What is a letter of permission to travel without parents?

Updated September 23, 2023. A child travel consent form allows a minor to travel alone or with another person or group. It is written by one or both parents and can be used for domestic or international travel.



A Child Travel Consent Form (or Letter of Permission) is a formal document used when a minor under the age of 18 is traveling without both legal parents or guardians. This is a critical document for 2026 international travel as it helps prevent international parental child abduction and ensures that the child has the legal authority to cross borders. The letter should include the child's full name, birth details, passport information, and the travel itinerary, along with the contact information and signatures of the non-traveling parent(s). To be legally robust, most immigration authorities (especially in the US, Canada, and the UK) strongly recommend that the letter be notarized to verify the authenticity of the signatures. If the child is traveling with a school group, a grandparent, or only one parent, this document acts as "proof of consent" for the supervising adult to act on the parents' behalf. Carrying a copy of the child's birth certificate alongside the notarized letter is a "best practice" that ensures a smooth process through airport security and passport control.

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Customize the downloaded template or new letter with your child's information, including their full name, date of birth, or any relevant identification details. Provide specific details about the consent, such as the event or activity your child is participating in and any related dates or duration.

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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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The Permission Letter Format is as follows:
  1. Correct heading.
  2. The Date.
  3. Address the intended recipient.
  4. Recipient's Address.
  5. Salutation.
  6. Subject.
  7. The Letter's Body.
  8. Complimentary Closing.


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A Child Travel Consent Form is required where a minor child under the age of 18 is traveling internationally without both parents present.

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Sure you can do it. You need travel documentation for a minor, travel insurances, debit card preferably with chip and pin. You need to check in advance your accomondation accepts minors. You need to avoid drugs and other illegal activities.

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How do I write a consent letter for my child to travel?
  1. List your child's name, birth date/place, and passport details.
  2. Provide the parent's/guardian's name, custody information, and passport details.
  3. Add contact information for the non-traveling parents/guardians.
  4. Detail the child's destination and dates of travel.


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International travel Some airlines automatically apply the unaccompanied-minor procedures to kids through age 17 on international flights, and charge the standard unaccompanied-minor fee if applicable. Children must usually have the same passport, visa or other international entry documentation required of adults.

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The travel letter may facilitate departure from the host country and provides immigration officials at the port of entry (POE) with information necessary to admit the traveler.

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International travel Some airlines automatically apply the unaccompanied-minor procedures to kids through age 17 on international flights, and charge the standard unaccompanied-minor fee if applicable. Children must usually have the same passport, visa or other international entry documentation required of adults.

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What is a Travel Consent Form? A Travel Consent Form is a letter of permission for travel is a document where a parent or guardian acknowledges that their minor will be traveling alone or will be accompanied by an adult other than the legal guardian.

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United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requests written consent from both parents or the parent who is not accompanying the minor for minors (those less than 18 years of age) traveling to the U.S. alone or accompanied by only one parent. This written consent must be in English.

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U.S. citizen children traveling abroad You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian.

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