When going through airport procedures, the most important thing you need to prepare is your flight documents. The documents required for domestic and international flights are different.
In addition, the required documents for flying also differ between adult passengers and children, infants.

2024 Flight Document Regulations
What documents are needed for domestic flights?
When booking domestic flight tickets, the required documents for flying are specified based on different passenger categories.
Documents required for passengers over 14 years old
For Vietnamese citizens
Individuals over 14 years old with Vietnamese citizenship need to prepare an identification card or citizen identification card for procedures. In case you do not have an identification card, you can use one of the following substitute documents:
- Passport/travel permit
- Driver's license
- National Assembly delegate card/Journalist card/Party member card
- Identity confirmation document with stamp
- Identification card of Vietnamese airlines

Documents required for domestic flights
>>> More: Traveling by plane without identification: substitute documents and procedures
For foreign citizens
For passengers holding foreign citizenship and over 14 years old, the required documents for air travel include:
- Foreign passport
- Residence permit, temporary residence permit
- Travel permit, exit visa
- International driving permit IDP issued by the Vietnam Road Administration
In case this passenger loses their passport, they must provide an official letter from the diplomatic or consular mission of the passenger's nationality or a document from the foreign affairs department. The validity period of the document, official letter is NOT MORE THAN 30 DAYS from the date of stamping.
Documents required for children under 14 years old
Below are the necessary documents for children under 14 years old traveling by domestic air:
|
Category |
Required Documents |
|
Infants under 1 month old |
Birth certificate with confirmation stamp |
|
Infants from 1 month to under 12 years old |
Original birth certificate, excerpt or copy (may be shared with parents or personal passport) |
|
Children from 12 to under 14 years old |
Original birth certificate, excerpt or copy (may be shared with parents or personal passport) |
What documents do pregnant women need for air travel?
Currently, Vietnamese airlines only accept transporting pregnant women under 36 weeks old. Pregnant women traveling by air domestically will need to prepare the following types of documents:
Personal documents
To fly domestically, expectant mothers still need to prepare all required personal documents such as: identification card, driver's license, passport, etc.
Health-related documents
Health documents are one of the necessary requirements to prove that both you and your baby are in good health condition to travel. Depending on the pregnancy stage and the regulations of each airline, the required documents will vary. Typically, pregnant women need to prepare:
- Prenatal examination record with confirmation from a specialist doctor
- Health confirmation document (valid within 7 DAYS before the flight)
In addition to the mentioned documents for pregnant women, when arriving at the airport, expectant mothers need to sign a Disclaimer provided by the airline.

Required documents for pregnant women when traveling by air
What documents do elderly passengers need for air travel?
Elderly passengers need to carry personal identification documents as required for individuals aged 14 and above, as mentioned above, to complete the check-in process.
Documents required when flying with pets on domestic flights
For domestic flights, currently only Vietnam Airlines accepts the transportation of live animals (including dogs, cats, birds). You can bring your pet into the passenger cabin or transport it as checked baggage.
When flying with pets, you need to prepare the following documents:
- Quarantine certificate
- Pet health certificate
- Vaccination certificate
In particular, when checking in at the airport or checking in pets as checked baggage, you need to sign a 'Disclaimer' provided by the airline staff.
For international airline travel, in addition to the mentioned documents, you need to prepare an import/export permit for your pet. However, each airline will have additional requirements for documents, so you should contact the airline directly for the most accurate advice.
>>> Learn more: Do you need a passport for domestic flights?
Conditions for document usage when flying domestically
According to current regulations, the documents used for air travel must meet the following conditions:
- Must be original and valid at the time of travel.
- For birth certificates, it must be original or a certified copy as required by the Law.
- Also, do not submit damaged, torn, faded, or altered documents. Airlines will reject documents in these conditions for flight procedures.
What documents are needed for international flights?
The necessary documents for international air travel that you must prepare for check-in include:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months on the date of travel
- Travel permit or equivalent valid entry documents.
- Round-trip air ticket (electronic copy in email, message,... or printed copy are both acceptable)
- Visa issued by the Embassy or Consulate for countries requiring visas.
- Cash for additional baggage, flight changes at the airport, immigration fees at the destination airport,...

Required documents for international flights
What to do if you lose your personal documents while traveling by air?
If you lose your personal documents while flying domestically, here are some things you can do:
- If you only lose a specific type of document, you can use other equivalent documents as replacements.
- If you lose all your personal documents, you need to go to the local Police Department where you reside to request a Confirmation of Identity document. This document must include a photo and be stamped with the commune's seal. The document will be valid for 30 days from the date of issue and can be used for flight procedures.
In this article, Mytour.vn has compiled all the information about 'What documents do you need for air travel?'. Please make sure to prepare all the necessary documents for air travel according to regulations to have a smooth and convenient flight.
For further detailed advice and support with booking air tickets, please contact our hotline at 1900 2083.
Phuong Thao
Image source: Internet, Mytour
