Child Travel Consent Letter

Child Travel Consent Letter: Show the Trip Has a Parent's Agreement

A child travel consent letter is a signed letter from a parent or legal guardian confirming that they agree to a child travelling without them, or with only one parent. It sets out the child's details, the trip and dates, who the child is travelling with, how to contact the parents or guardians, and anything else you want to add, such as medical needs. Robot Lawyer drafts the letter from your answers, for the law of the country or state you choose, and on the Verified plan a qualified legal professional checks it within 24 hours before you sign.

CONTENTS

What Is a Child Travel Consent Letter?

A child travel consent letter (also called a travel consent form or a parental consent letter for travel) is a short letter that a border official, airline or travel company can read to check that a child is travelling with the agreement of the people responsible for them.

It is not always a legal requirement, but many border officials and carriers ask for one, especially when a child travels with only one parent, with another adult or alone, or has a different surname from the adult they travel with.

When Should You Use One?

• Travelling with one parent
  When the other parent is not on the trip.
• Travelling with another adult
  Grandparents, relatives, family friends or a coach.
• School and group trips
  When an organisation such as a school or sports club takes the child.
• Travelling alone
  When the child flies or travels as an unaccompanied minor.
• Different surnames
  When the child's surname differs from the adult they travel with.

What's Included in Your Letter?

• The child
  The child's name, date of birth and passport details.
• The consent
  Who gives consent and how they are related to the child.
• The trip
  Where the child is going, the dates and how they are travelling.
• The adult travelling with the child
  Their details and relationship to the child.
• Contact details
  How to reach the parents or guardians during the trip.
• Emergency contacts
  Up to two other people to contact if needed.
• Anything else
  Medical needs, allergies or other details you want to add.
• Signature and witness
  A signature section, with space for a witness or notary if you need one.

How to Write a Child Travel Consent Letter

A good consent letter is short, specific and easy for an official to check at a glance. Whether you write it yourself or use Robot Lawyer, make sure it includes:

• Names as they appear on the passports
  The child's full name exactly as it appears on their passport or identity document, with their date of birth and passport number, so an official can match the letter to the document in front of them.
• Exact dates and places
  The departure and return dates and every country or place the child will visit. A letter that only mentions a holiday abroad is harder to rely on.
• The adult in charge
  The name of the adult the child travels with, their relationship to the child and their passport number. For a school or club trip, the organisation and the group leader.
• How to reach you
  A phone number and email address on which an official or carrier can confirm your consent during the trip, ideally one that works from abroad.
• Everyone who needs to consent
  If more than one person has parental responsibility and the destination expects all of them to agree, each of them should sign.
• Supporting documents
  A copy of the child's birth or adoption certificate, and any marriage, divorce, name change or court document, if the child's surname differs from the adult's.

Tips for Travelling With a Consent Letter

Print the signed letter, give the original to the adult travelling with the child and keep a copy yourself. Many families also keep a photo of it on a phone in case the paper copy is lost. Sign the letter shortly before the trip so the dates and contact details are current, and write a new letter for each trip rather than reusing an old one.

Check the entry and exit rules of every country on the route well before you travel. Some countries have their own consent forms, ask for the letter to be notarised or translated, or will not let a child leave without the consent of both parents. Airlines and travel companies can also have their own rules for children travelling alone, often with a separate form to complete at check-in.

A consent letter does not replace a passport, visa or court order. If a court order covers where the child lives or whether they can travel, carry a copy and make sure the trip complies with it. If the child needs medical treatment while away, a Child Medical Consent Letter can sit alongside this letter.

How It Works on Robot Lawyer

1. Answer the questions
   Tell us about the child, the trip, who they travel with and how to contact you.
2. Generate your letter
   We draft a clear consent letter from your answers.
3. Get it verified
   On the Verified plan, a qualified legal professional checks your letter within 24 hours and makes amendments where needed. The Essentials plan does not include this check. See how our documents are verified.
4. Sign and travel
   Print and sign it, have it witnessed or notarised if the destination or carrier asks for that, and give it to the adult travelling with the child.

What Your Document Looks Like

Your letter is a short, signed letter: who is giving consent, the child's details, the trip, who the child is travelling with, contact details, and a signature section with space for a witness or notary. Here is an extract from a sample letter we generated:

This consent applies only to the trip and dates described in this letter. It does not change any custody, residence or parental responsibility arrangements.

How It Works in Different Countries

• UK
  There is no official form, but UK Border Force and many carriers may ask for evidence of consent, especially when a child travels with only one parent or has a different surname.
• United States
  US Customs and Border Protection recommends a consent letter when a child travels abroad without both parents, and some countries ask for it to be notarised.

Some destinations have their own forms or require a notarised letter. Check the rules for the countries the child is travelling to and from, and with the airline or travel company.

Child Travel Consent Letter FAQs

Does my child need a travel consent letter?

Often, yes. It is not always required by law, but border officials and carriers may ask for one when a child travels without both parents.

Who should sign the letter?

A parent or guardian with parental responsibility, and anyone else with parental responsibility who also agrees. Your letter has a signature section for each person giving consent.

Does the letter need to be notarised?

Some countries and carriers ask for a notarised or witnessed letter. Your letter includes space for this, so check what your destination requires.

Can I use it for travel within my own country?

Yes. Your letter works for trips abroad or within the same country, such as a school trip or a stay with relatives.

How long is a child travel consent letter valid for?

It covers the trip and the dates it describes. Write a new letter for each trip so the details are current.

Can one parent take a child abroad without the other parent's consent?

It depends on the law where the child lives and on any court order. In many countries a parent needs the consent of everyone with parental responsibility, or a court's permission, before taking a child abroad, so check the rules before you book.

What should the adult travelling with the child carry?

The signed letter, the child's passport and copies of any birth certificate or court documents that show the relationship, especially if their surnames differ.

Can I use this letter outside the UK?

Yes. Your letter is drafted under the law of the country or state you choose. Our lawyers are qualified in England and Wales and, on the Verified plan, check documents for good practice, clear formatting and the law of England and Wales. They are not qualified in other countries' law, so if your letter is governed by another country's law, we recommend having a local lawyer check it too.

Create a Child Travel Consent Letter

Give the adult travelling with your child the letter they may be asked for. You can start with a 7-day free trial. See our pricing for the plans. Related documents: Child Medical Consent Letter and Child Care Contract.