Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Before an easyJet flight, check both the airline’s identification rules and the entry rules for your destination. The document that works for a domestic journey may not be valid for an international flight. Your nationality, residence status, destination, age, and route can also change whether you need a passport, national ID card, visa, UK ETA, or child travel authorisation.
Quick Answer
On easyJet domestic flights, you need approved photo ID, although children under 16 are generally exempt except on Italian domestic routes. For international flights, carry the physical passport or national ID accepted by your destination, plus any required visa or UK ETA. Always check your exact route before travelling.
Key Takeaways
- Domestic easyJet flights require photographic ID, with limited exemptions for children.
- International travellers should carry a physical passport or an accepted national identity card.
- A national ID card accepted by easyJet may still be rejected by the destination country.
- Online check-in closes two hours before departure, but bag-drop deadlines vary by airport.
- Check visas, the UK ETA, child authorisations, EES checks, and route notices before travelling.
easyJet Passport and ID Requirements
easyJet requires identification on domestic and international flights, but the accepted document depends on the route. The airline can check whether you have an acceptable travel document, while the destination government decides whether you may enter the country.
| Type of flight | Document normally required | Important exception |
|---|---|---|
| UK domestic | Approved photographic ID | Children under 16 normally do not need ID when travelling with an adult |
| Italian domestic | Approved photographic ID | Children under 14 must also show photographic ID |
| French domestic | Passport, accepted national ID card, residence permit, or photographic driving licence | Children under 13 travelling with an adult are exempt, except on routes involving Basel Airport |
| International within Europe | Physical passport or an EU, EEA, or Swiss national identity card accepted by the destination | National ID cards are not accepted for every country or passenger |
| International outside the EU | Physical passport plus any required visa or travel authorisation | Digital IDs and European national ID cards may not be accepted |
Check that your passenger name matches the travel document you plan to use. easyJet advises passengers to include their full name, including middle names, where shown on the document. Your passport or identity card should also be legible, undamaged, and valid for the entire route.
Warning: An airline accepting your document for boarding does not guarantee admission at the border. Check the destination government’s entry requirements for your nationality and travel purpose.
easyJet Domestic Flight ID Rules
Photographic identification is required on easyJet domestic flights. Examples accepted under easyJet’s current policy include:
- A valid passport
- A passport that expired no more than five years ago
- A valid photographic EU or Swiss national identity card
- A valid full or provisional photographic driving licence
- A valid armed forces identity card
- A valid police warrant card or badge
An expired passport accepted for a domestic easyJet flight is not automatically valid for international travel. It also does not replace a visa, residence document, or other permission required by a destination.
For UK domestic flights, children under 16 normally do not need to show ID when travelling with an adult who can confirm their identity. Italy is different: children under 14 must show photographic ID on Italian domestic flights. On French domestic flights, children under 13 travelling with an adult are normally exempt, but a flight between France and Basel Airport is treated as international travel.
easyJet International Passport Rules
Every passenger on an international easyJet flight must carry a physical passport or an accepted EU, EEA, or Swiss national identity card. You must also hold any visa, residence document, ETA, or other travel permission required for the destination.
Your passport should be in good condition and signed where required. Check both the issue date and expiry date. A rule such as “six months remaining” does not apply to every destination, so use the official entry guidance for the country you are visiting.
British Passport Rules for the Schengen Area
If you are travelling on a full British citizen passport to a Schengen country, your passport normally must:
- Have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the Schengen area
- Expire at least three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area
Extra validity added to an older British passport can cause the issue date to fall outside the 10-year entry limit. Check both dates rather than looking only at the expiry date.
National ID Cards for Travel to the UK
Most EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens visiting the UK must use a passport rather than a national identity card. Limited exceptions apply, including some travellers whose rights are protected under the EU Settlement Scheme or Withdrawal Agreement. Check the current UK rules before relying on an identity card.
Digital IDs and Travel Document Changes
Digital identification is generally accepted only for domestic easyJet flights. On some flights between European or Schengen countries, a digital ID may be accepted for an outbound journey from the country that issued it. You should still carry a physical passport or national identity card for return and onward journeys.
Digital or app-based identification is not accepted for international flights outside the EU. A photograph, screenshot, photocopy, or digital wallet version of a passport is not a replacement for the physical document unless the applicable authorities explicitly say otherwise.
You can update travel-document details in Manage Bookings before checking in. After check-in, document details can be changed through the easyJet app or customer service before online check-in for the first flight closes.
Pro Tip: If you renew or replace your passport after booking, update the passport number in your booking and check whether any linked visa, UK ETA, or future travel authorisation must also be replaced.
easyJet Check-In and Airport Deadlines
Online check-in is available for all easyJet flights. It opens 30 days before departure and closes two hours before the scheduled departure time. You can check in on the easyJet website or app and download or print the boarding pass.
Do not confuse the online check-in deadline with bag drop. Bag-drop closing times depend on the departure airport and route. Depending on the airport, bag drop may close 40, 50, or 60 minutes before departure. easyJet’s standard gate-closing time is generally 30 minutes before departure.
If you change your flight, add hold luggage, or make another booking change after checking in, check in again and obtain a new boarding pass.
Note: Some routes require an airport document check even when you have checked in online and do not have a checked bag. Review your booking, app notifications, and easyJet’s current travel notices before leaving for the airport.
easyJet Rules for Children and Special Cases
Children need the documents required by both easyJet and the destination country. The domestic ID exemption for younger children does not apply automatically to international travel.
easyJet does not allow children aged 15 or under to travel alone. They must travel with someone aged 16 or older. A national travel-authorisation letter does not override this airline age policy.
| Situation | What is required | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Child under 16 on a UK domestic flight | Normally no ID when travelling with an adult | The adult must be able to confirm the child’s identity |
| Child under 14 on an Italian domestic flight | Photographic ID | The general domestic child exemption does not apply |
| Spanish national under 18 leaving Spain internationally without a parent or legal guardian | Valid national ID card or passport plus Spanish police travel authorisation | Confirm the latest Spanish requirements before travel |
| Child aged 17 or under travelling to or from Portugal without a parent or legal guardian | Written authorisation signed by a parent or guardian | A resident child leaving Portugal may need notarised authorisation |
| Passenger requiring special assistance | Add the required assistance during booking, through Manage Bookings, or through the assistance team | Notify easyJet as early as possible and no later than 48 hours before travel |
| Assistance dog | Health, vaccination, and recognised training documents | Acceptance depends on the route; ordinary pets are not carried |
easyJet Family Seating
You can pay to select seats for everyone on the booking. If you do not choose seats, easyJet’s allocation system will try to seat the family together on a first-come, first-served basis.
Checking in early improves the chance that adjacent seats will still be available. easyJet states that each child under 12 will be seated close to an adult on the same booking, although the final arrangement may sometimes be completed at the airport or onboard. Priority boarding does not guarantee that family members will receive adjacent seats.
easyJet Visa Rules and Border Checks
You are responsible for holding the documents required for every country on your itinerary, including transit points. Requirements can differ according to nationality, passport type, residence status, travel purpose, and length of stay.
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation
Many non-visa nationals travelling to the UK now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, before departure. British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. Travellers who already hold a UK visa, permission to live, work, or study in the UK, or another qualifying status may also be exempt.
Each traveller who needs an ETA must have their own approval, including babies and children. The ETA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application and normally lasts for two years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first. Use the same passport for the application, airline check-in, and travel.
Most decisions arrive quickly, but the UK government advises allowing up to three working days. An ETA permits travel to the UK but does not guarantee entry at the border.
EU Entry/Exit System Border Checks
The EU Entry/Exit System, known as EES, is operational at the external borders of 29 participating European countries. It mainly applies to non-EU nationals making short visits and records entry and exit information electronically.
At the border, affected travellers may have a facial image and fingerprints collected. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint collection, but they are not necessarily exempt from the rest of the border process. Allow extra time for passport control and onward connections.
ETIAS Is Separate From EES
ETIAS is a future travel authorisation for many visa-exempt visitors to participating European countries. As of July 24, 2026, ETIAS was not yet operating and applications were not being accepted. The European Union expected operations to begin in the final quarter of 2026, with the specific launch date to be announced officially.
Note: Do not pay an unofficial website for an ETIAS application before the European Union announces that the system is open.
Route-Specific Document Notices
- Tunisia: easyJet states that all travellers must carry a valid passport. EU, EEA, and Swiss national identity cards are not accepted for entry.
- Egypt: easyJet states that Syrian nationals have needed a valid visa to enter Egypt since December 15, 2024.
- Amsterdam from Marrakesh: easyJet currently requires passengers to attend Bag Drop for a document check, even without checked luggage. Non-Dutch passport holders are also instructed to bring a passport photocopy.
- Gibraltar: EES checks may affect non-EU travellers on arrival and departure, so extra border-processing time may be needed.
These notices can change. Review easyJet’s current travel-document page, your booking messages, and the official entry advice for the destination shortly before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does easyJet allow online check-in for all flights?
Yes. Online check-in is available for all easyJet flights from 30 days until two hours before departure. Some passengers must still attend Bag Drop or another airport desk for a document check.
How much cabin baggage can I bring on easyJet?
Every passenger can bring one free small cabin bag measuring no more than 45 x 36 x 20 cm, including handles and wheels. It must fit under the seat and may weigh up to 15 kg. A large cabin bag measuring up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm is allowed only when it is included with your fare, membership, seat benefit, or separate bag purchase.
Can I change my easyJet flight after booking?
Yes. You can normally change the flight time, date, or destination online until two hours before departure. A change fee and any increase in fare may apply. If the new fare is lower, easyJet normally does not refund the difference. Check in again after making the change.
Does easyJet offer seat selection for families?
Yes. Families can pay to select specific seats. Without paid selection, easyJet’s system tries to seat passengers on the same booking together. Check in early for the best availability. Children under 12 will be seated close to an adult on the booking, but the whole family may not receive adjacent seats.
Are food and drinks available to buy onboard?
Yes. easyJet sells food, drinks, and selected retail items onboard. The airline is cashless, so carry an accepted payment card or contactless payment method. Menu choices, availability, and allergen information can vary by flight.
Can I use an expired passport on an easyJet flight?
easyJet may accept a passport that expired within the previous five years as photographic ID on a domestic flight. An expired passport is not valid for ordinary international travel and cannot replace a valid passport, visa, or travel authorisation.
Can I use a digital ID for an easyJet flight?
Digital IDs are generally accepted only for domestic flights. Limited use may be possible on an outbound European journey from the country that issued the digital ID. Carry a physical passport or accepted national identity card for international return and onward travel.
Conclusion
Before leaving for the airport, check the document required by easyJet and the entry document required by every country on your route. Confirm your passenger name, passport issue and expiry dates, visa or ETA status, child authorisations, and airport deadlines. Carry the physical documents needed for international travel and review current official guidance shortly before departure.
Sources
- easyJet Travel Documents and Information — domestic and international ID rules, digital IDs, child documents, EES, Tunisia, Egypt, and route notices
- easyJet Check-In Guidance — online check-in, bag-drop, booking-change, and gate deadlines
- easyJet Flying With Children — age categories, unaccompanied-child policy, family seating, and infant rules
- easyJet Special Assistance — assistance requests, advance notice, mobility equipment, and assistance dogs
- easyJet Cabin Bags — current small and large cabin-bag dimensions and weight limits
- GOV.UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, EU Entry/Exit System, and EU ETIAS — current UK and European travel-authorisation and border-system requirements
