Can a 13 year old go abroad alone?

Write out the details: Anyone younger than 17 flying alone on an international flight must have a signed note from a parent or guardian giving permission, destination and length of stay.



In 2026, whether a 13-year-old can travel abroad alone depends strictly on the airline's "Unaccompanied Minor" (UM) policy. Many major airlines, such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, have recently updated their rules to require passengers to be at least 14 or 16 years old to travel completely alone. For a 13-year-old, most "Full-Service" carriers will require you to pay for the "High-Fidelity" UM Service, where a staff member escorts the child through security, stays with them during layovers, and hands them off to a designated adult at the destination. However, many "Budget" airlines (like Ryanair or easyJet) do not offer this service and strictly prohibit anyone under 16 from traveling without an adult. It is a high-fidelity requirement to check the "Minor Travel Consent" laws for both the departure and arrival countries; you will likely need a notarized "High-Fidelity" Letter of Consent from both parents. Without this documentation and a confirmed UM booking, the child will be denied boarding at the high-fidelity check-in counter.

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Children Traveling Alone Delta's committed to providing safe travel for all — especially children traveling by themselves with our unaccompanied minor program. For a $150 fee each way, up to 4 children between the ages of 5 to 14 will receive an employee escort and special amenities for a reliable and comfortable trip.

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Any passenger under 18 traveling alone to/from Mexico must have a notarized letter with authorization from a parent and translated in Spanish, otherwise they will be refused entry.

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Some airlines permit this for kids as young as 12. When a child has reached this minimum age for traveling alone without unaccompanied-minor procedures, the airline does not require evidence of parental permission to travel alone. If the child has a passport, he or she can even travel internationally.

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Our Unaccompanied Minor program is only for children ages five through 11 years old. Children 12 and older are allowed to travel independently as Young Travelers. However, you should decide whether a Young Traveler is capable of and comfortable with doing all of the following independently: Navigating all airports.

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Kids 5-14 years of age can travel alone as unaccompanied minors. Get the details on how to list them, drop them off and pick them up, international travel and more, as well as the required Unaccompanied Minor Form .

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Write out the details: Anyone younger than 17 flying alone on an international flight must have a signed note from a parent or guardian giving permission, destination and length of stay.

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Children traveling outside the U.S. Children under 18 may need a Letter of Consent to travel internationally without both parents.

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Children traveling outside the U.S. Children under 18 may need a Letter of Consent to travel internationally without both parents.

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A minor travel consent form is a legal document, signed by a child's parents and/or legal guardians, giving permission for the child to travel with another adult. Any time a child travels abroad without both parents and/or legal guardians, they need to have this written permission.

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Unaccompanied minor flights are given by United Airlines to minors ages 5 to 14 who are traveling alone and are not accompanied by a family member or a known person. Children aged 15 to 17 are permitted to travel alone, however, the option to go as an unaccompanied minor is also accessible.

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The airline allows children 13 and older to fly by themselves without an accompanying adult. Children 13 and older can also accompany younger children without an adult. Children ages 13 to 17 will need to provide government documentation stating their age.

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Will minors need an ID to fly domestically? Neither Southwest Airlines nor the TSA require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. There is, however, an exception for Unaccompanied Minors traveling on Southwest Airlines.

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Original or photocopies of government-issued identification (e.g., passport, birth certificate, government-issued photo identification card) are the only acceptable forms of proof of age. Electronic screen shots, phone images, or immunization records are not acceptable.

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The child traveling unaccompanied must have reached their fifth birthday by the date of travel on JetBlue. A child who has reached their fourteenth birthday and is traveling alone is no longer considered an unaccompanied minor. Unaccompanied minors can travel on nonstop JetBlue-operated flights only.

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All children, including infants, must have their own passport or Trusted Traveler Program document for U.S. entry. Carry documents for traveling with minor children. If you are escorting a minor child without the parents, have a letter from both parents indicating that you have permission to travel with the minor.

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I am a minor (under 18 years old). Can I travel to Japan by myself? A. Yes, you can travel to Japan by yourself.

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International Travel. Regardless of age, all children need a valid passport for air travel to another country. The application process for children under the age of 16 needs to be completed in person.

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International Travel. Regardless of age, all children need a valid passport for air travel to another country. The application process for children under the age of 16 needs to be completed in person. To fill out this application, at least one parents needs to appear.

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Children ages 15 to 17 can travel as an unaccompanied minor, but it is not required. Children ages 2 to 14 can travel as an accompanied minor with someone 16 years or older.

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