It can feel daunting if your child needs to travel without you accompanying them, but, by using a Letter of Consent to Travel for a minor, you can ensure that their journey is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

A Child Travel Consent Form is a document used to grant permission for somebody under 18 to travel without their parents or legal guardians. This form is particularly important for international travel but is also useful for domestic journeys.

In this Aatos guide, we’ll cover what a child travel consent form actually is, as well as why you should use one and how to draft one that will stand up to scrutiny from airline staff and border officials.

What is a Child Travel Consent Form?

The role of this Consent Letter for Travel is to inform authorities and foreign officials that the child has permission to travel, helping to prevent any concerns and delays regarding child abduction or trafficking.

Why are Child Travel Consent Letters Important?

These Consent Letters ensure that children travelling with one parent, relatives, or friends have the proper documentation to avoid issues during their journey. For instance, if a child is travelling abroad with one parent, a Consent Letter from the other parent helps clarify custody arrangements and prevents misunderstandings with immigration authorities.

Travelling without a Consent Letter for children travelling abroad can lead to significant hurdles, such as being delayed or even denied at border control.

How to Draft a Travel Consent Letter?

Creating a Travel Consent Letter for a Child involves clear steps to ensure it's comprehensive and legally sound.

Here's a simple guide to help you draft an effective letter:

1. Start with the Basics: Include the child's full name and date of birth to clearly identify them.
2. Detail the Travel Plans: List the travel dates and all destinations. This helps authorities verify the child’s itinerary.
3. Accompanying Adults: Clearly state the names and contact details of any adults who will be travelling with the child.
4. Emergency Contacts: Provide contact information for emergencies. This should include phone numbers of the child’s guardians who are not travelling.
5. Use Clear Language: Write in simple, direct language to avoid any potential misunderstandings or ambiguities. If your child is travelling abroad, it could also be worth translating the document into the language of their destination.

Often the simplest way to draft this letter is by downloading a sample Letter of Consent to Travel, which you can customise to your unique situation. You can then print and sign it, and scan the finalised, signed version.

Child Travel Consent – Free Template

⚠️ Important Note: This is a basic template and may need to be adjusted based on specific requirements or additional regulations for certain countries.

Child Travel Consent Form

This Child Travel Consent Form is used to provide legal authorisation for [Child’s Full Name] to travel with [Accompanying Person’s Full Name], if applicable, and confirms the consent of the child’s parents or legal guardians for the specified travel arrangements.

1. Child’s Information

• Full Name: ______________________________________
• Date of Birth: ____________________________________
• Passport Number (if applicable): __________________________

2. Travel Details

• Destination(s): __________________________________
• Departure Date: __________________________________
• Return Date: _____________________________________

3. Accompanying Person’s Information (if applicable)

• Full Name: ______________________________________
• Relationship to Child: _____________________________
• Contact Information: ______________________________

4. Parent(s) or Legal Guardian(s) Information

• Full Name(s): ____________________________________
• Relationship to Child: _____________________________
• Contact Information: ______________________________
• Passport Number (if applicable): ____________________

5. Purpose of Travel (Optional)

The purpose of travel is [Specify Purpose, e.g., vacation, school trip, family visit].

6. Medical Authorisation (Optional)

The parent(s)/guardian(s) grant permission to the accompanying person to make medical decisions on behalf of the child if needed during the travel period.

7. Emergency Contact

• Name: __________________________________________
• Relationship: _____________________________________
• Contact Number(s): _______________________________
• Email Address: ___________________________________

8. Signature of Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

I/we, [Parent or Guardian Name(s)], hereby give consent for my/our child, [Child’s Full Name], to travel as specified above. I/we understand and acknowledge that by signing this document, I/we grant permission for the named accompanying person to be responsible for the child during the specified travel period.

Parent/Guardian Signature:

Printed Name: ___________________
Date: ______________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: (if applicable)

Printed Name: ___________________
Date: ______________________

Notarisation (Optional but recommended for international travel)

This document was signed before me on this ______ day of ____________, 20.

Notary Public Signature:

Seal/Stamp: ___________________

Notarisation Requirements for Travel Consent Letters

In the UK, notarisation of a Travel Consent Letter is not always mandatory, but it is highly recommended for international travel. Notarising the document serves to verify the identity of the signatory and the authenticity of their signature, adding legal weight to the letter.

This extra step can be crucial in preventing issues at border control, as it reassures authorities that the consent is legitimate and that all details have been officially validated.

For notarisation, you'll need to visit a Notary Public who will witness the signing and seal the document.

Ensure Your Child's Journey

Using a Letter of Consent for Travel is the best way to ensure that your child’s journey passes without a hitch, ensuring that border officials and airline staff understand who the adult responsible for looking after your child on the journey is, as well as seeing that you approve of this arrangement.

Notarising and translating the document into the language of your child’s destination is a smart idea, but not essential. These steps simply add an extra layer of peace of mind that the letter of consent will be understood and respected properly.