How to write a travel consent letter for a child
A child travel consent letter shows that a parent who is not traveling agrees to the trip. Include the child's full name, birth date and passport number, the traveling adult's name, the destinations and dates, and the absent parent's signature, address and phone number. Attach a copy of that parent's ID. Many travelers have it notarized, and some countries require that. Check your destination's entry rules first.
Why it matters: Border officers and airlines may ask for one when a child travels without both parents.
Steps
- Check the destination country's entry rules and the airline's rules for children.
- Write the child's full name, birth date and passport number.
- Name the adult traveling with the child and their relationship.
- List the destinations, travel dates and where you will stay.
- Have the parent who is not traveling sign it with their address and phone number.
- Attach a copy of that parent's photo ID, and have it notarized if required or advised.
- Carry the original and keep a photo of it on your phone.
Stop and call a professional if
- you need a document drafted, or to know what a form means under your state's law: ask an estate or family law attorney or a legal aid office
- there is a custody order that limits travel or the other parent will not sign: ask a family law attorney or a legal aid office before you book
Common mistakes
- Assuming a letter is never asked for on a domestic or short trip.
- Forgetting the absent parent's contact details.
- Packing the letter in checked luggage.
Outside the US or in another state: Rules differ by destination country and airline; some countries require a notarized letter or a specific form.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to write a travel consent letter for a child
What to say
A child travel consent letter shows that a parent who is not traveling agrees to the trip. Include the child's full name, birth date and passport number, the traveling adult's name, the destinations and dates, and the absent parent's signature, address and phone number. Attach a copy of that parent's ID. Many travelers have it notarized, and some countries require that. Check your destination's entry rules first.
What to show
- Check the destination country's entry rules and the airline's rules for children.
- Write the child's full name, birth date and passport number.
- Name the adult traveling with the child and their relationship.
- List the destinations, travel dates and where you will stay.
- Have the parent who is not traveling sign it with their address and phone number.
- Attach a copy of that parent's photo ID, and have it notarized if required or advised.
- Carry the original and keep a photo of it on your phone.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if you need a document drafted, or to know what a form means under your state's law: ask an estate or family law attorney or a legal aid office.
Check question
Who signs a child travel consent letter?
Answer: The parent who is not traveling. It records the absent parent's agreement.
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Related skills
Sources
- US federal guidance for citizens traveling abroad with children, 2026. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .