Permission to Travel Letters | International Travel with Minor Children

Thinking about traveling during your child's next school vacation period across international borders? Be prepared. Not only will you need your child's passport, if you are traveling without your child's other legal parent, you'll need a Permission to Travel Letter.  Download Permission toTravelConsentLetter

A child departing from the United States and other countries, traveling with only one parent, a guardian, grandparents or other adults must have a written and notarize Permission to Travel Letter from both legal parents or legal guardians to enter many countries. In fact, if the child is on a cruise ship, the child will need such a letter to participate in shore excursions. Download Permission toTravelConsentLetter

Minors traveling in groups:  Sometimes, minors under 18 leave the United States with school groups, teen tours, or friends on a vacation. Minors traveling with sports teams and academic study programs must have a similar Minor Consent to Travel form.

Immigration officials at international border crossings and transportation companies are vigilant and quick to ask for proper documentation for children crossing international borders. Proper identification (e.g., passports and visas or in some cases "enhanced driver's license" or "enhanced ID cards) must be provided for yourself and any children traveling with you. It's important to have such identification and any documents that might be required by the authorities of the country you intend to visit, and by U.S. authorities on your return to the United States with the child.

Childrens Travel Permission Letters Required for Cruises Too

Such concerns apply not only to air and land travel, but to cruise travel as well. Major cruise lines require the notarized Permission to Travel Letter for any children wishing to do any on-shore excursions.

What's a Proper Form for a Childrens Travel Permission Letter?

A notarized Permission to Travel (or Parental Consent Letter) from the child's other parent(s) or guardian(s) granting permission to cross international borders with a minor child should  include, at a minimum, the dates of travel, the accompanying adult's name, all contact information, and a notarized signature. Download Permission toTravelConsentLetter Be aware that some countries may require an apostile. You can learn more about this requirement on the State Department's website.

Is a copy of the permission to travel letter good enough? Some countries require a notarized original copy of the Permission to Travel Letter before even accepting a visa application for minors. Many countries also require that the authorization notes are in the national language of the country and notarized and authenticated by the nation's embassy or consulate. For information on the requirements for travel to a specific country by an American citizen, visit US Department of State  International Travel Information page. When in doubt about the information, it's best to call the Visa Section of the embassy or consulate of your intended destination.

Obtaining a Free Permission to Travel Letter Form

You may download a sample "Permission to Travel" letter here, print it out, fill it in, have it notarized, and carry it with you on all future international travels. Download Permission toTravelConsentLetter It is strongly recommended that children travelling alone or with one parent carry a consent letter for every trip abroad. To avoid having the validity of the letter questioned, be sure to have the consent letter certified, stamped, or sealed by an official with the authority to administer an oath or solemn declaration. Think about having several copies of the Permission to Travel Letter at the same time if you are applying for foreign visas. Carry two copies with you on your vacation in case a border official at either end asks to keep a copy or in case one copy is lost.

Why are Permission to Travel Letters Required?

It's all about protecting children and detering international child abduction. The U.S. Department of State is committed to protecting the rights of children and preventing and/or deterring  parental abductions. The requirement that travelers crossing international borders must provide an affidavit for children traveling outside their home country is due to the enhanced awareness of children's rights intended to be protected by the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. As of November 17, 2012, this treaty created to deter international child abductions is in force between the United States and 86 other countries and territories, including Canada and Mexico. You may find a complete list of signatories to the convention here.

The harm caused to children by parental abduction is well-documented in publications from the U.S. Department of Justice. See A Family Resource Guide on International Parental Abduction. To stop these tragic crimes, to help prevent the transport of runaways or children whose parents are embroiled in child-custody disputes, the State Department and cooperating American carriers require special documents such as Permission to Travel Letters from adults departing the U.S. with minors.

Another important protection for traveling children is that hospitals and doctors treating minors who are not in their home country be provided with  proper Medical Authorization forms. Some doctors or facilities may refuse to treat minors unless it is clear that the adult traveling with the child as written permission or affidavits from both parents that authorizes treatment that the child might need. In addition, proof of medical insurance coverage is also  important to provide and may be required at emergency care facilities.

Getting a U. S. Passport or Foreign Passport for a Minor

The U.S. Department of State requires that every citizen, no matter the age, traveling outside the US by air carry her own passport and appear in person to apply for one. Because of the heightened awareness of international parental abduction, the U.S. Department of State strictly enforce guidelines to get a passports for a minor. The application process usually requires the presence of both parents, with photo ID and proof of parentage. Sometimes, as when the parents do not reside in the same locale, application may be made with one parent's appearance if that parent has a notarized statement of consent from the second parent or legal guardian. The State Department requires the non-appearing parent to complete a notarized Form 3053. You can read more about this process and download the form on the State Department's website.

Exceptions are made if there's documented evidence that a minor has only one guardian; for example, divorce papers, death certificate, adoption papers or a lawyer's letter would indicate that the presence of one legal guardian is sufficient. This is a complex issue, explained in more detail on the State Department's website.  

Protecting Against Issuance of a U. S. Passport for a Minor

Parents who are or have been involved in a high-conflict divorce and child custody process may elect to enter their children into the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program . The program provides notification to parents if passport applications are made on behalf of minor children. If appropriate court orders are on file with the CPIAP, passport issuance will be denied. The Office of Children's Issues will provide more information.

Do Not Board Program

All the airlines follow this protocol. The US Airways website confirms that they enforce this during the check-in process with the posted rule: "If adult passengers do not have the proper documents, as defined by the U.S. Department of State guidelines, boarding is denied in order to comply with international regulations and the foreign immigration process."

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Visas & Travel Documents for Minors

Many foreign countries are revising their visa procedures as well given heightened concerns about global security. You may review the travel alert bulletins from the U.S. State Department here to see what concerns, if any, the U.S. Department of State has about travel to certain countries. Contact the embassy of your destination country or study the Consular Information Sheets provided at http://travel.state.gov to find out what that country's requirements will be in terms of documentation, in order to bring a child into the country.

Are you in need of an attorney to help you recover your abducted child? Telephone Jeanne M. Hannah today at (231) 275-5600. See her website http://parentalkidnapping.com for information.

Comments

[Jeanne M. Hannah]

Chuck,

No U.S. law requires written and notarized letters of permission to travel across international borders. However, the U.S. State Department has been working diligently to prevent abduction across international borders. As a result, many countries require such documentation to be presented when children are crossing international borders.

Because of our common borders with Canada and Mexico, this additional paperwork is required for international travel with minors to both of those countries. Travel agents confirm that other countries as well demand such documents. Christopher Lamora, a spokesman for the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State advises families: "Contact the embassy of your destination country or study the Consular Information Sheets provided at http://www.travel.state.gov/ to find out what that country’s requirements will be in terms of documentation, in order to bring a child into the country.”

In fact, the Consular Information Sheets issued by the U. S. State Dept., which does not make these regulations, now carry this routine warning: "In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure." See this page on the State Department's website:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1469.html

The slight inconvenience involved in getting the permission letter and having it notarized is small compared to traveling a good distance, with firm travel plans and reservations, only to be turned away for lack of the proper document.

It is also recommended that any parent who has a different surname than their child also carry a photocopy of the child's birth certificate while traveling, providing legal evidence of "guardianship" in case of trouble.

Canadian customs officers, who are the primary line of inspection for visitors, may require a notarized statement from both parents when they find a child under 18 traveling alone or with other adults. All carriers, including air, sea and land, can be fined for bringing people into Canada without the proper documentation.” A consular officer at the U.S. Office of Children's Issues ( 202/312-9700) has verified that many countries require a Permission to Travel letter, and reiterated that parents’ notarized signatures plus identification for the child (certified birth certificate or passport), were both essential.

[Chuck]

Hi,
I read your post and was curious if you have a citation for a US law requiring it? Statute? Court? Or anything like that?

Thanks!

[cera darling]

The letter of Travel should have been in effect long ago but better late then never. Parental abduction is a horrendous crime her in the USA. Putting our countries children first should be our first priority.

[Marion]

Perfect timing! I was just debating whether we should wait an extra six months to travel overseas. The answer is YES! To avoid all this hassle, we will just wait for the big 18th birthday.

Thanks so much for all your writings. You have been a wonderful resource for me throughout the last several years.