Other Names
The minor child travel consent form might also be referred to as:
- Consent Letter for Children Traveling Abroad
- Travel Permission Letter for Minors
- Permission to Travel Letter
- Parent Permission Letter for Travel
- Travel Consent Letter
Traveling With One Parent or Guardian
The child travel consent form is highly recommended when traveling abroad without both parents or legal guardians.[1] This is to combat the increasing number of children who fall prey to trafficking and the abduction of children in custody proceedings.[2]
Does the child travel consent form need to be notarized?
When traveling to certain countries, such as Canada or Mexico, it is recommended but not required that the consent form be notarized. Parents and legal guardians can look up a country’s specific requirements at Travel.State.Gov.
Unaccompanied Minors
Most airlines have unaccompanied minors policies and procedures in place, and it is important to verify with the airline directly when planning for a minor to travel alone.[3]
For example, American Airlines uses the following guidelines[4]:
- Children under 5 years old are not permitted to travel alone.
- Children aged 5 to 7 can travel on some nonstop flights with the unaccompanied minor service.
- Children aged 8 to 14 can travel on nonstop and connecting flights with unaccompanied minor service.
- Children 15 to 17 have the option to use the unaccompanied minor service.
Each airline will charge a fee for the unaccompanied minor service in each direction. The parent or guardian may need to fill out an airline-specific form and get a security pass to take the minor child to the gate and to pick them up on their return.
Sample
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
MINOR (CHILD) TRAVEL CONSENT
THE PARENT(S).
I/We, [PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) NAME], am/are the lawful custodial parent(s) and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of:
THE MINOR.
Full Name: [MINOR’S NAME]
Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Place of Birth: [LOCATION]
Passport Number (if applicable): [PASSPORT #]
- Country of Issuance: [COUNTRY]
- Date Issuance: [MM/DD/YYYY]
- Date of Expiration: [MM/DD/YYYY]
TRAVELING ALONE/ACCOMPANYING PERSON. (check one)
☐ – I authorize my child to travel alone.
☐ – I authorize my child to travel with the following individual/organization:
- Individual/Organization Name: [FULL NAME]
- Relationship to Child (if applicable): [RELATIONSHIP]
- U.S. or Foreign Passport Number (if applicable): [PASSPORT #]
- Country of Issuance: [COUNTRY]
- Date Issuance: [MM/DD/YYYY]
- Date of Expiration: [MM/DD/YYYY]
ITINERARY
I acknowledge that my child is traveling to [DESTINATION] with [NAME OF ADULT/ORGANIZATION] with my permission during the period beginning on [MM/DD/YYYY] and ending on [MM/DD/YYYY].
SIGNATURES
Parent / Legal Guardian Signature: ____________________________ Date: _____________
Print Name: ____________________________
Parent / Legal Guardian Signature: ____________________________ Date: _____________
Print Name: ____________________________