Last Updated February 15, 2024
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What is a Child Travel Consent?
Parents/legal guardians use a Child Travel Consent as a formal letter of permission for their child to travel:
- With an adult who doesn’t have parental responsibility (e.g., grandparent or family friend)
- With only one of their parents
- With a group (e.g., school or sports team)
- Alone
Although verbal consent may be enough, border officials often ask for proof of parental permission in an effort to prevent child abduction—which is a criminal offense in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
What’s more, requirements for travelling with a minor can vary by country, the age of the child, their reason for travelling, and who they’re travelling with. As such, it’s important to research the policies of your transportation company and destination country (especially if going abroad).
Without a proper Child Travel Consent, travel authorities may delay your child from reaching their destination.
What age can you travel without parental consent?
Generally, all persons under the age of 18 are considered minor children in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. As such, they should be prepared to show they have consent to travel.
How does consent work for parents with shared responsibility?
Parental rights and signing requirements vary depending on your family dynamic and travel advisories. However, if both parents retain legal responsibilities to their child, it’s generally best to get their consent.
Parents who’ve separated may have an agreement that requires each parent to give permission for the child to travel. Or, if they’re divorced, they likely have a court order that addresses custody and decision-making authority when it comes to travel.
Keep in mind that if it isn’t possible to obtain consent—or if the other parent has no legal rights—you should carry a court order (or equivalent documentation, such as a parenting plan or consent order) to prove that you have sole parental responsibility.
If the other parent is deceased, you should carry the original (or a notarized true copy) of the death certificate.
How do I write a Child Travel Consent letter?
Use LawDepot’s Child Travel Consent template to generate a custom document in minutes. Simply answer our questionnaire to populate the template, then download a PDF or print your copy.
To write your Child Travel Consent, be prepared with the following information:
1. Travel plan
Add a brief description of the child's travel plans, including:
- The child’s destination
- Their accommodations
- The start and end dates of the trip
List your child's full name, birth date, and place of birth.
Note that if your child’s last name is different than yours, you may need to prove your relationship to them with government-issued I.D. (e.g., birth certificates, adoption paperwork, or proof of a name change).
If the child will travel with extra documents (e.g., passport or birth certificate) you can also include these details in the consent letter. This information helps prove your child’s identity and relationship to you.
3. Supervision
If applicable, give details of the person or organisation in charge of supervising your child during their trip:
- Legal guardian: State their name, home address, and whether they have sole parental responsibility or not. You can also include their passport details if needed.
- Another adult: State their name, home address, and relationship to the child. You can include their passport details if needed.
- Group or organisation: State the organisation’s name and address. You’ll also need to state the name of the supervising adult (and their passport information, if needed).
If your child will travel alone, you may want to assign an adult to pick them up once they reach their destination. These details are essential if travel staff will supervise your child during the trip but not once it’s over.
4. Final details
If needed, you can add the details of the person who should be contacted in case of an emergency.
You should also consider whether you will notarize your document. If so, LawDepot’s Child Travel Consent template will automatically include a space for the notary acknowledgement.
Should I notarize my Child Travel Consent?
Signing in front of a notary public is optional.
However, for international travel, it is strongly recommended that the Child Travel Consent be notarized. This will reduce the chances of border officials questioning the authenticity of the signatures.
What other documents does a child need to travel without parents?
Travelling with the right paperwork can help ensure your child’s trip goes smoothly. For instance, the following documents help identify your child and ensure they’re properly cared for:
- Passport and/or birth certificate
- Proof of relationship to parent or guardian
- Travel itinerary and addresses for accommodation
- Child Medical Consent form to give another person authority to make medical decisions on behalf of the child
