A Child Travel Consent is a letter in which a child’s legal guardian gives permission for the minor to travel alone or with another adult.

For instance, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend, teacher, or coach may present this form to travel authorities to prove they obtained parental consent to travel with someone else’s child.

Separated couples may also use this document when both parents share legal custody of the children but only one parent is accompanying them on a trip.

Alternate Names

A Child Travel Consent is also known as a:

• Parental consent form
• Child travel consent letter
• Travel consent letter

• Travel permission letter
• Consent letter for children traveling abroad

A minor is someone who has not yet reached the legal age of majority, which can vary depending on your jurisdiction. In most jurisdictions, once a person reaches the age of 18 they are legally an adult. However, there are a few jurisdictions where the legal age of majority is 19 or 21.

It’s important to research airline requirements to see if you’ll need a Child Travel Consent form for an unaccompanied minor or for a minor who is traveling with someone who isn’t their legal guardian.

Some countries may also require parental authorization before they allow a child to cross their borders in someone else’s custody, so it’s especially important to research the requirements of the country (or countries) the child will be traveling to.

If you’re unsure of airline or country border control requirements, it’s recommended you create a Child Travel Consent to ensure that you’re prepared for any situation. If you're asked to provide travel authorization for a minor child and do not have it, border control may prohibit you from continuing to your destination.

Do I need a Child Travel Consent if I am a temporary guardian?

It’s recommended that you obtain a Child Travel Consent even if you have temporary guardianship over the children you are traveling with. This is so you have proof you can travel with the children if travel authorities deem your guardianship papers insufficient.

Do I need a different Child Travel Consent for domestic and international flights?

You can customize LawDepot’s Child Travel Consent form for either domestic or international flights. However, if your child will be taking multiple flights or traveling through several locations, you should create a separate consent letter for each branch of the trip to satisfy each location’s travel requirements.

It’s important to note that some countries may require you to have your Child Travel Consent notarized for proof of authenticity. If you’re unsure if this is a requirement, you may choose to get your document notarized for peace of mind.

To give a chaperone the authority to make medical decisions in your stead, you will need to complete a Child Medical Consent form, which details:

• Health information about the child (e.g. illnesses, medical conditions, allergies, etc.)
• The name and address of the temporary caregiver
• Information about the parent or guardian, including custody information, passport details, and their name
• Which medical treatments the caregiver can consent to (e.g. blood transfusions, surgery, etc.)

A Child Travel Consent form does not allow a parent or guardian to make medical decisions for your child, but you may wish to grant your child’s temporary caregiver the authority to consent to medical treatments in case of emergency.

You may need to have your document notarized (i.e. certified by a notary public) depending on where you plan to travel. Many countries have strict requirements regarding proof of custody to prevent international parental child abduction. To be sure of a country’s exit and entry requirements regarding child travel, you can visit your government’s website for travel advice and advisories.

Even when policies don’t require you to have your Child Travel Consent form notarized, it’s strongly recommended because it proves the authenticity of your document. Without a notarized consent form, border protection officers could delay you at the airport or prevent you from traveling further.

It’s a notary’s job to validate the identities of the people named in a document. As such, having a notary’s seal of authenticity on your Child Travel Consent is an asset for when border officials or airport workers need to confirm the identities of your child and their caregiver.

A Child Travel Consent form is recommended any time a child is traveling without one or both of their legal guardians present.

Even a parent with sole custody (i.e. legal authority to make all the decisions for their children) may need to provide consent documentation; this is because the parent who doesn’t have sole custody will usually retain access rights (also called visitation rights). Whether a parent has sole custody or access rights, it’s recommended that both parents sign the travel permission letter.

A parent with sole custody of a child may not need a Child Travel Consent if they have a valid Separation Agreement or a court order allowing them to travel with the child. In this case, your child or their guardian should carry the original (or a certified true copy) court order or Separation Agreement with them as they travel.

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.

Depending on whether a child is traveling domestically or internationally, you may or may not need to provide a parental consent form.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are no regulations for unaccompanied minors who travel within the country. However, an airline may have its own policies regarding solo minor travel.

Typically, most airlines will allow a child to travel within the United States alone and without proof of parental consent once they are somewhere between the ages of 12 and 15. In this case, they usually follow certain procedures to ensure children arrive safely at their destination.

If a child under the age of 18 plans to leave the country, airlines typically require a Child Travel Consent form in addition to other travel documentation (e.g. a passport). Many countries also require a child to have a notarized parental consent letter before they’re permitted entry.