Consent for a child to travel abroad

Published byDocMuse

When a child leaves the country with only one parent or with another adult, border control asks for the other parent's written consent. The declaration names the countries, the period and the accompanying adult by name. The signature has to be notarised — without that the document is of no use at the border. We prepare the wording; the notarisation is done at a notary.

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Common questions

Does the declaration have to be notarised?

Yes. The parent's signature is notarised — that is the central requirement where a child travels abroad with one parent or with another person. An unnotarised declaration is generally not accepted at the border.

Is it needed if the child travels with both parents?

No. The declaration exists for the cases where one parent is absent — travel with a grandparent, with a group, with a teacher, or with only the mother or the father. Where both travel with the child, consent does not have to be proved.

The other parent refuses to sign. What then?

A refusal is not got round with a document but through the courts — a court can supply the missing consent. That takes time, so the question is settled before tickets are bought, not in the week before the trip.

How long is the declaration valid for?

For as long as it is given for — which is why there are fields for the period and the countries. A declaration for one particular trip will not do for the next, and an overly general one is sometimes challenged. Match it to the actual itinerary.