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Letter of consent for a child to travel abroad (Scotland)
Scotland · in English · for parents
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For a parent or anyone else with parental responsibilities and rights who is not going on the trip: a signed letter consenting to a child travelling abroad with the other parent, grandparents or a school. In Scotland no one may take a child under 16 who lives here habitually out of the United Kingdom without the consent of a person who has the right to have the child living with them or to keep in contact — of both parents, where both have it (Children (Scotland) Act 1995, s 2(3) and (6)). There is no official form. The letter names the child, the trip and the dates, and gives your telephone number so that border staff or an airline can check it.
- Made for use in Scotland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- Your child is going on holiday abroad with the other parent and you are staying in Scotland.
- The grandparents are taking your child away and the airline may ask for a letter.
- Your child has a different surname from the adult travelling and you want no questions at the border.
- You want to give written consent for a school trip abroad.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Parent
- Parent's address
- Town or city
- Parent's postcode
- Phone
- Date
- Child's name
- Your relationship to the child (e.g. mother, father, guardian)
- Child's date of birth
- Child's passport number
- Trip (country, resort, hotel)
- Travelling from
- Travelling until
- Accompanying adult (blank if the child travels alone)
- Itinerary: transport and accommodation
Common questions
- Who must consent before a child who lives in Scotland goes abroad?
- Unless a court order says otherwise, a person who has, and is exercising, the right to have the child living with them, or to keep personal relations and direct contact with the child — and, where both parents have such a right, both of them (Children (Scotland) Act 1995, s 2(3) and (6)). So usually both parents consent. An unmarried father has parental responsibilities and rights if he is registered as the father on a birth registered after 4 May 2006, or by agreement or court order.
- Is it a crime in Scotland to take a child abroad without the other parent’s consent?
- In Scotland, taking a child out of the United Kingdom is a criminal offence under section 6 of the Child Abduction Act 1984 only where a court order about the child is in force. Without one, it still breaks the civil rule in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, which a court can enforce. If the other parent refuses, the sheriff court can decide the question by a specific issue order, or grant an interdict to stop a trip.
- Does a consent letter for a child travelling from Scotland need to be witnessed?
- Scots law does not require it. A signed letter with a copy of your passport or driving licence is what border staff and airlines usually look for. Some destinations want the signature certified by a notary public, or an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, for a fee; check the destination’s entry requirements in the FCDO’s foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. Each person with parental responsibilities and rights who is not travelling signs their own letter.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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