Age Proof for a Child's Domestic Flight in India: Aadhaar, Birth Certificate, and When You Actually Need a Passport
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer writes offbeat destination guides for Indian travellers — places that work in monsoon, shoulder-season picks, and the cities Indian first-time international travellers underrate. Based in Bangalore, perpetually mid-itinerary.) · Published · 9 min read
Indian domestic flights have looser ID rules than international ones, but the child-specific requirements are patchier than you'd expect. Aadhaar works for most cases, but there are airline-specific quirks and one situation where nothing but a passport will do.
TL;DR — What Documents Does Your Child Need?
For domestic flights within India, children generally don't need a photo ID to board — the parent's ID plus a document proving the child's age is enough for age-based fare purposes. An Aadhaar card with the child's date of birth, or a birth certificate, is accepted by IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air. A passport also works but is not mandatory on domestic routes. The one exception is unaccompanied minors, where airlines have their own additional documentation requirements. Scroll down for the airline-by-airline breakdown.
Why Age Proof Matters at the Domestic Check-In Counter
When you book a child's ticket at a lower infant (under-2) or child (2–12) fare, the airline is essentially trusting your declaration. At the airport, the check-in agent may ask to verify the child's age — not their identity as such, but their age. This matters because:
- Infants under 2 travel free or at a heavily reduced fare (but must sit on a parent's lap and may use a bassinet — see the bassinet booking guide for that).
- Children 2 and above require their own seat and ticket at child or adult fare.
- Misrepresentation of age — booking an infant fare for a 2.5-year-old, even innocently — can result in having to pay the fare difference at check-in.
It's not about security screening — for that, only adults need government-issued IDs on domestic routes. It's about fare category verification. And in practice, most agents don't ask for it if the child is clearly an infant. But if you're travelling with a toddler who looks like they could be two, have the doc ready.
What's Accepted on IndiGo Domestic Flights
IndiGo is India's busiest airline and their domestic policy is relatively clear on their website, though it's worth verifying before you fly as policies do get updated.
- Infants (under 2 years): Birth certificate, Aadhaar with date of birth, or passport. Any one of these is accepted.
- Children (2–12 years): Birth certificate or Aadhaar with date of birth. A passport is acceptable but not required.
- Unaccompanied minors: IndiGo's 'UM' service applies to children travelling alone on domestic routes; additional forms and a guardian drop-off/pickup arrangement is required. This is a separate process — check IndiGo's website for current UM policy.
Aadhaar is the easiest option for most families because it's already in a digital format on DigiLocker / mAadhaar. One thing to check: Aadhaar cards issued early in a child's life sometimes have date of birth listed as approximate (only year, not full date) if the registration was done without a birth certificate. If your child's Aadhaar shows only a year, carry the birth certificate as backup.
What's Accepted on Air India Domestic Flights
Air India's domestic policy broadly mirrors IndiGo — birth certificate, Aadhaar, or passport for age verification. Air India tends to be slightly more formal at check-in, partly because it operates both domestic and international routes from the same counters at major airports.
One thing I've noticed: at Chennai, Hyderabad, and Delhi's domestic terminals, Air India agents are more likely to ask for age proof for infants than IndiGo agents are. This might be confirmation bias from conversations with families, but better to have it than be caught without. If your infant is small and obviously under 6 months, you're unlikely to be asked. If they're 18–24 months and sturdy, have the Aadhaar or birth certificate out.
Air India also has a formal unaccompanied minor program with its own documentation requirements, separate from the standard child check-in process. If your child is travelling alone on Air India domestic, start that process at least 48 hours before and check the current form requirements on their site.
What's Accepted on Akasa Air Domestic Flights
Akasa Air is India's newest full-scale carrier as of 2026, with a growing domestic network. Their child documentation policy aligns with the broader industry standard — birth certificate or Aadhaar for age verification is accepted. Passport is acceptable but not required on domestic routes.
One nuance with Akasa: their booking flow asks you to enter the child's date of birth at the time of purchase. If the date entered matches what's on the Aadhaar or birth certificate, check-in is usually smooth. Where families run into friction is when there's a mismatch (typo at booking, or the name slightly differs between Aadhaar and the ticket). Name corrections on Akasa, as on most Indian carriers, need to be done before check-in — not at the counter.
SpiceJet currently operates a limited domestic network and their documentation policy follows the same general framework, but verify on their website since their operational situation as of 2026 is somewhat in flux.
When Is a Passport Mandatory Even on a 'Domestic' Route?
Here's the one situation that trips people up: certain Indian routes are technically domestic but involve a stopover or connection outside India, or serve destinations where immigration is involved.
More practically, passports become necessary in two scenarios:
- Your child doesn't have Aadhaar yet: Newborns often don't have Aadhaar until 3–6 months after birth (Baal Aadhaar enrollment), and some families with births registered late can take longer. A birth certificate or hospital-issued birth record is the fallback. A passport, if obtained, works as a substitute — but obviously, getting a passport takes 4–8 weeks minimum.
- Onward international connection: If you're flying IndiGo from Bangalore to Mumbai, then taking an international flight from Mumbai, the international carrier will need a passport for the child at check-in for the international leg. The domestic leg doesn't need it, but you'll need it with you anyway. Don't pack the passports in checked luggage on such itineraries — another obvious-in-hindsight mistake that happens more than it should.
For any trip that involves flying to another country, every family member needs a valid passport. This sounds basic, but plenty of families discover their child's passport has expired while packing. Check expiry dates at least three months before an international trip — many countries require six months of validity beyond entry date.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Family Check-In
A few things that make the domestic check-in process less stressful with kids:
- Download your child's Aadhaar on DigiLocker before you travel — a physical card can get lost in transit chaos, but the digital version is always on your phone.
- If using a birth certificate, get a laminated photocopy. The original can deteriorate with repeated use, and a laminated copy is accepted at most domestic check-in counters.
- Check-in online the night before and add your child's date of birth correctly in the booking profile. This often prevents manual age-verification at the counter.
- Arrive 90 minutes before domestic departure with a child — not 60 minutes. Strollers have to be checked, bags take longer, and small delays compound.
You can use FlightGPT to compare flight times across airlines on your domestic route — for family travel, a mid-morning flight after 9 AM often works better than a 6 AM departure that requires a 4 AM wake-up for the whole household. Planning an international trip with kids after sorting the domestic leg? There's a useful guide on making the first international trip manageable.
Frequently asked questions
Does my infant need a separate ticket on IndiGo domestic flights?
Infants under 2 years travel at a nominal fee (typically a small percentage of the adult base fare — check IndiGo's site for current infant fare) without their own seat. They sit on the lap of an accompanying adult. You do need to add the infant to the booking at the time of purchase, not at the airport. Show up with age proof (Aadhaar or birth certificate) at check-in.
Can I use a digital Aadhaar on mAadhaar app as age proof for my child at Air India check-in?
Yes — in practice, most Air India and IndiGo domestic check-in agents accept a digital Aadhaar displayed on the mAadhaar app. However, the official UIDAI guideline is that a digitally downloaded Aadhaar PDF (from uidai.gov.in) or DigiLocker version is the formally valid format. Have the PDF accessible offline in case airport Wi-Fi is unreliable.
My child is 2 years and 1 month — will they be charged an adult or child fare?
Once a child turns 2, they need their own seat and are charged a child fare (2–11 years category on most Indian carriers). At 2 years and 1 month, they're in the child fare bracket. Booking them at the infant fare would be incorrect and can result in a fare upgrade at check-in. Child fares are usually meaningfully lower than adult fares on Indian carriers, but this varies by route and booking class.
What documents does an unaccompanied minor need on Air India domestic flights?
Unaccompanied minor (UM) programs on Air India require a completed UM form, parent/guardian details for both pickup and drop-off, and valid age proof. The child typically needs to be between 5–12 years for Air India's domestic UM service. The fee for UM handling is charged separately. Check Air India's website for current UM forms and the minimum age — policies have changed in recent years.
My child was born abroad — does a foreign birth certificate work as age proof on Indian domestic flights?
In principle yes, but a foreign birth certificate in a non-English language should ideally be accompanied by a notarised translation. In practice, agents at major Indian airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore) are more familiar with international documents than at smaller regional airports. Safest option: use the child's foreign passport as age proof if they have one — it's universally understood and accepted.
Is Aadhaar available for newborns in India, and how quickly can I get it?
Yes — 'Baal Aadhaar' (blue Aadhaar) can be issued for children under 5 without biometrics, using the parent's Aadhaar as a reference. Enrollment can be done at Aadhaar seva kendras with the birth certificate and parent's Aadhaar. Processing typically takes 4–10 weeks, though timelines vary by state. Check UIDAI's website for current enrollment center locations and processing times.