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Consent letter for children travelling outside Canada

A consent letter demonstrates that a child has permission to travel outside Canada from every parent or guardian who is not accompanying them on the trip.

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When to use a consent letter, how to write a consent letter.

A consent letter should be used for all cross-border travel when a child is travelling:

• with only 1 parent or guardian
• in the care of friends or relatives
• with a group, such as a sports, school, musical or religious group

This includes day trips and travel where a child will be with only 1 parent for part of a trip. For example, a child will leave Canada with both parents but will return with only 1 parent.

A consent letter is not a legal requirement in Canada, but it can simplify travel for Canadian children as it may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or by Canadian officials or airline agents when re-entering Canada.

The person who is accompanying the child should bring the original signed letter rather than a copy. Officials may be less likely to question the authenticity of an original document.

If you are travelling with a child for whom you have always been the sole parent or guardian, you can bring a document that shows you are the child’s only parent or guardian, such as a copy of a long form birth certificate that identifies you as the only parent.

If the other parent is deceased and you have full custody of your child, you should bring a copy of the death certificate of the deceased parent when accompanying the child on a trip.

The definition of a child varies from country to country, so any child under 19 years old should carry a consent letter.

Using a letter of consent outside Canada

Countries have their own entry and exit requirements for children. The consent letter may not be considered sufficient by a country’s immigration authorities and there is no guarantee that they will recognize it. In some countries, your child may be deemed to be one of its citizens if you or the other parent is a citizen of that country. As a “deemed citizen,” your child may be subject to the same entry and exit requirements as other citizens of that country.

For more information, check the entry and exit requirements in the Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination country or contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the destination country before travelling.

Travel Advice and Advisories

Foreign representatives in Canada

Risk of abduction

If there is a risk that the accompanying parent will not bring your child back to Canada, consult a lawyer and proceed with caution before signing a consent letter.

International child abduction

There are no official guidelines for the content and format of a consent letter, but they usually include:

• the name of the child
• the names and contact information of parents or guardians
• the name and relationship of the person who is accompanying the child
• information on where the child is travelling and the duration of the trip

You may use 1 letter or multiple letters depending on the situation:

• If neither parent is accompanying the child, they can both sign 1 letter or they can each sign a separate letter
• Children from the same family who are travelling together may be listed on 1 letter
• Separate letters are recommended for children who will be travelling separately for part of the trip
• Consult a lawyer when writing a letter without specific dates or for frequent cross-border trips

A sample letter and interactive form are available to guide you in writing a consent letter:

• Sample consent letter
• Interactive form for writing a consent letter

You can change the letter to fit your specific situation, but you should try to include as much detail as possible.

The consent letter should be signed by:

• Parents who are married or in a common law relationship who are not accompanying the child travelling outside Canada
• custody of the child
• decision-making responsibility for the child
• guardianship of the child (in Alberta and British Columbia)

A court order or agreement may also specify who does or does not need to sign a consent letter for a child travelling abroad.

If the child is in temporary care: The consent letter should be signed by the appropriate child welfare agency representative granting consent for the child to travel with the accompanying person. If in doubt about who should sign the letter, consult a lawyer.

If one of the parents is deceased: If the child is travelling alone or without the surviving parent, the child should carry a consent letter signed by the surviving parent and a copy of the death certificate of the deceased parent.

Signature of a witness

Any adult may witness the signing of a consent letter. It is strongly recommended that a notary public witness and sign the letter as border officials may be less likely to question its authenticity.

If you are outside of Canada, a consular officer at a Canadian government office may witness the signing of a consent letter ( fees apply ).

• Children and travel
• Travelling with Children brochure  
• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• Travelling as a dual citizen
• Children travelling to Canada  (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)

Travel Authorization Letter

Traveling can be so much fun especially when you are allowed or permitted to. But with the world thrown into disarray thanks to the chaos people have caused, there are just some countries that you cannot visit due to some circumstances (e.g., war, terror, and total communism). You may also see third party authorization letter examples .

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Depending on the country you were raised and born in, there are a number of places that you can actually visit without the need of a visa whatsoever. If you are lucky, the embassy of that certain country will accept the reason of your visit in the first place. However, if you really must insist in going to that particular country for valid purposes, then you have to come up with a travel authorization letter signed by your attorney or a notary public to vouch for you. You may also like authorization letter for a child to travel examples .

Even for children, it is crucial for the parents to write their children authorization letters for them to travel outside the country be it for personal purposes or not. For employees, it is the same thing. Especially when there is an international conference or gathering to attend to. You may also check out child care authorization letter examples .

For journalists, that is often the case. But there are people who travel simply because it is fun and for the sake of sharing what their journey in that particular country. They are called bloggers or vloggers. Now, if you are those wannabe vloggers, here are a few things that you might need to follow. You may also see formal letter examples for more details and insights.

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Pick a Good Travel Blog Name

First and foremost, it is is important that you pick a good travel blog name. Even when you are not a vlogger, people who do travel will often make use of hashtags as their insignia (e.g., #TheTravelsofMark) to let the world know where they’ve been and possibly where they are planning to go next. You may also refer to business proposal letters if you want to write a different letter.

1. Make it short and memorable

When making your travel blog, keep in mind that the name must not only be short, but it also has to be memorable enough so that people can better remember where to look next should they want for more of your content. When thinking about your travel blog domain name, make sure it should be relatively short, easy to type, easy to spell, easy to remember, and easy to share. You may also see travel invoice examples & samples .

Some researchers would actually recommend to do a little brainstorming by writing down a bunch of words you think will best describe your blog.

What words do you think would define you as a person: Adventure? Food? Culture? South America? What do you want to write about? Who are you? What is your passion? Write everything down and start playing with different combinations of words. You can always try using a thesaurus or even asking your friends for advice and suggestions. You may also like travel essay examples & samples .

2. Avoid hyphens and numbers

Numbers, hyphens, punctuation marks may be great and all for creating passwords and usernames, but it is not advisable in this case if you want to draft a cool-sounding travel blog domain name.

Even when you do not have a travel blog domain, it still doesn’t sound cool when you try to promote your travel vlog as Anthony-Travels-2019!.com. As you can see, this type of domain isn’t the greatest for word-of-mouth marketing, which happens to be the best kind of promotion next to social media and traditional media outlets (e.g., TV, radio, newspapers).

3. Avoid overused words

With so many people making travel vlogs these days for whatever purposes, you are almost so sure every word synonymous with the words travel , adventure , diary  have already been used by thousands of vloggers or bloggers out there. If you want to make your travel blog domain name original and fresh, try looking up for all the famous travel blogs in the Internet and check out what words they have not used yet. You may also see travel schedule examples & samples .

Once you have that part figured out, go to the nearest thesaurus and come up with a simpler yet cooler name than the rest. You’ll have better luck in the long run with something more original.

Auto-Install Free WordPress Software or Design Your Own Travel Blog Website

Everyone starts from somewhere. For most, they often start with WordPress as it is free and very easy to use.

But if you do not like to use WordPress, you can always learn on how to learn how to design your website using C++ or Adobe Dreamweaver or any software that you wish to use. It’s not as hard as it looks. All you need is a little patience and time and eventually, you will get used to it. However, you do not have to do everything yourself. Never be afraid to ask for help especially when you need it. You may also check out to see how appointment letters are written.

Get a Professional Blog Theme

Now, whether you are using WordPress or have designed and created your on website, it is important that you have a theme.

It does not really have to be a professional-looking kind of theme, because in the end, it is ultimately your blog and you ultimately get to decide how you would want your blog to look like. It can be as professional-looking as it can be or it can look very minimalist or even very colorful. Ultimately, the decision lies with you. But one thing about themes is that you have to make them consistent and cannot just switch themes regularly. For more information on letter writing, check out complaint letters .

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Important First Steps

1. create an about page.

“Who are you in this vast multiverse, Mr. Strange?” the question that was asked to Dr. Stephen Strange as he was traveling from one dimension to the other. What is your blog about? Why did you create it in the first place? Who is it intended for? What kind of content are you going to show in your blog? Keep it as personal as it gives an idea to the readers and to the viewers on who you are as a person: to get to know you as a person better through your videos. You may also see business application letter examples if you still need assistance in writing a letter.

2. Embrace social media

In this age and generation, social media is considered to be a very powerful tool as it contains the capability and technological advancement to connect people from all around the world with jsut a click of a button. And the best part about it, it is absolutely FREE! Unless you decide to improve your marketing plan up a notch, you do not have to worry about unnecessary expenses. You may also see  travel expense policy examples .

But keep in mind that not all social media sites are the same as each one has a very specific function toward a very specific audience. Here are some examples of some very popular social media sites:

3. Write your first post

Now that you have successfully created your very first travel blog (or just an ordinary blog), you can make your very first post. If you have already been to a particular country or state or province before, you can always start off with that as your very first blog post. If you have taken pictures or perhaps took down some notes as to your travels, you can use those to try and recall fragments of where you have gone before and post them in your blog. You may also like travel survey examples .

But if you have not gone to anywhere in particular, that is also okay. Use that opportunity to talk about yourself, who you are as a person and what you plan to publish in the near future. But to be honest, it can be about anything really.

Enroll in a Travel Blogging Course

This is not a joke. There is such a thing called a travel blogging course. And no, you are not really required to enroll in it. So why is this a recommendation? This is to simply act as a guide to tell you where to go and how to make a blog if you have not exactly made one before. You may also see email cover letters for more insight.

Why? Because becoming a professional travel blogger, as in someone who makes money with this, is far more difficult than it looks.

You need to learn how to build an audience. You need to learn how to use social media. You need to learn how to market yourself. You need to learn how to work with brands. You need to learn how to implement SEO.

Learn from the Best

You cannot learn everything on your own. Well, in a way you can always try. But then you would have to undergo the same process as those same bloggers. That would be going the hard way. Which is not exactly wrong, by the way. But if there was a simpler and more efficient way to do things, if you were already offered advice and suggestions to perform better, would you still not take it? You may also see employment verification letter examples .

To fully understand what you seem to be doing wrong and what can be done about it, you just have to simply learn from the professionals and be more open-minded to change and learning. Otherwise, you would just get nowhere.

What Should You Write About?

Now it’s time to begin creating content for your travel blog. When you first start out, the recommended publishing rate for new articles is at least 1–2 times per week. But remember, quality is more important than quantity!

Take your time to craft excellent, useful blog posts that have impact. You want your articles to inspire wanderlust, but they should include plenty of actionable tips too.

Share your favorite (or not so favorite) parts of a country. Give tips for fun things to do, share your crazy travel stories, show off your beautiful images in photo essays, create a short video tour, or give food recommendations.

Try writing about different topics to find your voice, and see what kinds of posts actually resonate with readers. For example, road trip guides do really well on my site but did not realize until later because of failure to check and monitor. You need to experiment! You may also check out employee reference letter examples  should you need more reference in writing your letters.

1. What if you’re not traveling now?

There is a saying that goes, “Do not wait for the opportunity to come to you. You have to reach for that opportunity.” You cannot wait until you have the time and resources to travel for you to update your blog. You do that, and your blog will eventually become stale and irrelevant to the public. And because of that, they learn to move on from other blogs and look for that kind of content without having to wait for you to make your eventual comeback. You may also see verification letter examples .

This is sometimes the current issue of bloggers these days: consistency and commitment. Sure, it’s fun. But the busier you are, the more you forget about it eventually making your travel obsolete and just a one-time thing. If you do not wish for that to come to pass, you should try to update your blog every now and then even if you are not traveling. You may also like how to write a verification letter examples .

One of the best and most advisable thing that you can do is to fill it up with what you already know that is in a way travel-related. For instance, let us say you went to Korea last year and wrote a blog about it already. If you are looking for a second blog post to write, you can still use Korea as an example and this time focus on its other aspect that were not mentioned in the previous blog post. You may also check out signature verification letter examples .

You can try focusing on the cultural side of the country or even the food aspect of it. For example, you can write about the 10 most popular street food in Korea or how Korean culture has spread across the whole world.

2. Network with other bloggers

Remember to read other travel blogs for inspiration and ideas, and leave thoughtful comments on their articles. Link to other people’s blog posts from your site when appropriate. Become an active member of the travel blogging community.

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Making Money with Your Blog

Let us get one thing straight first. Blogs make money. Lots of it. Depending on how popular the blog is and how much Web traffic your blog normally gets, there exists the possibility of becoming extremely popular that you might even get recognized by famous celebrities and the media and whatnot. You may also see letter of verification examples .

Become popular enough and you will soon see the fruits of your labor spring to lie with various endorsers asking you to promote their product for their travel needs.

It is not only through blogs, however, that you are able to generate that kind of cash. It i also through YouTube videos and the number of subscribers you manage to obtain. The word of mouth and the constant sharing of content to your friends and followers online will eventually increase your popularity scale. But like all good things, it takes time and hard work. If you have none of those and decide to become very impatient, you are simply rushing the process. You may also see examples of acknowledgement letters .

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Travel Goals 2018

Here is a bucket list for travelers:

1. Cross another continent off my list.

Geography tells us that there are only 7 continents in the entire world: Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Antarctica. Depending on where you live, it might be cheaper or more expensive to travel to another continent. But hey, as long as you have the money for it, then why not? You may also see salary verification letter examples .

2. Take more long weekends.

There are simply moments in our lives that we want to take a vacation from life. All the stress, the workload, our studies, our debts, and burdens—we just want to simply let go and just get away for a few days or even weeks until you are actually ready to go back to reality and face whatever is awaiting for you there. You may also like employee verification letter examples .

If life and your resources provide you with an opportunity to make your family vacation just a tad bit longer, then do so. Because not everyone can be as lucky and as fortunate as you.

3. Visit one new place per month.

For families who have celebrity-like salaries and income, the next thing in your bucket list would be to visit a new place every month. Take note that it dos not have to be international. It can simply be a local destination. Just as long as your family is happy and that everyone gets to travel, then what seems to be the problem? You may also check out income verification letter examples .

4. Go somewhere just because of a flight deal.

Flight deals happen every now and then. If ever you get the opportunity to travel because of a cheaper flight to your favorite destination, then what exactly is stopping you from having the time of your life?

The tricky things about these flight sales though is that they are always constrained by various terms and conditions being set up by the company. If you are traveling with your friends and loved ones or simply by your own, make sure to have careful planning and proper coordination to make sure everyone’s schedules are intact. You might be interested in verification of employment letter examples .

5. Budget better.

To travel light is to travel less as well. As much as people would like to splurge all they want on that vacation, there are also times that they have to properly budget their resources and allowance. Do not forget that traveling per se is already considered a luxury that not everyone can afford. If you can learn to cut back on food expenses, and living expenses as well as your shopping, then you would be fine. You may also see thank-you letter examples .

6. Take a food-focused trip.

To travel is also learning about the different cuisine that the country has to offer. There is no doubt that at some point, you would get tired of eating burgers and pastas and fried chicken and drinking sodas all the time. That is because we are so used to eating with the familiar that our taste buds have never bothered to explore the other country’s local cuisine and eatery. You may also like letter format examples .

Instead of eating at high-class restaurants all the time, try to go where the people are in night markets and sidewalks and check out what cool and innovative products they have to offer.

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Legal Templates

Home Personal & Family Child Travel Consent

Minor (Child) Travel Consent Form

Use our child travel consent form to prove that a child can travel without their parents or guardians.

Updated January 4, 2024 Written by Sara Hostelley | Reviewed by Brooke Davis

A minor (child) travel consent form is typically necessary when a child travels domestically or internationally with a relative, family friend, or another adult who isn’t their legal guardian or parent. It grants permission for a minor to travel alone or with someone other than their legal guardian or parent.

The form aims to ensure the child’s safety and well-being by providing evidence of parental or guardian consent for the trip.

What Is a Child Travel Consent Form?

When to use a child travel consent form.

• What If I'm Divorced or Separated?

What If I Have Sole Custody or Decision-Making Authority?

What if a minor travels without their parents, how to write a child travel consent form, considerations when traveling with children, child travel consent form sample.

A child travel consent form is a legal document providing written permission for a minor to travel without a parent or legal guardian. The form is primarily for when a child travels with a club/group, school, or an adult, like a family friend or relative.

Domestic vs. International Travel

A child travel consent form may allow the child to travel domestically (within the U.S.) or internationally (outside the U.S.).

Countries may have different rules for admitting children traveling without their parents. It’s important to check each country’s travel guidelines before having the child and accompanying person embark on their trip.

It can be beneficial to use it when a child under the age of 18 is traveling:

• With a group, such as a religious, musical, sports, or school group.
• With only one guardian or parent (instead of their entire family unit).
• In the care of a family friend or relative.
• By themselves.

It’s important to have a minor travel consent form in multiple scenarios. For example, suppose you and your spouse left the country together with your child. If only one parent later returns to the country with their child due to another commitment by the second parent, the parent with the child should have a consent form showing the other parent has agreed to this arrangement.

Child travel consent forms promote children’s safety and prevent international child abduction. They can also prevent a parent from taking a child due to an unfavorable custody dispute.

What If I’m Divorced or Separated?

If you’re divorced or separated, you can review your custody agreement to determine if there are any child travel restrictions or requirements . For example, the custody agreement may limit international travel . It may also demand the traveling parent to provide a certain amount of notice to the other party.

Even if both parents have joint custody, it’s good practice to notify and seek the consent of the parent who won’t be traveling with the child.

If one lawful custodial parent needs to travel with the child, the traveling guardian should obtain written consent from the other custodial parent [1] .

If you have sole decision-making authority or custody of your child, the other parent may still have visitation (access) rights. However, the parent without full custody won’t have to provide a consent letter. Instead, the parent with full custody can carry a copy of the court custody document when they travel alone with the child [2] .

If you’re the sole parent because your spouse is deceased, you can carry a copy of their death certificate. This way, you can show authorities you’re the only parent responsible for your child.

If parents have a child who needs to travel with another relative, family friend, or group, they should both sign a travel consent form.

Similarly, if minors need to travel alone, they should carry a consent form with their parents’ signatures .

Review a summary of how to write a child travel consent form:

Step 1: Provide your child’s basic information, including their name, birthdate, birthplace, passport details, and birth certificate details.

Step 2: Write your information as the parent or guardian, including your address, phone number, and address. Input the information of both parents and guardians, if applicable.

Step 3: Include the name of the person traveling with the child, including their name, relationship to the child, and passport information.

Step 4: Provide the trip details. Clarify the accompanying person, travel destination, travel dates, travel purpose, and address at the destination.

Step 5: Explain if the accompanying person has the right to seek medical attention or make medical decisions for your child. You may complete a separate child medical consent form to be more thorough.

Step 6: Provide an emergency contact person’s information, including their name, phone number, and email. Consider electing a second emergency contact person.

Step 7: Include your child’s medical insurance and health information so the accompanying person can seek medical attention and make informed decisions if you give them the authority.

Here are some considerations when traveling with children:

Check With the Embassy

Check with the U.S. embassy for the country of your child’s destination to determine the travel requirements. Some countries won’t allow children to travel unaccompanied.

If the child travels with one custodial parent or a trusted adult who isn’t a legal guardian, the country may have certain notarization requirements for the travel consent form. Ensure you know all regulations before allowing the child to travel.

Confirm Airlines’s Requirements

For domestic travel, some airlines may have specific requirements for children traveling without both custodial parents. Children may need to present a notarized letter or other documentation to avoid being seen as unaccompanied minors.

Ensure You Bring Supporting Documentation

Traveling with children can be more seamless when you bring adequate supporting documentation.

When writing your child’s travel consent form, remember that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires a passport for any U.S. citizen re-entering the country by air. The CBP highly recommends children traveling without their parents or legal guardians carry a copy of their birth certificate to help ease travel through customs [3] .

If you can’t provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, you can have them carry a driver’s license if they’re of driving age.

Parents with multiple children traveling must create separate minor travel consent forms and obtain all necessary documentation for each child.

Legal Templates uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

• USA.gov. International travel documents for children. https://www.usa.gov/travel-documents-children
• Department of Homeland Security. Travel Overseas. https://www.dhs.gov/travel-overseas
• U.S. Customs and Border Control. Documents You Will Need Before Your Trip. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/your-trip
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Travel Consent Letter

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A Travel Consent Letter is used when a child is travelling alone, with only one parent/legal guardian, or with an authorized group. This document notifies authorities or other interested parties that a parent or legal guardian has given their consent for the child to travel without them. This document can be used both for domestic travel inside Canada or international travel across country borders. Because of increasing instances of child abduction in custody cases, and a growing number of children who are the victims of trafficking or other abductions , an immigration officer, airline, or travel company may ask parents to provide some form of letter of consent if a minor child is travelling internationally with only one parent or with another adult, such as a teacher, group trip leader, or grandparent.

How to use this document?

Using this document, a parent can name the children , provide information about their passport if the trip is happening internationally, describe the circumstances of their trip and the people who will be accompanying them, and outline the travel itinerary . Finally, this letter form contains contact information for adult chaperones, if applicable, and parents or legal guardians in case someone needs to be contacted in the event of an emergency. During the signing of this letter, a witness should also sign the letter, as this is required by some airlines.

Travelling children should carry a copy of this letter with them and any adult chaperones should be given a copy of this letter to show to authority figures as needed.

Applicable Law

Although not required by law, immigration officers, law enforcement officers, or custom agents may detain a child if they suspect an abduction or kidnapping has taken place. By travelling with a Travel Consent Letter, these officers will have the necessary contact information and further assurance that no abduction or kidnapping has taken place. Remember that specific requirements for the Travel Consent Letter may vary from country to country or airline to airline. Therefore, it is vital to research the specific guidelines and templates relevant to your travel destination and carrier. Taking these proactive steps can significantly contribute to a stress-free and efficient travel experience for all parties involved.

How to modify the template?

You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions.

At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it.

A guide to help you: How to Travel with Minor Children

Other names for the document:

Child Travel Consent Letter, Children's International Travel Consent Letter, Consent Letter for Child Traveling Abroad, International Travel Consent Letter, Minor Travel Consent Letter

Country: Canada (English)

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Sample Travel Authorization Letter

Last Updated On June 25, 2018 By Letter Writing Leave a Comment

A Travel Authorization letter is written by a person who is giving authority to another individual to carry his belongings, valuables, etc. The travel authorization letter has to be addressed to the higher authorities in tourism department of the particular airline. This letter contains passport details, information about your flight and phone number or email id of the person. Since it contains sensitive information, special care must be taken with it.

This makes it easier for you to travel to other parts of the country since many states and continents out there, require this type of letter especially if you are below the age of eighteen. For example, if a school has organized a trip, you would be necessary as a parent to fill a travel authorization letter as proof that your kid has the parent’s approval to go. It is used commonly by many types of authorities and knowing how to draft it is an essential skill.

Tips to write a Travel Authorization Letter

• It is essential, especially if you are a parent to give full information about yourself and also current address and contact information in the case that you will be needed for inquiries or if something comes up.
• If it’s your child who is going on that trip, make sure to give the information about them.
• Make sure not to write a long boring letter but just a simple short letter with all the necessary information. Giving the accurate information and relevant details.
• In case if you want your child to be accompanied by another adult, you are well advised to write about that individual, giving the right information. Also, don’t forget to keep it formal.

Travel Authorization Letter Template

Use our free Letter to help you get started. If you need additional help or more examples check out some of the sample letters below.

From, __________ __________ __________ __________ Date: _____ (Date on Which Letter is Written)

To, __________ __________ __________ __________

Subject:   Travel Authorization Letter.

Dear _____(Sir/Madam or Authority),

I am __________ (Your Name), mother/father/guardian of ____________ (Name of the Kid) born on _________ (Date of Birth). His passport number is _________ (Passport Number of the Kid). I am informing you that my son/daughter is traveling with ____________ (The Guardian’s Name and your relation to him/her) on ___________ (Date of Travel) by flight number _______ from (To and Fro Location). And she/he is going to stay with him/her for ____________ (Number of Days).

I am at this moment requesting you to grant a travel authorization certificate by the name of __________ (Guardian’s Name) and give him/her the permission to travel with my son/daughter. Hence, by writing this letter, I am declaring them the travel custody. Kindly do the needful. If you need any documentation to be done, I am ready to do so. If you have any query with regards to the authorization, you can contact me on ____________ (Email ID or Contact Number).

Thanking You,

Yours truly,

Name and Signature.

Sample Letter

Mrs. Jennifer Winglet

1433 South Street,

Sheffield, 06859-US

Mr. Harriett N. Toledo

General Manager-Travel Department

Virgin Atlantic Airways Pvt. Ltd,

75 North Water St. Norwalk.

Subject: Travel Authorization Letter.

Dear Mr. Harriett N. Toledo,

I am Mrs. Jenny Myers, mother of Master John Mayers born on DD/MM/YYYY. His passport number is US-*******. I am writing this letter to inform you that my son is traveling with my sister named Miss. Aurelia J. Thomas on DD/MM/YYYY by flight number VS-**** from New Ark to Paris. And he is going to be with her for 12 days.

I am at this moment requesting you to grant a travel authorization certificate by the name of Miss. Aurelia J. Thomas and permit her to travel with my son. Hence, by writing this letter, I am declaring the travel custody. Kindly do the needful. If you need any documentation to be done, I am ready to do so. Or if you have any query with regards to the authorization, you can contact me on this number-4568 7265 41.

Email Format

The following is the Email Format that should be followed while writing a Travel Authorization Letter.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

SUBJECT: Travel Authorization Letter.

I am Mrs. Jenny Mayers, mother of Master John Mayers born on DD/MM/YYYY. His passport number is US-*******. I am writing this letter to inform you that my son is traveling with my sister named Miss. Aurelia J. Thomas on DD/MM/YYYY by flight number VS-**** from New ark to Paris. And he is going to be with her for 12 days.

I am at this moment requesting you to grant a travel authorization certificate by the name of Miss. Aurelia J. Thomas and give her the permission to travel with my son. Hence, by writing this letter, I am declaring the travel custody. Kindly do the needful. If you need any documentation to be done, I am ready to do so. Or if you have any query with regards to the authorization, you can contact me on this number-4568 7265 41.

Sheffield, 06859-US.

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Permission To Travel and Travel Consent Letters And Why You Need Them

Article By: Kyle McCarthy

Adults traveling outside the U.S. with children under 18, other than their own, must have a Permission or minor travel consent letter from both of the minors’ guardians. The travel consent letter also covers a child traveling internationally with only one birth parent, one guardian, grandparents or other adults. This written and notarized Permission to Travel Letter from both birth parents, same sex couples, or legal guardians is required to enter many countries, even on a cruise ship’s shore excursions.

“In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling on same sex marriage,” comments a State Department official, “the two parent consent requirement for passport issuance, that all legal parents/guardians of a child, as determined by state law, must consent to passport issuance, remains the same. The validity of consent to travel letters meant for foreign countries or airlines is outside the scope of the State Department.” Learn more in this video:

Travel Documents and Travel Consent Letters Help Protect our Kids

This requirement for an affidavit for children traveling outside their home country was not invented by the Department of State; in fact, it’s due to the enhanced awareness of children’s rights raised by the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction . The Dept of State explains, “The Convention is a valuable civil law mechanism for parents seeking the return of children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside their country of habitual residence by another parent or family member. Parents seeking access to children residing in treaty partner countries may also invoke the Convention. The Convention is critically important because it establishes a legal framework between partner countries to resolve parental abduction cases. The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues serves as the Central Authority for the United States under the Convention.”

Offer your family further protection with a solid travel insurance policy. Kids are insured for free through Allianz when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

As of May 2017, this treaty created to deter international child abductions is in force between the United States and 76 other countries and territories, including Canada and Mexico.

Nevertheless, international child abduction stories are in the news all the time. To stop these tragic crimes, and prevent the transport of runaways or children involved in child-custody disputes, American carriers have been told to require special documents such as Permission to Travel Letters from adults departing the U.S. with minors. Note that the country of South Africa has recently revised its entry requirements for minors traveling by air, sea or land into and through the country. A full list of Requirements for Minors Travelling Internationally to South Africa can be viewed here.

Additionally, rising health care costs and legal issues have forced many medical providers to deny medical care to minors without proper Medical Authorization forms. Increasingly, written permission or affidavits from guardians who carry the minor’s insurance coverage as well as proof of that medical insurance coverage are required at emergency care facilities.

Learn more about travel consent letters and how to understand them.

The same regulations apply to minors under 18 who are leaving the United States with school groups, teen tours, or just friends on a vacation. Sports teams and academic study programs require a similar Minor Consent to Travel form.

Read on for tips on how to make this paperwork less of a burden, or just fill in the form to to obtain sample documents you can print out and fill in.

Get Blank Permission to Travel, Minors & Medical Authorization Forms

Remember, having these essential documents for travel with minors could save your next vacation. FTF provides these documents free of charge but asks that you subscribe to our travel alerts e-mail list to keep up to date with ever-changing regulations. You may unsubscribe at any time. We do not sell, barter or trade your personal information. Read Family Travel Forum’s Privacy Policy if you have concerns.

Please complete the following form, then check your email inbox or spam filter. You will be asked to confirm your email address, then will be sent a second email with links to download a Permission to Travel and Medical Treatment Authorization Letter you can fill out and use. Keep blank copies to use on future trips.

Please fill in this form to request Travel Documents by email, and check your spam filter if you do not receive them within a few minutes. Safe Travels!

Document requesters

• Essential Documents

Canada Requirements for Minor Consent Letters

The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade reminds visitors that, “Foreign officials and transportation companies are vigilant concerning documentation for children crossing international borders. Make sure you carry the proper identification for yourself and any children traveling with you, including any documents that might be required by the authorities of the country you intend to visit, and by Canadian authorities on your return to Canada with the child.”

Canada regulations request that adults entering the country with minors also carry a photocopy of the signature page of the passport belonging to the guardian who signed the permission to travel letter.

Although minors under 16 may enter Canada from the U.S. by land or sea with only a photocopy of their U.S. birth certificate, the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) notes that children under age 18 must carry notarized travel permission letters if they are traveling without their parents.

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

To enforce the Hague Convention provisions, 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. The very strictly enforced guidelines to get a passports for a minor require the presence of both parents, with photo ID and proof of parentage, or one parent’s appearance with a notarized statement of consent from the second parent or legal guardian.

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 in FTF’s Passport Guide or on the U.S. Passport Office .

If child custody issues are a concern for you, the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program provides notification to parents of passport applications made on behalf of minor children, and denial of passport issuance if appropriate court orders are on file with the CPIAP. The Office of Children’s Issues will provide more information.

Citizens of other countries must check with their own country’s embassy, as passport issuance laws have become more strict all over the world. Many destinations now require that all foreign nationals entering their country have a passport that is valid at least six months after the planned date of departure.

If you’re planning a foreign vacation, start the passport process early. United States’ security and border regulations change frequently and the increased number of passport applications means a processing backlog at the National Passport Center.

Visas & Travel Documents for Minors

In an era of heightened global security, many foreign countries are revising their visa and documentation procedures as well. Laura Tischler, 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 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.”

A March 2019 report by Scott McCartney in the Wall St. Journal noted some other documents which might prove essential, depending on the destination. These include an original, raised stamp birth certificate for each minor in your party, extra passport photos on white backgrounds, plus about US$50 in small bills so that you can purchase entry visas on the spot. Be sure to assign a neighbor or relative back home the responsibility of retrieving some of these documents and sending them, if you need them after departure.

As one of our editors and her son discovered while checking in for an American Airlines flight to Cancun, Mexican law requires that if only one parent or non-custodial adult(s) is accompanying a minor under 18 from Mexico, he/she must carry a notarized Permission to Travel Letter (also known as a Parental Consent Letter) from the child’s other parent(s) or guardian(s) granting permission to leave Mexico with the child, including the dates of travel, the accompanying adult’s name, contact information, and a notarized signature.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, although the regulations are very specific, immigration officers often ask for a Consent Letter in much broader circumstances. They recommend “ all minors traveling without both parents carry a notarized consent letter at all times in the event airline or Mexican immigration officials request one” .

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.”

In another incident concerning a press trip to Brazil, FTF’s staff learned that 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 and navigate to the 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.

What Permission To Travel or Consent to Travel Letters Do

A consular officer at the U.S. Office of Children’s Issues verified that many countries require a Permission to Travel letter with parents’ notarized signatures, plus identification for the child (certified birth certificate or passport), and that both are essential.

Consular Information Sheets issued by the U. S. Department of State (which does not make these regulations) often carry this 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.”

A CBP spokesperson recommends that all travelers read the helpful online resource “ Know Before You Go .”

Childrens Travel Permission Letters Required for Cruises Too

Such concerns apply not only to air and land travel, but to cruise travel as well. Carnival , for example, requires the notarized Permission to Travel Letter for any children debarking in Mexico, if only on a half-day shore excursion, so it’s smart to check ahead with your cruise company. Mexican Consular Officer Hebe Cue advises, “In case of weather or other cruise delay, it’s better if adults have the notarized permission letter. In any case, it is required for American minors entering Mexico by air, no matter how long their stay.” At Royal Caribbean, an agent interviewed about Canada-bound cruises suggested single parents or other adults traveling with a minor carry notarized documentation, “to be on the safe side.”

An officer at the Canadian Tourism Commission agreed: “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.”

Obtaining a Free Permission to Travel Letter Form

We recommend you download FTF’s sample “Permission To Travel” letter, so you can print it out, fill it in, have it notarized, and carry it with you on all future international travels. We are often asked if notarizing the document is necessary, especially by Canadian families, who pay much higher notary fees than those in the U.S. According to the Canada Consular Affairs Office , “It is strongly recommended that children traveling alone or with one parent carry a travel consent letter for every trip abroad. It is advisable to have the consent letter certified, stamped, or sealed by an official with the authority to administer an oath or solemn declaration so that the validity of the letter will not be questioned.”

Tip: Notarize 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. (It has happened to FTF families.)

Regardless of where you travel outside the United States , when you are crossing a border by land, sea or air you will need to have proper identification documents for each traveler in addition to the above letters.  Please see the Department of Homeland Security Site if you are unsure about the type of ID documents you and your family need.

Travel Prepared to Avoid Confusion

Thorough documentation is especially important in situations such as travelers or guardians with different last names than each other or the minor. FTF also recommends that birth parents who have different surnames than their child carry a photocopy of the child’s birth certificate while traveling, providing legal evidence of “guardianship” in case of trouble.

Same sex couples, and adoptive, divorced or widowed parents should carry certified custody or death certificates, adoption papers, or other proof of sole custody, as well as photo identification for themselves and the child.

Although travel agents and, occasionally, the fine print on a brochure, are supposed to notify families that airlines, cruise lines and bus tours may require proper documentation — or deny boarding — the paperwork can, and often does, slip between the cracks.

We find that travel insurance — trip-protection and health coverage that many travel experts find essential (and many many vacationers are reluctant to purchase) — is important, too.

For more information, contact your attorney or a professional travel agent. The staff at the FTF office (+1 212/595-6074), while not attorneys, are happy to help answer any questions.

On vacation, travel prepared. It’s better to be safe than sorry.</p?

And most importantly, safe there and safe home!

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

48 Replies to “Permission To Travel and Travel Consent Letters And Why You Need Them”

Hello Vinay, If you are the sole legan guardian of a minor child and have a copy of those papers that will travel with the child, you do not need the other guardian/birth parent’s consent. Carry a copy of the papers with you and the child as well as your passports. Please call the airline you are traveling with to make sure they put this information into your passenger record. You may want to check with the U.S. Dept of State regarding any special permission to travel to the Philippines. Please see this page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Philippines.html Safe travels! FTF Editor

Hello, Do I need the fathers consent to travel to the Philippines from USA? I have awarded sole legal decision making authority and Im the primary custodian and the father has only visitation. I know if I ask him he will not sign any consent form, and we also have domestic violence case and criminal judge put a no contact order for us and I also filed a restraining order against him though it’s expiring soon. Pls help me, thank you. Vinay

Hello Daniel, thanks for your inquiry. The immigration authorities don’t like open-ended documents. If you believe the travel dates will fall within a six-month period, we suggest that you list the dates that make up six months; ie. June 6-Nov.. 7, 2020. This way, your child and the adult traveling with them will be covered for any dates within that period.

Is filling out the Departure and Return dates on the document absolutely necessary upfront? What if we are wanting to fill out the form but the travel dates are unknown currently. We know it will be “within the next 6 months” for example.

How long is a consent letter valid? I have generic consent to travel from 3/2019. Dad has been in Wyoming since last Nov.

Really informative article. thanks!

“This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something that helped me. Cheers!”

I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again!

Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.

I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!

You article definitely has all the information and facts I needed about this subject. I didn’t know who to ask, so thank you kindly…

This blog about Learn More About Travel Permission and Travel Consent Letters for Kids, is a very usefull and i will share it!

If you are a divorced parent and are planning on crossing the border with your child, it’s not as simple as packing up a suitcase and heading to the airport. One of the most important things you need to do is to ensure your documents are in order. A letter of consent shows border officials that  ex-partner knows you have the child and gives you permission to travel with the child. While it is not a mandatory document, failing to have it can get you delayed or even denied access in or out of a country.

thanks for the information

Good morning there, I live in Oakland, California last May I went to my country and legally married with my boyfriend. Now we are spouses but I don’t know how to change my marital status here in California. I am actually pregnant with his baby. Am I going to be able to put my husband on his birth certificate? If so, do I need a consent letter to take the baby with him? I am planning to travel and leave to baby with him for a year so I can bring them with me.

I’m traveling with my two kids to Florida where I’d meet with my bf and then driving to Disney.

On the consent letter do I have to include that I’m meeting with my bf then we’re road tripping to Disney from another city within Florida ?

We are so sorry to hear about your family’s loss and hope that the safeguards in place can help prevent more tragedies like this one. Thank you for sharing your story.

Just a little note as far as the Hague convention act. My sons wife abducted there little boy 3yrs ago and still no help from our state department. With a little research I found there has been 50 children abducted to Brazil and not one has been RETURNED through the state department.

Jesus, these letters are specified by the U.S. Department of State for entering or leaving the U.S. with minors. If your sister is a Mexican citizen and traveling as a minor only within Mexico, please refer to this website: https://www.gob.mx/inm for more information. Safe travels!

My sister that is 12 yrs of age is traveling from Tijuana Mexico to Durunago Mexico with our uncle does she need a letter of any sort ?

Reader CCL wrote to FTF after receiving her forms: “May I assume that this will work in our case? My granddaughter and I both live in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. We will travel to Minnesota together where she will attend a summer camp while I stay with friends. Then we will return together to Mexico. We both have US passports. Thank you. Colleen C.L.”

We replied: “Hello Colleen,

Thank you for your note. We are not attorneys, and in this instance, you are doing the reverse of what most of our readers do. However, the rules still apply and the carrier that is transporting you and your granddaughter to the US would be responsible for checking your papers.

I would recommend checking with them – airline or cruise company – to be sure. Additionally, since it’s you and your minor, please be sure to get a medical authorization letter (does not have to be notarized) from the legal guardians/health insurance policy holders, plus a photocopy of the insurance card, just in case anything happens to her at camp. Most U.S. camps would require proof of health insurance coverage for each camper as well.

Please get in touch if you have any other questions and safe travels”

Thank you for your note. According to the Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/minor-children-travelling-canada.html a visitor is considered a minor if under the age of 18, and does require a notarized consent letter from both guardians to enter the country. In your case, you would have to provide this signed and notarized letter to your ex-husband for the trip.

S.A. writes: Hello, my children are visiting their dad My ex husband who lives in Washington next week… They are going to drive to Canada for the day… I have a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old and a 21-year-old… Do I need a certified letter to allow him to take them across the border?

User JC emailed us to ask: “Thank you so much for sending the forms. I will be taking my 16-year-old niece from California to South America in June. I definitely want to get all the forms taken care of by May. Her parents are going through a difficult divorce and it may be tough to get both of them to use one form and go to the same location together to get it notarized. Can I use one form for the mother and one for the father and they can get their own form notarized. “

Thank you for your note and congratulations on planning this exciting trip with your niece. We are not attorneys and cannot offer legal advice, but we suggest you contact the transportation carrier for this trip.

Whether it’s an airline, cruise company, etc that is transporting the minor across international borders, they are responsible for collecting these forms. If, for example, there is an issue and the minor had to be repatriated, that company would bear the cost of transportation and also pay a fine. Since they are responsible, I think it’s best to ask them if they will accept two notarized forms, with the same travel dates and information, for one child on one trip. Make sure they add a note in your travel record so that other company representatives know this was discussed.

Alternatively, your niece’s parents may know the same notary (often a bank clerk or real estate agent) who may agree to hold onto the form until both parents have come in to sign it. Don’t forget to get a Medical Authorization Letter (one of the sample forms, does not need to be notarized) from the parent holding her health insurance policy in case your niece needs treatment, and safe travels!

Hello, I am 21 years Old and I want to go outside the country for vacation with my 2 years old sister, I am not her guardian so whats the requirment for travel?? Thanks

Although you are an adult sibling, you will need a Permission to Travel Letter notarized by your sister’s birth parents or guardians to enter many countries. It should name you as her guardian for the period of travel. It’s also good to have a Medical Authorization Letter (available at the same email as you request the others) in case she needs care when she is in your care, as her guardian.

Safe travels!

Member C. Boonsong writes:  Dose this FTF form can use travel to Vietnam?

FTF Reply, posted by Admin:

Yes, these forms are good if you are traveling between countries with a minor child under 18 years of age. However, Vietnam requires a visa for entry for citizens of many countries.  If you are a U.S. citizen, please check this Vietnam page on the Department of State website for details.

If you are a citizen of another country, please look online for visa information from your own home foreign office.

We received this note from a user and want to share it so others can learn from it: “ I am traveling to SE Asia with my 15 year old son. We adopted him from Russia. Do I need proof of adoption to travel to these countries? “

Our reply: “If the minor child is not traveling with all legal guardians, the missing guardians will have to complete a Permission to Travel Letter for that child, which should be accompanied by adoption papers that explain the child’s legal status.”

Let us know if you are affected by the same issue, and maybe we can help.

Questions from D.V.: I recently requested travel documents (Permission To Travel Letter, Consent for Minor Travel Form); My question is, can I still use these outlines if my child is traveling by herself (She is 17 years old) without either parents or anyone else? Is it okay to use the templates but leave the spaces provided that asks who will be accompanying them blank? Thank you in advance.

FTF Answer: I think you may be better off using this other form called Unaccompanied Minor Travel Authorization – and call her a Solo Traveler.  If you have trouble filling it out, you can use the other Consent Letter form and in the spaces that ask who is accompanying her, put in Solo Traveler.  We think  it will be fine, but you can also double-check with her airline.

Question from D.V.: do both parents need to sign at the same time (same paper and date)or can each parent have their own signature notarized on different pieces of paper (and dates)?

FTF Answer: Different signatures on two forms would probably work, but make sure to give your daughter a copy of her birth certificate proving the names of her legal guardians so those forms are connected to each other. If you have plenty of time, it’s probably best to get one form signed, then mail it to the other birth parent for signature on the same document. Some border officials who don’t speak English may not understand her situation.

C.S. of Washington DC writes:   “I the parent have sole legal and physical custody of my 9 year old, that is how I had my divorce decree worded so maybe I don’t even need this consent form from other parent? Any thoughts?”

FTF is posting this reply for general interest:

“We are not attorneys, but in our experience, a sole legal custodian with papers traveling outside the US with a minor child does not need a written letter of consent from anyone else.  However, it is up to the transportation company to accept your papers — whether it’s an airline, bus, train or cruise ship.     You would be best to ask them what papers they require and if they say they will accept your sole custody papers with the child’s papers (child must have their own passport), ask them to make a note in your Passenger Record so that there’s no trouble when checking in.”

• admin February 23, 2014 at 2:17 pm J. of PA writes:  Your site is great! But I have a question. I was married and we got divorced and ten years later we got back together (just never remarried) I got pregnant…  Child is now almost five. The birth certificate reads father not listed unknown.  I do have my sons passport (had no problems getting it because father name not on bc) … Anyway, my question is what do I do for the consent letter? We never went to court or nothing as I work and raise child alone. … so my question is would I have any issues traveling with my child?  If a father name is not on any documentation do I need a consent form?  Is this a matter that needs to be handled by an attorney? If so, do u recommend a certain one?     FTF replies:  Thank you for your note.  We are not attorneys at Family Travel Forum, so cannot offer you legal advice. However, in our experience of traveling, we have heard that parents with a child whose birth certificate only has one name on it do not need any further documentation to travel across borders with that minor child. They are considered the sole legal custodians of that child.  In your case, you mention that you were previously divorced from the child’s birth father. If that is the case, perhaps you have legal papers showing your divorced status that you could use if any border or customs official questioned this situation. In any case, it is the carrier you choose (airline or cruise company for example) who will require that you provide evidence of guardianship for the child. If you are planning a vacation, perhaps a cruise that will cross borders such as one from Florida that calls at Mexican ports, you can call the cruise line reservations operators, and ask them if your documentation  is enough to board the ship. The  transportation companies should be the ones responsible for examining your travel documents, so if they approve it, you should be fine to travel with him.     The moderator has shared this email exchange, in part, so that the questions and answers may be of help to others in a similar situation. Thank you.

Thank you so much for making our forthcoming trip so much easier.  It is an emergency trip not a pleasure one and your help at a distressful time is much appreciated.

Sent by reader W.T.

Good morning,

I wanted to give you some feedback….  We went to your site to determine what documentation was needed for my grandson to travel with me to Canada, and printed out two forms.  We had one of the forms notarized as suggested, and set out on our trip the next day.  When we arrived at the border, I was told we did not have proper identification!  The page we had been working from on your site did not say anything about a birth certificate or photo ID, which they said I should have had.  PLEASE amend that page to say something like…  “ In addition to a birth certificate and photo ID , these other documents are recommended…” 

Thank you so much for your responsiveness.  You may mention this on other pages on your site, but it really should also be on the documentation page.

it has been a great piece of information regarding travelling i am sure many people will utiliza this information

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My family and I are wanting to move to Costa Rica here in the next few years.  The problem is, is that I am a single mother of a little boy of whom I have no idea who the father is.  He is not on the birth certificate, and I don't know his name, if I still can prove I'm the mother can we still leave without any problems?

thanks, Ashley

Hi Ashley,   To travel outside the U.S. with a minor child you will first need to get that child a passport.  If you are applying in the US for a US passport, you will need a notarized permission letter from both guardians (unless you have sole custody papers) to apply for one;  you can read more about passports at this story – http://www.myfamilytravels.com/how/advice/11037-Passport-Adventure-Acquiring-Your-Passport.html There is also a phone number of the passport help line there to call for more information.   If your minor child already has a passport, and you have sole custody of the child, you should be able to travel  without a problem. However, for relocation or immigration for longer stays than a tourist visa allows, you must ask that question at the Costa Rica Embassy / Visa office in Washinton DC.  You can call them at (202) 328-6628 and ask about their immigration procedures.   We are not immigation attorneys but we hope this is helpful to you.  Good luck!

Thank you for the documents.   I have a few questions, and hoping you can help me.  First, some background.  My 3 minor boys live with their mother in Illinois, USA, I live in Switzerland.  We are divorced, she has physical custody of children but we both have joint custody.  They will be visiting first Puerto Rico (US posession) for 2 weeks, and then will visit Switzerland for 2 weeks to visit me.  During the travel from Illinois ISA to Puerto Rico, and then from Puerto Rico to Switzerland, and then from Switzerland back to Illinois, they will be traveling only with their nanny (neither mom or dad will accompany them).  Given this scenario:   1) What is the difference between the first letter (Permission to Travel) and third letter (Unaccompanied Minor Travel Authorization) below?  Should both be completed? 2) How do we notarize when both mother and father live in different continents?  Can the same paper be notarized individually in each country?

Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.   thanks jose

Hello Jose,

First, let me say we are not attorneys, but we can offer some advice based on experience.  The transport companies (airlines in your case) are the ones who really care about these papers because they are the ones that are fined if they transport you and the children without the proper documentation and they are responsible for sending everyone back if the guardian does not have the correct papers.  So, your airlines may be a help in answering your questions.

On our end, we recommend using the first form letter you got; the 3rd form letter is very similar but is usually used by an adult hosting groups, such as teachers taking kids on a teen tour.

We suggest you give your nanny 2 original Permission to Travel Letters,  with the 3 children named, and listed as going to each destination (complete itinerary with dates for Puerto Rico and Switzerland).  She should carry extra photocopies of the Permission Letter signed by both of you, and notarized, as well as copies of your joint custodial papers.  She should also have the Medical Authorization Letter in case the children require any medical care while they're en route.

If you have enough lead time, the best option is to have each parent sign and notarize 2 original Permission to Travel Letters and send them to the other parent for signature.  I don't know the procedure for notarizing a document in Europe but if you both try at the same time, there's a good chance that one of you will succeed at getting both signatures on the same letter.  We've had this question often from military families and they can FedEx the letters to each other.

I hope this information is helpful and I wish your children a safe trip, Kyle McCarthy

Thanks! Form was helpful, made it easier. Glad to have found you!

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传奇私服

Lisa – Sorry about your loss. You should call The Office of Children's Issues (888/407-4747) at the State Department in Washington DC to determine next steps.

My husband ex-wife died this morning in Mexico and has their children in Mexico with her. How can we bring them back to the United States? We are desperatly seeking help.

thanks for explaining this clearly. it's such a hassle but I am glad to know the reasons behind it and of course want to keep our kids safe from the predators.

Valuable information and excellent design you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time into the stuff you post!! Thumbs up!

Thanks for posting this article. I'm definitely frustrated with struggling to search out pertinent and intelligent commentary on this subject. Everybody now goes to the very far extremes to either drive home their viewpoint that either:  everyone else in the planet is wrong, or two that everyone but them does not really understand the situation. Many thanks for your succinct, relevant insight.

Valuable information! I am looking forward to get some more info from your notes.

Valuable information! Looking forward to seeing your notes posted.

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Travel Authorization Letter: 4 Templates

Template: 1

Table of Contents

Travel Authorization Letter

[Name of sender]

[Designation of the respective person]

[Name of address]

Subject: letter of authorization for travel

Respected sir/madam,

This letter is to inform you that I am [mention your name], guardian [be specific with your own relation to the child] of [mention name of the child] born on [mention date of birth]. His/her passport number is [mention passport number of the kid]. I am informing you that my son/daughter is traveling with [mention the Guardian’s Name and your relation to him/her] on [mention date of travel] by flight number [mention flight number] from [mention departure and arrival location]. She/he is going to stay with him/her for few days.

I am writing this letter in regards of the authorisation of the [mention holder name]. I am at this moment is not able to travel with them because of my official work. So, I am requesting you to grant a travel authorization certificate by the name of [mention guardian’s name] and give him/her the permission to travel with my son/daughter. Kindly, look into the matter and do the needful. I have enclosed all the documents regarding this matter with this letter. Please find the attachment for your reference. 

If any further queries and documentation which needs to be done do let me know you can reach me at [mention phone number] or through an email [mention email address].

Thanking you

[Sender Name]

Download Template : ( pdf, docs, ODT, RTF, txt, HTML, Epub, Etc )

Letter Template: 2

[ Mention the name of the recipient]

[Mention the address of the recipient]

[Mention the date]

Sub- Authorization letter for travel.

Dear, [ mention the name of the recipient]

I [ mention your name] want to state that I am [ mention the relation] of [ mention your son’s name] who was born on [ mention the date] and his passport number is [ mention the number]. My son is traveling with [ mention the name of the person] who is his [ mention the relation] to [ mention the destination] from [ mention the location] on [ mention the date].

You can take this letter as an Authorization letter. I have no problem with anything if my son is traveling with [ mention the name of the person] on [ mention the date]. As I am out of the station this is why I will be unable to go with my son that’s why I am giving this responsibility to [ mention the name of the person] to go with my son so I will be less tensed because he is going with a guardian who will guide him and will not let him do anything which will cause harm to him. I trust her and she is a genuine person. I would be really grateful if you could provide her with a travel Authorization certificate so that she can travel with my son without any problem. 

Hope you will understand my situation and cooperate with me. There will be no problem and if anything happens I will be responsible for everything. I have attached the necessary documents with this letter. If you want to check anything then you can go through them. If you have any queries regarding the same then kindly contact me through my contact details mentioned below. Thank you so much for your time.

With regards, [ mention the name of the sender]

[ Mention the designation]

[ Mention the address of the sender]

[ Mention the contact details of the sender]

Letter Template: 3

I [ mention your name] want to convey that I am [ mention the relation] of [ mention your daughter’s name] who was born on [ mention the date] and her passport number is [ mention the number]. My daughter is traveling with [ mention the name of the person] who is her [ mention the relation] to [ mention the destination] from [ mention the location] on [ mention the date]. I have no objection if my daughter is traveling with [ mention the name of the person], she is in safe hands.

I do not have any problem with anything if my daughter is traveling with [ mention the name of the person] on [ mention the date]. As I am ill but it is very urgent for my daughter to go this is why I will be unable to go with my daughter that’s why I am giving this responsibility to [ mention the name of the person] to go with my daughter so I will be less tensed because she is going with a guardian who will guide her and will not let her do anything which will cause harm to her. 

I trust her and she is a genuine person. I would be really grateful if you could provide her with a travel Authorization certificate so that she can travel with my daughter without any problem.  As there is urgent work for her so it will be really great if she goes there with [ mention the name of person].

I believe that you will understand my situation and cooperate with me. There will be no problem and if anything happens I will be responsible for everything. I have attached the necessary documents with this letter. If you want to check anything then you can go through them for your own confirmation. If you have any queries regarding the same then kindly contact me through my contact details mentioned below. Thank you so much for your time.

Letter Template: 4

As my son is traveling to [ mention the place] for some important work so I [ mention your name] want to state that I am [ mention the relation] of [ mention your son’s name] who was born on [ mention the date] and his passport number is [ mention the number] and I am giving authority to [ mention the name of the person] to go with him on behalf of me as I will not be able to be present.

Since  I will be out of the station from [ mention the date] to [ mention the date] this is why I will be unable to go with my son that’s why I am giving this responsibility to [ mention the name of the person] to go with my son so there will be no stress because he is going with a guardian who will guide him and will not let him do anything which will cause harm to him.

 I trust her and she is a genuine person. I would be really thankful to you if you could provide her with a travel Authorization certificate so that she can travel with my son without any problem. I assure you that nothing wrong will happen and if anything happens then I will make sure that you will not face any problem with this.

I hope you will understand my situation and cooperate with me. There will be no problem and if anything happens I will be responsible for everything. I have attached the necessary documents with this letter. If you want to check anything then you can go through them. If you have any queries regarding the same then kindly contact me through my contact details mentioned below. Thank you so much for your time.

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Sample Travel Authorization Letter

Claimant Name (or Auth Rep):

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Dear Claimant Name (or Auth Rep):

This letter is in reference to your request for medical travel authorization under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.  You (or you and your companion) are authorized to travel for medical treatment with (Insert name of doctor or medical facility) in (City / State ) .  Outlined below are the itemized travel allowances approved for your trip:

• Dates of Trip:  (Insert authorized travel dates)

[ Or in the alternative ]

• Multiple Trips Authorized      (Insert Authorized  travel date range)
• Trip Origin & Destination:     (Insert starting City/State and ending points)
• Authorized mode of travel      (Insert approved mode: auto, air, etc.)
• Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE)           See below.
• Lodging (single or double occupancy)           See below.
• Airfare allowance         See below.
• Mileage allowance for personal vehicle (Insert appropriate mileage rate or N/A)
• Companion approved to travel: (Insert name of companion  or N/A]            
• Rental car reimbursement Indicate “YES” or N/A]

Companion Travel:    If you have been authorized a companion to accompany you on this trip, you will be reimbursed at twice the daily M&IE rate and lodging will be based upon double-occupancy, unless otherwise approved.  If travel is by commercial airline, then the companion airfare will be reimbursed as well.  The expenses for your companion will be paid to you, not to the companion, or any other party.

Travel Changes:   We understand your travel may not happen as originally planned.  If you encounter a change in your travel plans (such as an extended stay) that may result in additional expenses, please contact me or the DEEOIC Resource Center identified below at your earliest convenience to let us know the specific changes.  We will be glad to assist you with any adjustments to your authorization so you won’t encounter any delays in your reimbursement.

How to File for Travel Reimbursement:   Reimbursement requests must be submitted using the enclosed Form OWCP-957.  Only travel costs that are directly related to obtaining medical treatment for your accepted condition(s) will be reimbursed.  Receipts are required for all lodging, airfare, rental car (if authorized), and gasoline purchases (for approved rental car only). Any other expenses under $75.00 do not require receipts. The OWCP-957 form includes an

instruction sheet; however, I would like to provide you with some additional information to help you with your reimbursement request:

M&IE :  Itemization of expenses and submission of receipts is not required for meals and incidental expenses (MIE).  The MIE expenses are reimbursed as a fixed-rate, daily allowance, regardless of what you actually spend, and are determined by the Government Services Administration (GSA) published rate for the geographic location of your stay on any given day.  

By GSA rule, reimbursement for the first and last days of travel is 75% of the daily fixed-rate for MIE.

Lodging :  Daily lodging rates are also based on applicable GSA rates for the location of your stay and may change due to seasonal fluctuations so be sure to check the current rates.  State and local lodging taxes are not included in the daily lodging rate and will be reimbursed separately.  All receipts must be submitted.

Rental Car :  When a rental car has been approved, reimbursement will be based upon an economy-sized vehicle, unless otherwise approved.  Gasoline

purchases for the rental car are reimbursable.  All receipts must be submitted.

Airfare :  Airfare reimbursement will be based upon the actual cost incurred, but not to exceed the cost of a refundable coach or economy class fare (Y-Class airfare).  All receipts must be submitted.

GSA Rates :  The daily allowances for MIE and lodging are determined by GSA, for specific cities and geographic areas around the country, and they vary by region. These rates are revised occasionally by GSA. For more information on these GSA-published rates, please visit the GSA Website at:  www.gsa.gov ; or contact your nearest resource center for assistance.

Where to Send Your Reimbursement Forms:   Send a copy of this authorization letter, along with your itemized Form OWCP-957, along with any required receipts, to our bill processing agent.  For your convenience, I have enclosed a pre-paid envelope and an extra copy of this authorization letter.  Please send your information to: 

(Insert Name and Address of the DEEOIC Bill Processing Agent)

Where to go for Help:   For assistance in completing your travel reimbursement form, or in determining applicable MIE and lodging rates, or if you need other assistance related to this travel authorization or reimbursement process, please contact your nearest DEEOIC Resource Center, or call me. Below is the address of your nearest Resource Center.

Insert complete RC address

Telephone Number

Additional information and forms are also available on our website at:   https://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/ . Please have a safe trip and let me know if you have any other concerns that are not addressed in this letter.  I can be reached, toll free, at:  (Insert toll free number).

[Telephone and Fax Numbers]

Enc:     OWCP-957 (2 blank forms)

Prepaid envelope addressed to bill processing agent 

Copy of Authorization Letter (2 copies)

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I-131, Application for Travel Document

ALERT: On Jan. 31, 2024, we published a  final rule in the Federal Register, that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees will be effective April 1, 2024.

Applications and petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees or we will not accept them.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form

The new filing fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later. If you are filing an acceptable prior form edition on or after April 1, 2024, you must include the new filing fee.

Alert:  Beginning July 1, 2022, we will issue a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, at our discretion if we find the beneficiary merits this authorization. We will no longer issue advance parole documents as evidence of our prior authorization for a TPS beneficiary to be permitted to reenter the United States if the beneficiary travels outside the United States.

Beginning July 1, 2022, we will issue a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, at our discretion if we find the beneficiary merits this authorization. We will no longer issue advance parole documents as evidence of our prior authorization for a TPS beneficiary to be permitted to reenter the United States if the beneficiary travels outside the United States.

If you are a TPS beneficiary with an existing, unexpired advance parole document, you may continue to travel and seek reentry to the United States after a trip outside the United States through the period of validity printed on your advance parole document.

If you are a TPS beneficiary applying for a new travel authorization document, you should continue to use Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. If you have a pending Form I-131, you do not need to file a new application.

We will continue to issue advance parole documents to noncitizens with pending initial applications for TPS (Form I-821).

TPS beneficiaries and individuals with pending initial TPS applications should carefully read the Form I-131 Instructions which contain warnings about certain risks an individual may face if they are outside of the United States while USCIS is considering their TPS reregistration or initial application, such as missing important request for evidence or other notices or being denied TPS while outside the United States.

ALERT: Court decisions regarding DACA.

On Sept. 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a decision finding the DACA Final Rule unlawful and expanding the original July 16, 2021, injunction and order of vacatur to cover the Final Rule. However, the court maintained a partial stay of the order for “all DACA recipients who received their initial DACA status prior to July 16, 2021.” See the Memorandum and Order (PDF, 1.35 MB)  and Supplemental Order of Injunction (PDF, 72.53 KB) .

Accordingly, current grants of DACA and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) remain valid until they expire, unless individually terminated.  In accordance with this decision, USCIS will continue to accept and process DACA renewal requests and accompanying applications for employment authorization under the DACA regulations at 8 CFR 236.22 and 236.23, as it has since October 31, 2022. We will also continue to accept initial DACA requests, but in accordance with the District Court’s order, we will not process initial DACA requests.

Current valid grants of DACA and related EADs will continue to be recognized as valid under the Final Rule. This means that individuals with DACA and related EADs do not have to submit a request for DACA or employment authorization until the appropriate time to seek renewal.

Please see the  DACA Litigation Information Page  for important updates and information related to court rulings on the DACA policy.

Use this form to apply for a reentry permit, refugee travel document, TPS travel authorization document, advance parole document (including parole into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit), or advance permission to travel for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents.

For information on travel documents, including potential immigration-related consequences of traveling outside the United States, see our Travel Documents page. If you are in the United States and you have an urgent need to travel outside the United States, see our Expedite Requests page and  Emergency Travel  page.

If you file this form to request an Advance Parole Document authorizing you to seek parole in the United States when you return to the United States after temporary travel abroad, and you depart the United States before we issue your Advance Parole Document, we will consider your Form I-131 abandoned unless you were previously issued an Advance Parole Document that remains valid for the entire time you are outside the United States.

If you file this form to request an advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents document, and you leave the CNMI without having an advance permission to travel document, your status will automatically terminate.

File Online    

Form Details

Form I-131 (PDF, 451.87 KB)

Instructions for Form I-131 (PDF, 285.07 KB)

04/01/24 . Starting June 3, 2024, we will accept only the 04/01/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 06/06/23 E edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions . 

Please check our Filing Addresses for Form I-131  page for information on where to mail your application. Applications that are not submitted to the appropriate direct filing address may experience processing delays.

You can find the filing fee for Form I-131 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.  

The fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later.

You can pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check, or pay by credit card or debit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions . If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request.  If you pay by credit card or debit card, you cannot later dispute the payment. Use our Fee Calculator to help determine your fee.

If you are submitting multiple forms, pay each filing fee separately. We are transitioning to electronically processing immigration benefit requests, which requires us to use multiple systems to process your package. We may reject your entire package if you submit a single, combined payment for multiple forms.

Payment if you file at a field office: You cannot pay fees with a money order or cashier’s check when filing at a field office. You can only pay with a personal check, debit card, credit card, or reloadable prepaid credit or debit card.

You do not need to pay an additional fee for Form I-131 if:

• You are filing Form I-131 Application Type B or D;
• You filed a Form I-485 with a fee on or after July 30, 2007, and before April 1, 2024; and
• Your Form I-485 is still pending.

For refugee travel document applications filed from outside of the United States, you must pay the applicable fee(s) to the cashier at the USCIS overseas office or U.S. embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your location. Please see the website of the appropriate  embassy or consulate  to confirm acceptable forms of payment. Include the fee receipt from the U.S. embassy or consulate when you file your application package.

Please do not mail cash, personal checks or traveler’s checks. If you do not include a fee receipt with your filing, we will reject your application.

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-131. The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations.

If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Read more information about the types of evidence that may be relevant to specific parole requests on our  Humanitarian Parole  page.

Complete all sections of the form. We will reject the form if these fields are missing:

• Family Name
• Physical Address
• Date of Birth
• 1.a. – 1.f.
• Family Name (If 1.f. selected)
• Physical Address (If 1.f. selected)

Filing Tips:  Review our  Tips for Filing Forms by Mail  page for information on how to ensure we will accept your form.

Don’t forget to sign your form. We will reject any unsigned form.

E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail and/or text message that we have accepted  your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete  Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance , and clip it to the first page of your form.

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