Child Travel Consent Form

What does a child travel consent form mean?

A child travel consent form is a formal legal document that shows a child has permission to travel from parents or legal guardians. This is the reason why this document is also known as a parental consent form for travel.

This is an essential document that most domestic and international airlines require from a minor child to be onboarded for a flight. Besides that, a travel permission form is usually presented to immigration border officials in order to enter or exit the country.

A child travel consent letter confirms the following information:

• that a child’s parent or legal guardian gives their consent for a child to travel; and
• that a child’s parent or legal guardian is fully aware of details of such a trip (e.g., departure and return dates, embarkation ports, hosting party at the destination, etc.).

A minor travel consent form has emerged as a reaction to numerous cases of child abduction and unlawful trafficking.

A comprehensive travel permission form should contain the following details:

• full name, date of birth, and residential address of a child;
• full name, residential address, and contact details of a parent/legal guardian who issues a child travel consent;
• details of itinerary (e.g., airport of departure, departure time, flight number, name of airlines, destination airport);
• details of an accompanying person (applicable for a situation when a child is traveling with a school teacher, for instance);
• additional information about a child (e.g., allergic reactions, emergency contact details);
• supporting document (e.g., copy of a child’s certificate of birth, copy of a parent’s passport).

Who signs an authorization to travel with a minor?

A travel permission form should always be signed by a parent or legal guardian to become a valid document. However, depending on the situation, a person authorized to sign such a form may differ.

The child travels alone.

When a child travels alone, it means that both parents are involved in signing a travel authorization for minors.

However, if parents are divorced and only one parent has legal custody over a child, in that case only that parent has to sign a travel consent form. Legal custody is a child’s parental responsibility that is being assigned to one or both parents after a divorce. In that case we would also recommend attaching a child custody agreement or a court order confirming a solo legal custody of either parent.

At the same time, if parents are divorced but share legal custody (i.e., have a shared responsibility) over a child, in that case both parents have to sign a document.

If a child does not have parents but a legal guardian, then a legal guardian has to put their signature in the document. Besides that, along with a travel permission form, a court order establishing guardianship over a child should be attached as well.

Child travels with one parent.

For this type of situation, a child traveling with one parent should use an international consent form. This is a document by which one parent gives permission to the other parent to travel internationally with their common child.

Such a consent could be issued in either of two situations:

• First, when parents are married and either of them wishes to go abroad with a child; or
• Second, when parents are divorced or separated but have joint legal custody of their child.

Child travels with a third party.

This type of consent form for a minor to travel is used in the following circumstances:

• Child travels with a relative (e.g., grandmother, uncle) who has reached the age of majority.
• Child travels with a school teacher (e.g., to participate in a math competition in the other state);
• Child travels with a trainer or coach (e.g., to participate in a rugby match).

In that case both parents are required to sign the travel permission form in question. If parents are divorced or separated, a travel consent form should be signed by the custodial parent. This is a parent who has sole legal custody over a child. If both parents share legal custody after the divorce, then both signatures are also required.

Key Information for a Child Travel Consent Form

The absence of a travel consent form for minors is the reason to stop the trip immediately. At the same time, having an incomplete or incorrectly drafted document may also lead to serious legal consequences. Below you can see the list of essential components every travel with minor consent form should have.

Information about a Child

A minor consent travel form should always be drafted for each child separately. If you have two children who will be traveling soon, it means that you would need to have two separate consent forms.

For both international and domestic flights, the child’s full name, date and place of birth, and their passport number and passport details should be included.

Accompanying Adult

This section only applies to cases when a child travels with either parent or with a third party like a teacher or sports coach. In that case a minor child travel consent form should include the full name of the adult, passport information, contact details, and their relationship to the child.

Travel Details

This part should provide as much information as possible. Do not hesitate to include the following details:

• destination country, city, or town;
• the dates of travel;
• hosting location (e.g., name and address of a hotel);
• contact information about the host;
• brief reason for the trip (e.g., holiday, visiting family, sports team event).

Information about a signing party

This is information about a parent, parents, or legal guardian who is authorized to sign a travel consent form for a minor. It should include full name, address, passport details, relation to a child, and a signature.

Getting Your Child’s Travel Consent Form Ready

Preparing this travel consent form properly can save you a lot of stress later. Below we prepared a list of essential tips you may consider before traveling with a child.

Specific Country Requirements

Neither federal nor state laws define the content or format for a minor consent travel form. Therefore, before drafting a minor travel consent template, check:

The embassy’s official website for the country you plan to visit. Usually all the essential requirements for a travel consent form should be listed here.

The official website of the airline, which will be used for a domestic or international flight with a child.

This is how you may know if a travel permission form should be notarized, witnessed, or both. Think also about the language of a travel consent form. If English is not the official language of a country your child travels to, make sure you have a certified translation attached.

Accuracy of Information

When filling in a child travel consent form in the USA, make sure the information you insert is accurate and corresponds to official documents (e.g., passport, child birth certificate, etc.).

Even a minor mistake may lead to a document being incomplete and a trip being suspended.

Creating a Child Travel Consent Form Template

There are lots of free child travel consent templates available online. However, we would not recommend using them, and here is why:

• A free child travel consent form template may not reflect details of your particular case; or
• A free child travel consent form template may contain legal mistakes and might not be up to date.

Children with medical conditions

If the traveling child has pre-existing medical conditions, this should be noted. Besides that information about medications, allergies, and doctor’s contact details should also be attached.

A permission to travel with a minor template may also contain parents’ consent for urgent medical treatment when necessary. It is also common to include a parent’s authorization to adopt urgent medical decisions on their behalf if it is not possible to reach them.

Supporting Documents

When a child travels internationally, along with a consent form for a minor to travel, the following supporting documentation should be attached:

• A photocopy of the child’s birth certificate;
• A copy of a marriage certificate (if a child travels with either parent who is married);
• A copy of a divorce certificate (if a child travels with either parent who is separated);
• Copy of a court order for child custody (if a child’s parents are divorced or separated);
• A copy of a death certificate (if a child’s parent is dead).

Photocopies of the passports or photo IDs of the parents/guardians who signed the consent form.

Signing a Child’s Travel Form

All legal documents should be signed; a child travel consent form is not an exception. Depending on a specific country’s requirements, inserting a witness’s signature might be required.