A Child Travel Consent is recommended any time a child is traveling without their legal guardian or guardians present.
However, even a parent with sole custody (meaning the parent has the legal authority to make all the decisions for their children) may be asked to provide consent documentation, unless they have a valid Separation Agreement or court order allowing them to travel with the child.
For example, when a separated or divorced couple puts a custody arrangement in place, they can include terms for child travel in their separation or divorce documents that may be used like a travel consent letter.
Depending on the size of the agreement or court order, a Child Travel Consent form may be easier for border agents to handle.
Parents who do not have an agreement or court order, like parents starting the separation or divorce process, should have a consent form when traveling with their children and without the other parent.