Home / Blog / Can you book an international flight without a passport

Can You Book An International Flight Without A Passport?


It is impossible to book an international flight without a passport; however, there may be rare cases under which one can do so.

This is one of the most thrilling stages that people engage in while organizing their trip to another country. However, for individuals traveling internationally, the documentation needed can be somewhat complicated. One key question many travelers have is: Must I possess a passport to book an international flight?

The short answer is yes, but there are a few important things to note before you go ahead and book your flight. However, to book the ticket, you are only required to put your passport information but you must present your actual passport to be allowed to travel on the flight. Various airline companies and immigration offices compel passengers and individuals planning to travel to other countries to have passport as a security and identification features.

Thus, while you may usually proceed through the site and select the majority of the flight options without submitting your passport information, you will be required to enter your passport details when booking a flight with the airline. Here is a more detailed explanation of what to expect when booking an international flight without a passport:Here is a more detailed explanation of what to expect when booking an international flight without a passport:

Booking Process

When you are searching for and choosing flights on airline’s websites and OLTAs, they can request only some important personal information at the stage of the first purchase. It might contain your and your family member’s full name, date of birth, contact details, and payment information.

As a rule, you will not be requested to provide the official identification documents or passport numbers while choosing the flight options and making the payments. Thus, at this minimum level of selection and booking of services, you can purchase international airplane tickets without having a passport or even having its number at the time of the purchase.

Required Passport Information

Nevertheless, while its confirmation takes only several minutes, the airlines that you have booked through this platform will ask for the details of your passport shortly after that to finalize check-in and to provide you with the boarding passes. After you book, they will prompt you to provide:After you book, they will prompt you to provide:

  • Passport number

  • Issuing country

  • Expiration date

    You will be required to supply these passport details to the airline and this is usually done within 24-72 hours of making the booking. The needed time differs depending on the flight.

    These details therefore have to be given after you obtain and have your valid passport through application. If you are planning to have a booking for several months from now, then you would possibly have ample of time to apply for the passport and then input the necessary details. However if booking close to the traveling dates, know that you will need to have the actual passport in order to provide details.

    Name Matching

    Another basic condition of travel that is associated with the passports is that the name that a person used when booking for a ticket must be an accurate reflection of the name on the passport. Any variations in the spelling or the fact that you may have changed your name can make you fail to check-in or board.

    This may be due to mistakes made by the service providers or personal circumstances that force someone to change name as it appears in his or her booking, so it is advisable to contact the airline so that it is informed of the change and ensure that there is no problem in the future when the traveler is asked to present identification.

    Digital Passports

    During the stages of online check-in, some of the airlines might allow the passengers to use their digital passports stored in the digital wallet apps instead of the physical passports. However, you will be required to have your physical passport handy during the security and boarding procedures at the airport.

    Entry and Exit Requirements

    In addition to giving the valid details of your passport to the respective airlines, you also need to be in compliance with the visa and entrance requirements of each country on your route. This may require the applicant to apply for tourist or visitor visas before they proceed on the journey.

    And some arriving tourists may need to provide details like:And some arriving tourists may need to provide details like:

  • Whether it be for continuing their journey or for going back to their homes.

  • Hotel reservation This is a receipt that can be used to prove that the accused made the necessary arrangements to reserve a hotel.

  • Money to cater for their needs and those of the children for the entire period of their stay

    Make sure to see whether there are any specific conditions that may be required at the destination besides having a passport.

    In Summary

    Although, often passport numbers are not required at the time of reservation of the international flight ticket, they may be required at the time of check-in or before the journey a valid passport number must be provided. It is important under international travel that passengers provide the right documents and this has to be confirmed by the airlines.

    As you are to produce details of your passport during check-in and boarding pass completion, you have to apply for and secure an approved passport. The passport name needs to match the booking to the last letter and must be an actual passport you can present. Additionally, it is advised to find out if there are any visa or any other constraints depending on the route plan. If you meet your documentation and entry requirements ahead of time, you can simply wait for the trips abroad with great pleasure!