
6. Signature: place, date and signatures of all guardians, preferably notarized, with copies of their IDs attached.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, whether certification is needed and whether a German certification is recognized depends on the law of the destination country. For the USA it is a recommendation, not an obligation. A bilingual German and English version also helps at the exit check in Germany and in transit countries. Carry the original on paper and keep a scan on your phone.

Tip: The letter takes little effort but can save long discussions at the border. Prepare one even if a parent is missing for only part of the trip, for example on the return flight.

Different surnames and blended families

If the child and the accompanying parent have different surnames, the Federal Foreign Office recommends a copy of the child's birth certificate and a copy of the guardian's ID page. A multilingual birth certificate from the German registry office is handy because it needs no translation.

In blended families, legal custody counts, not everyday life. A step-parent traveling with the child needs the consent of the parents who hold custody. Sole custody is proven by a court decision or, for unmarried parents, a certificate from the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) confirming that no joint custody declaration was made. If a parent has died, bring the death certificate. An English translation of these documents helps.

Child or teenager traveling alone: what do parents need to arrange?

If a child flies without an adult, airlines offer an unaccompanied minor service. According to USAGov, airline staff escort the child at the airport and on the plane. Parents and the person collecting the child must show ID and provide contact details, and the airline may charge a fee. The service is usually mandatory for younger children and often optional for teenagers. Each airline sets its own age limits, prices and rules on connecting flights, so check before booking.

The child's carry-on should hold the passport, ESTA confirmation or visa, the consent letter from both parents, the airline form, and the name, address and phone number of the host family or relatives. CBP officers may ask children brief questions too, so practice simple answers: the purpose of the trip, where the child is staying and who is collecting them.

Language trip, camp or school year: is ESTA enough?

With ESTA or a visitor visa, teenagers may not enroll in a course of study. The U.S. regulation 8 CFR 214.2(b)(7) expressly prohibits this for B visitors. A language course with at least 18 hours of classes per week counts as full-time study under 8 CFR 214.2(f) and requires an F-1 visa. Shorter recreational courses during the holidays are usually possible with ESTA in practice. Ask the organizer to confirm in writing which status the program requires.

For a school year or semester at a U.S. high school, teenagers generally need a J-1 visa through an approved exchange sponsor. According to the State Department, students must be at least 15 and no older than 18 years and six months when the program starts. For private schools, an F-1 visa is also an option. Our visa categories page gives an overview.

Baby food, strollers, car seats: what applies on board and in the car?

What baby food can go through security?

On domestic flights and departures from the USA, the TSA's 3-1-1 liquids rule applies, with exceptions for families. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby food, including puree pouches, are allowed in carry-on bags in quantities above 100 milliliters (3.4 oz). Tell the TSA officer at the start of screening and take these items out of your bag to be screened separately. Ice packs, gel packs and liquid-filled teethers are allowed. If you do not want milk to go through the X-ray machine, you can ask for an alternative inspection.

Children aged 12 and under may keep their shoes, light jackets and headwear on. Strollers, baby carriers and car seats go through the X-ray machine; anything too large is inspected by hand. The TSA does not require ID from children under 18 on domestic flights, although they need their passport for the international journey anyway. More on domestic flights is in Connections and domestic flights.

Car seats on the plane

On U.S. airlines, children under two may travel on an adult's lap; from their second birthday they need their own seat (14 CFR 121.311). If you have booked a seat, the airline may not prohibit an approved child restraint. Accepted are seats with the FAA label, seats approved by a foreign government and seats manufactured under UN standards, which generally includes seats approved in Europe. Booster seats and vests are not allowed during taxi, takeoff and landing, and harness devices only in an FAA-approved version. Airlines certified outside the USA set their own rules, so ask in advance.

Car seats in a rental car

All U.S. states have child passenger safety laws, but the details differ. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), age, weight and height limits vary, as do rules on rear-facing seats, boosters and rear-seat use. Fines for a first offense range from USD 10 to 500. On a road trip across several states, the safest approach is to follow the strictest rule.

You can reserve a seat with the rental company, bring your own or buy one locally. Check that a rented seat fits your child's age and weight and is complete. Whether a European-approved seat satisfies state law in a U.S. car everywhere is not uniformly settled, so ask the rental company if in doubt. Our guide to renting a car in the USA has more.

Health: insurance, vaccinations and measles

Without adequate insurance, you pay for treatment in the USA yourself, often upfront. The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance that covers medical repatriation. For family policies, check that all children are covered for the entire trip and whether age limits apply. Our guide to health insurance for the USA explains what to compare.

No vaccinations are required for direct entry from Germany. Because of current outbreaks, however, the Federal Foreign Office advises ensuring adequate protection against measles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counted 4,852 confirmed measles cases in 2026 through October 29, reported by 47 jurisdictions, including states, New York City and Washington, D.C. (as of October 30, 2026). Have your pediatrician check your children's vaccination records early. Whether an earlier dose makes sense for infants is a decision for the doctor. For medication in your luggage, see Medication when entering the USA.

Since November 3, 2026, all passengers must declare to the airline before boarding that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past 21 days (CDC order due to Ebola, currently in force until 18 December 2026). Parents can make this declaration for children traveling with them.

On the ground, the Federal Foreign Office advises never leaving children under eight unsupervised and children under 13 only very briefly, including in a hotel room or a car.

Checklist: family trip to the USA in 10 steps

1. Check passports: Every child needs their own electronic passport. Apply several weeks before the trip.
2. Decide on ESTA or visa: Check purpose, length of stay and exclusion grounds for every family member.
3. Apply for ESTA: for each child individually or as a group, with the child's selfie, no later than 72 hours before departure.
4. Book visa appointments: if needed, for all children, since the interview applies at any age.
5. Prepare the consent letter: in English, signed by all guardians, preferably notarized.
6. Bring certificates: birth certificate for different surnames, proof of custody for sole custody.
7. Contact the airline: unaccompanied minor service, seat reservations, registering a car seat for the flight.
8. Check insurance and vaccination records: travel health insurance for all children, measles protection with the pediatrician.
9. Arrange a rental car seat: reserve or bring one, observe the rules of each state.
10. Pack your carry-on: documents, baby food and medication within reach, address of your first accommodation noted.

Next steps

Our free Visa Check shows in a few minutes whether ESTA is enough for your family or a visa is needed. If grandparents are planning a longer visit to children and grandchildren in the USA, read our article on extending your stay in the USA. For special cases such as custody questions, dual citizenship or a school year in the USA, our individual consultation can help. The final decision on visas and entry always rests with the U.S. authorities.