Child Travel Consent Form
A consent letter for a child traveling without one or both parents: the child, the travelling adult, the destination and dates, contacts and signatures.
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I, [parent or guardian], the parent or legal guardian of [child's name], born on [date of birth], give consent for [child's name] to travel to [destination] with [adult travelling with the child] from [date] to [date].
| Child | [child's name], born [date of birth] |
| Traveling with | [adult] |
| Destination | [destination] |
| Dates | [date] to [date] |
| Parent contact | [parent]: [phone and email] |
In an emergency, [the travelling adult] may seek medical care for [the child] and should contact me as soon as possible.
I can be contacted at the numbers above at any time during the trip.
Notarization (if required)
Signed before me on ____________________ by ____________________________.
What is a Child Travel Consent Form?
A child travel consent form is a signed letter in which a parent or legal guardian gives permission for a child to travel without them — with the other parent, a grandparent, a relative, a friend or a group. It names the child, the adult traveling with them, the destination and the dates, and how to reach the parents. Border officers and airlines may ask why a child is traveling without both parents. Without a letter, a family trip can stall at check-in or at the border while someone tries to reach a parent.
Parents use a travel consent letter when one parent takes a child abroad alone, when grandparents or other relatives take a child on vacation, and when a child travels with a school, sports, church or scout group. Separated and divorced parents often use one so that the other parent’s agreement is in writing before the trip. It is also called a minor travel consent letter or a letter of consent to travel. It is worth carrying on trips within the US too: it costs nothing, answers questions if they come up, and helps if the child needs medical care.
There is no single standard form. The country a child is entering or leaving may have its own rules, forms or language requirements, so check its embassy’s website before you book. Airlines set their own rules for children traveling with one parent or without a parent, and their unaccompanied minor services use their own forms. In the US, check the State Department’s travel pages for the destination and US Customs and Border Protection’s guidance on children traveling without both parents; in Canada, the UK or India, check your own government’s travel advice. Some destinations expect the letter to be notarized, translated or apostilled; others accept a signed letter.
A consent letter is evidence that a parent agreed to a trip, not a guarantee that the child will be allowed to board or to enter a country. It does not replace a passport, visa or entry authorization, which must come from the proper authorities. It does not change custody, make the traveling adult a guardian or override a court order; if a custody order says anything about travel, follow the order and get legal advice. This page is not legal advice, and the parent who signs can withdraw consent.
What to put in a Child Travel Consent Form
These are the details this template asks for. Anything left blank is marked in red on the preview so you can see what is still missing.
| Field | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Child's full name | For example: Lily Anne Hayes |
| Child's date of birth | For example: March 14, 2016 |
| Child's passport number optional | Free text |
| Parent or guardian giving consent | For example: Robert Hayes |
| Their phone and email | For example: (555) 010-4421 · robert.hayes@example.com |
| Second parent or guardian optional | For example: Susan Hayes |
| Second parent's phone and email optional | For example: (555) 010-4422 |
| Adult travelling with the child | For example: Margaret Hayes (grandmother) |
| Their phone optional | For example: (555) 010-7781 |
| Destination | For example: Toronto, Canada |
| Leaving on | Free text |
| Returning on | Free text |
| Purpose of the trip optional | For example: Family holiday |
| Where they will stay optional | For example: Harbourfront Hotel, 75 Queens Quay, Toronto |
| Allow the adult to get medical care in an emergency? | Free text |
| Add a space for a notary? | Free text |
How to fill out a child travel consent form
Check what the trip requires
Before you fill anything in, look up the rules for every country on the route, including any you only pass through, on the embassy websites and the State Department’s country pages. Ask the airline, cruise line or tour operator what it needs. Find out whether both parents must sign, whether the letter must be notarized or translated, and whether the destination has its own form. If it does, use that form, and carry this letter as well if it adds useful details.
Enter the child’s details exactly as on the passport
Type the child’s full name and date of birth exactly as they appear on the passport or other travel document, including middle names. Add the passport number for an international trip; it ties the letter to the document the officer is holding. If the child’s last name differs from a parent’s, carry a copy of the birth certificate as well, because it shows the relationship the letter relies on.
Name the parents and the adult traveling with the child
Enter the parent or guardian giving consent, with a phone number and email that will work during the trip. If both parents are staying home, add the second parent and have both sign. If one parent is traveling, the other parent gives consent and the traveling parent goes under ‘Adult traveling with the child’. Write that adult’s full name as on their passport, with the relationship in parentheses, such as ‘Margaret Hayes (grandmother)’, and add their phone number.
Describe the trip and the emergency care
Give the destination city and country, and list every country if there is more than one. Set the leaving and returning dates to cover the whole trip, including travel days. The purpose and the address where the child will stay are optional, but officers may ask, and the address helps if you need to reach them. Leave the emergency care question on ‘Yes’ to add a line letting the traveling adult seek medical care; for fuller medical details, add a medical consent form for a minor.
Sign, notarize if needed, and carry copies
Each parent signs and dates the letter. If you will use a notary, leave the notary question on ‘Yes’ so the letter has a space for one, and sign in front of the notary rather than beforehand; the notary may complete that space or attach the certificate their state requires. Attach copies of the parents’ passports or driver’s licenses. Give the original to the traveling adult with the child’s passport, keep a copy at home, and keep a photo of it on your phone.
Child travel consent letter examples
Two sample letters as the form prints them: one for a child traveling with a grandparent, and one for a child traveling abroad with one parent. Change every detail, and check what your destination and airline require.
Sample consent letter: child traveling with a grandparent
Child Travel Consent
We, Robert Hayes and Susan Hayes, the parents or legal guardians of Lily Anne Hayes, born on March 14, 2016, give consent for Lily Anne Hayes to travel to Toronto, Canada with Margaret Hayes (grandmother) from December 19, 2026 to December 28, 2026.
Child: Lily Anne Hayes, born March 14, 2016
Traveling with: Margaret Hayes (grandmother) · (555) 010-7781
Destination: Toronto, Canada
Dates: December 19, 2026 to December 28, 2026
Purpose: Holiday visit to family
Staying at: Home of Daniel and Priya Hayes, 18 Birch Avenue, Toronto, ON
Parent contact: Robert Hayes: (555) 010-4421 · robert.hayes@example.com
Second parent contact: Susan Hayes: (555) 010-4422 · susan.hayes@example.com
In an emergency, Margaret Hayes (grandmother) may seek medical care for Lily Anne Hayes and should contact us as soon as possible.
We can be contacted at the numbers above at any time during the trip.
Robert Hayes — signature and date
Susan Hayes — signature and date
Sample consent letter: child traveling abroad with one parent
Child Travel Consent
I, Marcus Bell, the parent or legal guardian of Noah Bell, born on July 2, 2014, give consent for Noah Bell to travel to London, United Kingdom with Dana Whitfield (mother) from November 21, 2026 to November 29, 2026.
Child: Noah Bell, born July 2, 2014
Traveling with: Dana Whitfield (mother) · (555) 010-2299
Destination: London, United Kingdom
Dates: November 21, 2026 to November 29, 2026
Purpose: Visiting relatives
Parent contact: Marcus Bell: (555) 010-3398 · marcus.bell@example.com
In an emergency, Dana Whitfield (mother) may seek medical care for Noah Bell and should contact us as soon as possible.
I can be contacted at the numbers above at any time during the trip.
Marcus Bell — signature and date
Notarization (if required)
Signed before me on ____________ by ____________.
Notary signature and seal · Commission expires
Common mistakes
- Having only one parent sign when the destination or airline expects both can stop the child at check-in or at the border, with no time left to get the second signature.
- Writing the child’s name differently from the passport, such as leaving out a middle name, gives an officer a reason to question whether the letter is about this child.
- Signing the letter before you get to the notary can mean starting again with a fresh copy, because many notaries need to watch you sign.
- Giving a phone number that will be switched off or out of reach during the trip leaves officers and the traveling adult unable to confirm consent when it matters.
- Setting a return date that ends before the real return, or not updating it when plans change, makes the letter look out of date on the way home.
Frequently asked questions
When do you need a child travel consent form?
Whenever a child travels without both parents or legal guardians, especially across a border: with one parent, grandparents, relatives, friends or a group. Some countries and airlines ask for one; others do not, but a border officer may still ask how you know the parents agree. It is also worth carrying on trips within the US, particularly if the traveling adult may need to seek medical care.
Does a child travel consent form need to be notarized?
Not always. No single rule applies everywhere: some destination countries, airlines and situations call for a notarized letter, and many accept a signed one. Notarizing makes the signatures harder to question, so it is often worth doing for an international trip. Check the destination country’s embassy, your airline and the State Department’s country pages before you travel, and allow time to visit a notary.
Does a child need a consent letter to travel with one parent?
For international trips it is widely recommended, including by US Customs and Border Protection. When a child travels abroad with one parent, officers may ask whether the other parent agrees, and a signed letter from that parent answers the question. If the other parent has died or one parent has sole custody, carry the death certificate or custody order as well. Check what the destination country and airline require.
Who should sign a child travel consent letter?
Every parent or legal guardian who is not traveling with the child. If the child travels with grandparents or a group, both parents usually sign; if the child travels with one parent, the other parent signs. A guardian appointed by a court signs in place of a parent and should carry a copy of the court order. If you are unsure who has authority to consent, ask a family lawyer before the trip.
What should a minor travel consent letter include?
The child’s full name, date of birth and passport number; the names and contact details of the parents or guardians giving consent; the name, phone number and relationship of the adult traveling with the child; the destination, dates and purpose of the trip; where the child will stay; whether the adult may seek emergency medical care; and each parent’s signature and date, with a notary’s certificate if needed.
Do grandparents need a consent letter to travel with a grandchild?
For travel abroad, in practice yes. Grandparents are not the child’s legal guardians, so a letter signed by both parents shows that they agree to the trip and tells officers who to call. Include the emergency medical line, and carry a copy of the child’s birth certificate if last names differ. For a longer stay, take a medical consent form for a minor and the child’s insurance card as well.
Is a consent letter needed for domestic flights in the US?
It is not usually asked for at airport security: the TSA does not require children under 18 to show ID when they fly with an adult within the US. Airlines set their own rules, though, such as proof of age for infants and forms for unaccompanied minors, so check with your airline. A signed letter is still useful if the adult needs to seek medical care or questions arise.
This page explains general practice and is not legal advice. Requirements differ between countries and, in some cases, between states — check what applies where the document will be used.