Whether you’re married and leaving a spouse behind to work; grandparents taking grandchildren on vacation; same sex couples with adopted children — even a military family trying to reunite for a holiday — you should be carrying notarized copies of a Travel Consent Letter or Permission to Travel document for each minor traveler.
Take these essential documents for travel with kids with you to avoid trip delay or cancellation costs. They could save your next vacation.
TL;DR
When children under 18 travel by themselves, or with only one custodial parent or a guardian, they must carry a Permission to Travel or Minor Travel Consent Letter.
- This document, signed by all the child’s legal guardians, is required by many countries for travel to and from the U.S. by air, sea and land.
- A Travel Consent Letter, signed and notarized, confirms that a solo parent or guardian has permission to transport the specified child over borders for a certain period of time.
- Additionally, all minor children are required to have their own travel documents, such as passports.
- For this story, we say minors are under 18 years of age. In some states, however, the Age of Majority varies between 16 and 21.
When Do You Need A Travel Consent Letter?
The proper travel permission or consent letter is required for each child traveling internationally.
I know, because it happened to me while checking in with my son for an American Airlines flight to Cancun. Mexican law requires that if only one parent or non-custodial adult(s) is accompanying a minor under 18 from Mexico, he/she must carry a notarized Permission to Travel Letter (also known as a Parental Consent Letter) from the child’s other parent(s) or guardian(s) granting permission to leave Mexico with the child. The letter must include the dates of travel, the accompanying adult’s name, contact information, and a notarized signature.
These rules apply in most countries of the world. The travel permission letter is required when kids cross borders with only one birth parent, one guardian or nanny, grandparents or other adults.
To be extra clear, an original copy of this written and notarized letter signed by both parents or designated legal guardians is required, even for a cruise ship’s shore excursions.
Exceptions are made if there’s documented evidence that a minor has only one guardian. For example, divorce papers, death certificate, adoption papers or a lawyer’s letter would indicate that the presence of one legal guardian is sufficient. You must carry printed documentation to show to Immigration authorities on request.
Learn more in this video:
Who Invented These Travel Permission Documents for Kids?
The requirement for a consent affidavit for children traveling outside their home country was not invented by the U.S. Department of State. It is the result of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
The Dept of State explains, “The Hague Child Abduction Convention is a valuable civil law mechanism for parents seeking the return of children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside their country of habitual residence by another parent or family member. Parents seeking access to children residing in treaty partner countries may also invoke the Convention.
“The Convention is critically important because it establishes a legal framework between partner countries to resolve parental abduction cases. The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues serves as the Central Authority for the United States under the Convention.”
Please note that having the correct travel permission documents or visas does not guarantee that you or a minor child will be able to enter the U.S. Current immigration policies and guidelines change frequently. Consult your home country embassy for advice.
Consent Letters, Medical Authorization Forms and Travel Insurance Contribute to Children’s Safety
As of April 2025, the Hague Convention to deter international child abductions is in efffect in 95 countries and territories, including US, Canada and Mexico.
Nevertheless, international child abduction stories are in the news all the time.
To prevent the transport of runaways or children involved in child-custody disputes, American carriers require special permission documents from adults departing the U.S. with minors.
Proper Medical Authorization forms are also advised. Rising health care costs and legal challenges have forced many medical providers to deny medical care to minors away from home. That is, unless their adults have written affidavits from guardians who carry the minor’s medical insurance coverage as well as proof of that medical insurance coverage.
Offer your family further protection with a solid travel insurance policy. Kids are insured for free with certain Travelex policies when traveling with a parent or grandparent.
Other Reasons to Have Permission to Travel or Travel Consent Letters
The consent letter confirms the child has permission to travel outside their home country when taking a trip alone or with only one parent or guardian. Additional circumstances include minors traveling between divorced parents for a vacation; minors attending boarding school overseas; and minors visiting grandparents in their home country.
The same regulations also apply to minors under 18 who are leaving the U.S. with school groups, teen tours, or just friends on a vacation. Sports teams and academic study programs require minor team members to have a Minor Consent to Travel form. This type of form typically places the responsibility for several minors on one coach or adult chaperone.
Note that authorities recommend that all minors have their own passports at border crossings.
Read on for tips on how to make this paperwork less of a burden.
Get Blank Permission to Travel Consent Letters, Minors & Medical Authorization Forms
To keep you up-to-date with ever-changing travel safety and security regulations, you will be subscribed to the FTF travel alerts e-mail list. You may unsubscribe at any time. We do not sell, barter or trade your personal information. Read Family Travel Forum’s Privacy Policy if you have concerns.
Please fill in the following form, then check your email inbox or spam filter for our note. After you confirm your email address, you will be sent a second email. It has links to download a Permission to Travel form, Medical Treatment Authorization Letter, and Minor Consent to Travel form you can fill out and use. Keep blank copies to use on future trips.
Canada’s Strict Requirements for Minor Travel Consent Letters
The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade reminds visitors that, “Foreign officials and transportation companies are vigilant concerning documentation for children crossing international borders.”
In some situations, a notarized birth certificate may suffice for minors age 16 and older entering Canada. Canada regulations request that adults entering the country with minors carry a photocopy of the signature page of the passport belonging to the guardian who signed the permission to travel letter.
Getting a Children’s U.S. or Foreign Passport
To enforce the Hague Convention provisions, the U.S. Department of State requires that every citizen, no matter the age, traveling outside the US by air carry their own passport and appear in person to apply for one.
Both parents must be present to get a children’s passport. Bring your photo IDs and proof of parentage. If only one parent appears, they must have a notarized statement of consent from the second parent or legal guardian to apply.
Exceptions are made if there’s documented evidence that a minor has only one guardian. For example, you may present divorce papers, a death certificate or adoption papers. A lawyer’s letter also may indicate that the presence of one legal guardian is sufficient. This is a complex issue, explained in more detail in FTF’s Passport Guide or on the U.S. Passport Office.
If child custody issues are a concern for you, contact the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program. They provide notification to parents of passport applications made on behalf of minor children. They can ensure denial of passport issuance if appropriate court orders are on file with the CPIAP.
Citizens of other countries must check with their own country’s embassy for current regulations. To combat illegal immigration, passport issuance laws have become stricter all over the world. Many destinations now require all foreign nationals entering their country have a passport valid at least six months after the planned date of departure.
If you’re planning a foreign vacation, note that U.S. security and border regulations change frequently. Plan ahead to avoid a processing backlog at the National Passport Center.
Getting Visas & Essential Travel Documents for Minors
In an era of heightened global security, many foreign countries are revising their visa and documentation procedures as well. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State offers this advice. “Contact the embassy of your destination country or study Consular Information Sheets. They’re provided at travel.state.gov with that country’s requirements in order to bring a child into the country.”
As an example, I learned that some countries require a notarized original copy of the Permission to Travel Letter before accepting a minor’s visa application. Some countries also require that travel affidavits are in the national language of the country and notarized and authenticated by the nation’s embassy or consulate.
For information on the requirements for travel to a specific country by an American citizen, visit the US Embassy site. When in doubt, it’s best to call the Visa Section of the embassy or consulate of your intended destination.
Tips For Making Visas And Consent To Travel Paperwork Easier
You’ve downloaded blank forms, filled them in and had them notarized. Now, prepare for the day you may be asked for them. Other documents may come in handy, too, depending on the destination.
- Notarize several copies of the Permission to Travel Letter at the same time if you are applying for foreign visas. Carry extra copies with you in case border officials ask to keep a copy.
- Try to carry an original, raised stamp birth certificate for each minor in your party. This is especially important in situations such as guardians with different last names than each other or the minor. Birth parents with different surnames should carry a photocopy of the child’s birth certificate to provide legal evidence of “guardianship.”
- In case you need visas at airports or harbors, pack extra passport photos taken against plain white backgrounds. Carry at least US$100 in small bills so that you can purchase entry visas on the spot.
- Same sex couples, and adoptive, divorced or widowed parents should carry certified custody or death certificates, adoption papers, or other proof of sole custody, as well as photo identification for themselves and the child.
- Be sure to leave copies with someone back home. They can retrieve documents and send them, if you need them after departure.
A CBP spokesperson recommends that all travelers read the helpful online resource Know Before You Go.
Stay on The Safe Side with Childrens Travel Consent Letters
In summary, such concerns apply to cruises, as well as air and land travel. Carnival, for example, requires the notarized Permission to Travel Letter for any children debarking in Mexico. This is true if it’s only on a half-day shore excursion. Since cruise itineraries may change due to weather, it’s smart to be prepared.
Mexican Consular Officer Hebe Cue advises, “In case of weather or other cruise delay, it’s better if adults have the notarized permission letter. In any case, it is required for American minors entering Mexico by air, no matter how long their stay.”
An officer at the Canadian Tourism Commission agree. “Canadian customs officers, who are the primary line of inspection for visitors, may require a notarized statement from both parents when they find a child under 18 traveling alone or with other adults. All carriers, including air, sea and land, can be fined for bringing people into Canada without the proper documentation.”
At Royal Caribbean, an agent interviewed about Canada-bound cruises suggested single parents, grandparents or other adults traveling with a minor carry notarized documentation, “to be on the safe side.”
We agree!
When traveling with family, its’ all about being on the safe side.
Travel Prepared to Avoid Confusion
For more information, contact your attorney or a professional travel agent. The staff at the FTF office (+1 212/595-6074), while not attorneys, are happy to help answer any questions.
Most importantly, safe there and safe home!
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203 Replies to “Required Documents And Travel Consent Letters For Travel With Minors”
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Do you know if the Philippines are offering any kind of residency or tourist visas right now with covid-19 going on? I’d like to take my family there, thanks.
Hi, nice blog. Very informative and helpful. Please take a few minutes to share your unaccompanied minor flight experience. Several popular airlines are listed on http://unaccompaniedminortravel.com which will help real people like you to be better informed. This is the only site that offers actual unaccompanied user travel feedback as well as all of the information you might need. This site is new so we are also anxious to hear from you if you yourself have in the past used the Unaccompanied Minor service. Thanks!
If a court order states that one parent can travel abroad with the child without the consent of the other parent, what documentation is required? We recommend carrying a copy of the court order stating that the other parent’s consent is not needed to travel abroad with the child. Any questions about the wording of the court order should be directed to a family lawyer.
Is a consent letter mandatory? There is no Canadian legal requirement for children to carry a consent letter. However, a consent letter may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, airline agents or Canadian officials when re-entering Canada. Failure to produce a letter upon request may result in delays or refusal to enter or exit a country.
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Note that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide you with advice about the Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad beyond what is offered on this website.
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Hey, This article posted at this website is really good.
great useful info you have shared , being a traveler i need it most and it’s really helpful for the first time travelers. thanks for sharing.
Traveling with kids is fun but also very tired as we have to take care of them and don’t have much time for ourselves. Sometime I prefer traveling alone.
Thanks for posting, very valuable information .
Hi,
I would like to travel out of the US with my son. I understand that I would need his father to sign and notarize a letter. He had not been a stand up dad to take care of his responsibilities so he left and I can’t find him. What can I do in a situation like that to travel with my son?
Very Useful especially who travel with there kids
Good information thanks for posting
For Richard re: dual citizenship US-Nicaragua… can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.
Hi Richard, In our travel experience, this type of document should work well for your travels, but if your wife is available, it can’t hurt to download the sample forms we have online and also have her fill out and notarize one for your trip with your child. The agency responsible in your case will be the carrier — we assume an airline — and if they can make a note in your travel record that they have approved the Nicaraguan documents you should be fine on both departing and entering.
Safe Travels!
As a signal parent, your life, world, actions are based on your childs well fair. Not your happiness or anything that has to do with you.
It should list where they are going, the dates that they are allowed to go and grant your permission for that trip. You want to include your address and phone number and probably the contact info for the adult traveling as well.
Thanks for Sharing
Hello guys my wife and I have dual citizenship US-Nicaragua, I’m planning to travel to the US with our son also dual citizenship for 3 weeks, with a Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) from Nicaragua, can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.
very informative article Travel forums provide first hand experience and advice to travelers and are a great source of information and travel tips.
for travel permissions in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in India you can contact palaholidays.com a leading tour operator and travel guide exclusive for Jammu and Kashmir Tourism
Hello Dr Ramesh,
If both legal guardians or birth parents of the child are traveling with the child, you will not need any other documentation, except everyone’s visas and passports. Check with your employer about medical insurance. If they will not provide medical coverage overseas, you can inquire with your U.S. based insurance company about what they provide. Some travel insurance companies sell one-year policies to cover students studying overseas and that might be another option. Safe Travels!
Sir, we both are going Europe with work visa on base of permit. Taking our 3year old child with us. Any letter or medical form/ paper we need to carry with us?
Hello Annetta,
Yes, one Permission to Travel or Consent Letter can list more than one child on it, if the contact information for the legal guardians/birth parents is the same.
Safe travels!
Can I use one concept form to apply for two sibling from the same father
Helpful Post
Travel Forum are always helpful
Hello Clary, we are not attorneys but we do not see a need to have a power of attorney over your cousin for your trip. A permission to travel letter from the guardians, as well as a medical authorization letter — in case your cousin needs medical treatment — should be fine for your trip. This letter should come from the guardians, not you, so they should do it now rather than wait till your arrival to finish the paperwork. When they fill it out does not matter, since the letter will have the travel dates that your cousin will be with you. Have a safe trip and enjoy!
Hello
I’m traveling with my cousin who is a minor to South Korea in July 2018 its less than 20 days away along with the travel to consent letter should I get a temporary power of attorney. Also should I set a specific time frame to do these things or can I do it the day before we leave. I ask because I have to travel to where she lives and we are flying out of her city two days after I get there.
My wife and I (US citizens) want to to take my 16 year old niece (who is a FIlipino citizen) to Korea for a graduation gift. We plan to pick her up in Philippines and fly together to Korea. We have all parental permissions and have proof of ability to support her trip. Is it possible for my niece to obtain the visa? A travel agent in the Philippines is telling us no.
What a wonderful graduation present! We cannot speak on behalf of the government of Korea, as they determine their visa policy for citizens of all countries who want to visit. What we suggest is that you contact the Korea Embassy in the US – 202-939-5600 – as you are U.S.citizens, and ask them for their advice.
Regardless of the visas, it is important that when you travel with your minor niece you have the Permission Letters, so that is a great first step.
Have a safe trip, please let us know if we can be of help.
My 16 yr old is planning to go to Costa Rica with an 18yr old and a 19 yr old. What papers do I need to fill out and have him bring?
Submitted by D.A. to moderator
This article explains the forms that we recommend and why they are needed for the 16-year-old: http://myfamilytravels.com/content/14513-permission-travel-letters-and-why-you-need-them
There is a field within the article where you can input your email address to request that blank forms are sent to you. Please check your Inbox and spam filter for a confirmation email that will ‘confirm’ your request, and once you have clicked on it, you should get a second email with the forms themselves.
Traveler Carla K asks:
My eleven year old son will be traveling with his grandmother to Vietnam and Cambodia. They will have a plane change in Korea (which will be a port of entry, so I assume they will go through immigration and customs here as well).
This is my question: Do I need to sign and notarize three separate forms (one per country)?
Our answer:
We are not attorneys but we recommend that you have several copies of the same form, and that the form include the travel information about the whole itinerary. In terms of changing planes, there may not be a need to go through Immigration in Korea. However, if you have an original form that mentions all the flights/countries within a broad range of travel dates, and have photocopies that grandparents can leave behind if requested by an Immigration official, they should be fine.
We wish your son and his grandmother a safe and fun trip — it certainly sounds like a fascinating journey to us.Thank you and please get in touch with other questions.
The CPB has some useful advice on this topic on their web page: http://ow.ly/Q2WEY
Hi Debbie,
You will want he Medical Authorization Form from each child's parents with a photocopy of their insurance card.
Then you can use the last form which is for group tours, school outings etc. It is fine for domestic travel, Include travel info for each child so that parents assign you guardianship for certain period of time only.
Get these forms notarized. Make several photocopies in case an adventure tour operator wants to keep one. Or, if you all travel on same flights, get one long form, like a petition, and be sure both of each child's parents or guardians sign it.
You should be fine with it. Does the hotel know? Many states say it is illegal for a minor to occupy a room without an adult present. You may need connecting rooms guaranteed.
Enjoy the trip and write about what you did!
JaguarZ writes to the Admin with a very good question:
I will be traveling to Hawaii, originating on the eastcoast, with 4 minors (only 1 is my child) – they will all be 17 at the time of travel. I need to be able to "act as their guardian" — for example, sign waiver forms for activities, seek medical coverage if necessary.
I found a form or two on the site, but they seem geared toward international travel and do not seem to include the ability to "sign the waiver forms" I mention above. Any suggestions? I realize I may be able to get some of these forms signed before we leave, BUT for those activities they decide on when we are there — H E L P!
Thank you so much for your anticipated support
Debbie
Good morning,
I wanted to give you some feedback…. We went to your site to determine what documentation was needed for my grandson to travel with me to Canada, and printed out two forms. We had one of the forms notarized as suggested, and set out on our trip the next day. When we arrived at the border, I was told we did not have proper identification! The page we had been working from on your site did not say anything about a birth certificate or photo ID, which they said I should have had. PLEASE amend that page to say something like… “In addition to a birth certificate and photo ID, these other documents are recommended…”
Thank you so much for your responsiveness. You may mention this on other pages on your site, but it really should also be on the documentation page.
Janet Gill
Does Australia require a PERMISSION TO TRAVEL letter?
Very informative and nice post. This post will be good guide for people who trvavel frequently and do not care about the leagal issues. This post will really help them to understand the involoved leagal issues and other things related to traveling in forrign countries.
this is really good to know, as Im really affected by this "Solo Parents, Grandparents and Guardians can satisfy legal requirements before crossing international borders with these Permission to Travel And Consent forms.
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What should the letter of consent say if I, a single parent, am taking my daughter to Germany, but then crossing other borders into bordering countries on our vacation? I may not know specifically what other countries we will be visiting until we get into Europe (we are staying with friends in Germany and they will be taking us around Europe for a bit).
It's best to be as specific as possible, because these letters include the dates and destinations for your trip. We would suggest that you note the full date range (from… to ….. and make it a bit longer just in case), then you put down as many countries as you think are possible. List Germany and all the contiguous countries and add a few more, better more than not mentioning one you will visit.
Also, you should carry 2 notarized copies of the Permission to Travel Letter (put one with your passport to show at Immigration and flight check-in; keep the 2nd one in the child's luggage in case you lose one or an Immigration official wants to keep it). Enjoy your trip!
Great travel guide and form description for new travelers.. helps a ton..
Taking children with you when you travel all over the word can be a hassle. I have had to do it myself on occasion. When my family and I were looking into moving (http://www.angieslist.com/moving/) over seas for work, it became even more difficult getting the documentation together. Though once you have al of the paperwork squared away you can save it again for another time.
My childrens mother gave my 8 and 9 year old daughters to me to raise 2 years ago. She hasn't seen them in 2 years. She wants a 2 week visit with them in another state. I need a form to have her sign to make sure she returns the children to me by a certain date.
if I were you…I would be making the "Mom" come to her children for a visit NOT the other way around. The kids should not be put out by her especially if they havent seen her in 2yrs.
I certainly enjoyed the way you explore your experience and knowledge of the subject! Keep up on it. Thanks for sharing the info
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Information about the documents required for the children for traveling abroad is great! You have provided the required form is appreciated and made more convinient.
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I was looking for a simple medical authorization and found so much more. Excellent resourse. Thanks!