travelling with child without other parent

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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

Have a question?

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

Required Documents for International Travel With Minors

Traveling with kids outside your home country? In general, each adult in your party will need a passport , and minor children will need either passports or original birth certificates.

Documentation requirements become more complicated when one parent or guardian is traveling alone with a minor. In general, besides your passport, you should bring written consent from the child’s biological parent(s) along with the child’s birth certificate. Many countries require that the consent document be witnessed and notarized. Several websites let you download or print  free parental consent forms .

Country-Specific Rules

Be aware that specific rules about documentation can differ substantially from country to country. You should check the US State Department International Travel website for information about requirements for your destination country. Find your destination country, then the tab for "Entry, Exit, & Visa Requirements," then scroll down to "Travel with Minors."

These excerpts regarding Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas (a popular port of call on Caribbean cruises) are good points of reference and demonstrate how varied the rules can be:

“If you plan to travel to Canada with a minor who is not your own child or for whom you do not have full legal custody, CBSA may require you to present a notarized affidavit of consent from the minor’s parents. Please refer to the CBSA website for more details. There is no specific form for this document, but it should include dates of travel, parents’ names, and photocopies of their state-issued IDs.”

“Effective January 2, 2014, under Mexican law travel by minors (under 18 years of age) must show proof of parental/guardian permission to exit Mexico. This regulation applies if the minor is traveling by air or sea; traveling alone or with a third party of legal age (grandparent, uncle/aunt, school group, etc.); and using Mexican documents (birth certificate, passport, temporary or permanent Mexican residency).

"The minor is required to present a notarized document showing the consent to travel from both parents (or those with parental authority or legal guardianship), in addition to a passport, in order to leave Mexico. The document should be in Spanish; an English version must be accompanied by a Spanish translation. The document must be notarized or apostilled. The minor should carry the original letter (not a facsimile or scanned copy) as well as proof of the parent/child relationship (birth certificate or court document such as a custody decree, plus photocopies of both parents’ government-issued identification).

"According to INM, this regulation does NOT apply to a minor traveling with one parent or legal guardian, i.e., a consent letter from the missing parent is NOT required. In addition, the regulation is not intended to apply to dual national minors (Mexican plus another nationality) if the minor is departing Mexico using the passport of the other nationality. However, if the minor is departing Mexico using the Mexican passport, the regulation does apply. The Embassy nevertheless recommends that dual nationals travel prepared with a consent letter from both parents.

"The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has received numerous reports of U.S. citizens being required to provide notarized consent forms for circumstances falling outside of the categories listed above, and/or being asked for such permission at land border crossings. Therefore,  the Embassy recommends all minors traveling without both parents carry a notarized consent letter at all times in the event airline or Mexican immigration representatives request one.

"Travelers should contact the Mexican Embassy, the nearest Mexican consulate, or INM for more information.”

The Bahamas

“Minors traveling unaccompanied or accompanied by a guardian or chaperone: What is required to enter The Bahamas may vary greatly from what is required to re-enter the country of origin. In general, a child under 16 years of age may travel into the Bahamas merely with proof of citizenship. Proof of citizenship can be a raised seal birth certificate and preferably a government-issued photo ID if on a closed-loop cruise or a U.S. passport if entering by air or private vessel. 

"The Bahamas requires compliance with regulations to divert child abduction. Any child traveling without one of the parents listed upon the birth certificate must have a letter from the absent parent granting permission for the child to travel. This should be sworn before a notary public and signed by the absent parent(s). If the parent is deceased, a certified death certificate may be necessary.

"It is advisable to have the minor carry a written notarized consent letter from both parents (if both are listed on the child’s certificate of birth) before sending your child to travel as a minor with a guardian or chaperone.”

Are you flying with kids within the US? You should know about REAL ID, the new identification required for domestic air travel.

Free Parental Consent Forms for Minors Traveling Alone

Does My Child Need ID to Fly?

Passports and Mexico Entry Requirements for Children

Do Children Need a Passport to Visit Canada?

Parent Authorization Letter for Minors Traveling to Mexico

Marriage Laws for Caribbean Destination Weddings

How to Find Your Nearest US Passport Office

Do I Need a Letter of Permission to Travel With Grandchildren?

The 9 Most Popular Places for Destination Weddings

Vancouver to Seattle Border Crossing: Which Travel Documents do I Need?

Visa Requirements for Hong Kong

Visa Requirements for Germany

What You Need to Know About Visiting Canada From the U.S.

Visa Requirements for Finland

How Long Does It Take to Get a Passport?

Visa Requirements for France

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

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
• Legal Resources
• Partner With Us
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information

The document above is a sample. Please note that the language you see here may change depending on your answers to the document questionnaire.

Thank you for downloading!

How would you rate your free template?

Click on a star to rate

Select your Language

• English (US)
• English (UK)
• English (CA)
• English (AU)
• English (NZ)

For Families

I want to use ourfamilywizard for my family..

• Family Overview
• Product Features
• Account Types
• Plans & Pricing

For Practitioners

I want to use ourfamilywizard with my clients..

• Practitioner Overview
• COVID-19 Resources
• Order Brochures
• Fee Waiver Program
• Military Family Discount
• Connect to Your Clients
• Get Order Language

Sign Up Now

• Holidays and Travel

Permission to Travel Out of State with a Minor Child

Traveling with children is a necessity for many families. Whether it's visiting relatives out-of-state or enjoying a family vacation, travel is a vital and vibrant part of many childhoods. 

But while travel can be equal parts stressful and joyous, after a divorce, stress can quickly overwhelm if parents do not make all necessary preparations. Taking a child out of state for vacation will take some coordination from both co-parents. 

The most important preparation for traveling with a child out of state after divorce is obtaining consent from the child's other legal guardians. Permission to travel out of state with a child is crucial. 

Can I travel out of state or abroad with my children? 

Your custody order or parenting plan should outline how traveling with children after your divorce is handled. For some, their court order may not require parents to obtain permission from each other for out-of-state travel. For many, however, their court order will contain consent requirements for parents wishing to travel with their children either out-of-state or abroad. 

Even if your court order or parenting plan does not explicitly state that written consent is required to travel with children, it can be a good idea to obtain it regardless. Having a record of the agreement to allow a child to travel out-of-state is critical if disagreements or disputes arise at a later time. 

If you are unsure of the requirements outlined in your court order, it's best to consult a family law professional before making any travel plans.

What documentation do I need from my co-parent?

Once you've determined whether any documentation is needed for your trip, you'll need to create that documentation with all relevant information should you run into the need to use it. 

While there are no strict guidelines as to what must be included in a child travel consent letter, a general rule of thumb is to include who, what, where, when, and how to get in contact. 

• Who will be traveling with the children? 
• Who are the legal guardians of your children? List the full legal names of everyone whose permission is required. 
• How can you contact your co-parent or child's other legal guardians? Provide a phone number and secondary form of contact for everyone listed on your consent to travel form.
• For what are you asking permission? Make sure the consent letter clearly indicates whether the permission is to travel out-of-state or abroad.
• Where will you be taking your children? Clearly outline your travel plans in the consent letter.
• When will you be traveling? Provide clear itinerary dates for your trip.

Beyond including this information, it is highly recommended that parents sign their child's travel consent letter in the presence of a notary public. 

Free child travel consent forms

Permission to travel out-of-state or abroad with a parent.

Use this form if your child will be traveling within the United States with either you or your co-parent. 

Permission to travel out-of-state or abroad without parents

Use this form if your child will be traveling with someone other than one of their legal guardians, such as a grandparent or extended family member.

What if I have sole legal custody of my children?

For parents or guardians who have sole legal custody of children, obtaining permission to travel out-of-state or abroad may not be strictly necessary. Customs and Border Patrol recommends that parents and/or guardians in this situation carry all relevant documentation such as " a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, [or] death certificate " that confirms their sole legal custody.  

A newsletter designed for co-parents.

Sign up for The Spark

What documentation do I need for my children?

Besides carrying your child's permission to travel form, it may be necessary to have other documentation on hand for your child. 

U.S. passport

If you're planning on traveling abroad with your child, you're likely already aware that you'll need a passport for your child in order to do so. 

In the United States, both parents are required to provide their consent for children under 16 to obtain a passport . The State Department suggests that the simplest way of showing consent is if all parents and/or legal guardians are present when applying for the child's passport. 

However, if parents have joint legal custody and only one of them is able to appear for the application process, the other parent and/or legal guardians can provide their permission by completing this form . 

For parents with sole legal authority, they can apply for their child's passport without the other parent if they are able to provide evidence of their sole legal custody. 

When you and your child have different family names

Parents who have a different family name than their children may wish to have additional documentation that confirms their relationship on hand while traveling. A child's birth certificate may be appropriate for this documentation. Parents can also carry a marriage or divorce certificate that documents the name change.

Destination requirements

When traveling abroad, parents should thoroughly research the countries they are visiting to see if they have any documentation requirements for children traveling without both or either of their parents. 

If you're traveling with your child to Canada , for example, you must have your child's birth certificate, a letter of authorization from your co-parent (with very specific information), and copies of legal custody documents.

Providing incomplete or incorrect documentation when traveling abroad can hold up an otherwise well-planned trip or prevent it from proceeding entirely. 

What if parents cannot agree on travel plans?

If permission to travel out-of-state or abroad with your children is required by court order, parents should not disregard this requirement and travel without it. Doing so may put them in contempt of a court order. Furthermore, if a parent travels abroad with a child without the proper permissions, the act may be considered international parental kidnapping.

Blog Categories

• Blended Families
• Children and Divorce
• Co-Parenting on OFW
• Emotional and Mental Health
• Fundamentals of Co-Parenting
• Overcoming Conflict
• View all categories

Handling Holidays Apart: How to Stay Connected and Celebrate in Your Own Way

When your child spends a holiday with their other parent, how do you cope? Real co-parents share…

Co-Parenting Through Valentine’s Day: Celebrate the Love That Lasts – Your Love for Your Kids!

Valentine's Day can be a tough holiday for co-parents, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some…

Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays (Hacks to Stay Sane, Even When You’re Going through a Divorce!)

No matter what you’re celebrating, these easy hacks will help you survive your first holidays…

The Spark: A newsletter for co-parents

Learn from real co-parents + legal, financial, and mental health experts.

• Get a Passport
• Renew a Passport
• Get a Passport Fast
• Courier Services
• Passport Information

Unaccompanied Minors | Rules, Fees, Policies, and Tips for International Travel

Home » Passports » How to Obtain a U.S. Passport

Traveling with kids can be an adventure. However, there may be a time where your child needs to travel without you. Whenever a child under the age of 18 is traveling alone, there are certain rules and procedures you need to follow. When an unaccompanied minor travels internationally, there are even more things to consider.

As a parent of young children and someone who traveled solo internationally as a child, myself, I can attest: planning is everything. Getting the details right can make the difference between a positive experience for your child and a nightmare.

This guide provides the most important details for supporting a child traveling abroad without an adult chaperone.

The Rules and Regulations for Unaccompanied Minor Travel Abroad

Your child needs a passport.

It all starts with a passport. Any American citizen traveling outside of the United States needs a valid U.S. Passport. It doesn't matter what the traveler's age is.

Getting a passport for a minor is not that different from getting a new passport for an adult . That said, if the person who needsa passport is under the age of 16, there are some additional steps that need to be followed. Most of these have to do with establishing parental and/or guardianship rights.

For more on this topic, our Passports for Minors FAQ covers some of the most common questions we have received on the topic over the past two decades.

Your Child Needs Additional Travel Documentation

In addition to a passport, having a notarized minor travel consent form is essential. This official document will ensure the airline and customs officials have access to critical information about your unaccompanied child.

• the legal identity of the child
• the legal parent(s) and/or guardian(s) of the child
• contact information for the child's parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
• where the child will be staying while abroad
• contact information for the child and caregivers while abroad

In the event of any confusion or travel itinerary mishap, this document could prove to be the key to keeping your child safe. It gives airline personnel and customs officials the information they need to get the child to whom and to where he or she is supposed to be.

Age Restrictions for Minors Traveling Unaccompanied

The U.S. Department of Transportation has some general guidelines for unaccompanied minors flying on planes. Airlines are free to interpret them as they wish, but most follow them pretty closely.

Some of the key guidelines include:

• Children younger than 5 years old cannot travel alone.
• Children age 5 through 7 can travel alone, but only on non-stop and through flights. This may not be permitted by all airlines.
• Children age 8 through 11 can travel alone on any flight where there is a flight attendant. In some cases, minors in this age group may be restricted from certain flights that involve connections.

Again, these policies may be stricter depending upon individual airline policies. Some airlines ban this outright. Others extend this age limit to 14 years of age.

Children age 12 through 17 may be subject to the same or fewer restrictions as the 8 to 11 age group. For domestic flights, most airlines will only provide unaccompanied minor accommodations for this age group upon request. However, international travelers under the age of 18 are usually required to pay an unaccompanied minor fee.

Some carriers will not permit minors of any age to fly abroad unaccompanied.

Follow the links below for the current unaccompanied minor policies for some of the most popular international airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Delta Airlines
• Southwest Airlines

Medical Considerations for Unaccompanied Minor Travelers

As a rule, most governments and companies (including airlines) have strict policies about medication. If your child requires medication, be sure to do your due diligence about what documentation and storage rules apply for all the locations your child will be traveling through. Do the same for any of the transportation and accommodation services they will be using to do so.

You should also be sure your child has the proper amount of medication for their trip. Both access to pharmacies and the usefulness of a prescription from an American doctor may vary outside of the country.

You should also consider if your child is able to administer their own medication. It should not be assumed that a flight attendant, customs official, or other adult will be willing or able to do so for your child. If this is an issue, consider reaching out to your child's doctor for advice or potential alternatives.

Airline Accommodations for a Child Traveling Alone

As mentioned, for airlines that allow minors to fly solo internationally, there is almost always an unaccompanied minor fee. These can range from $50 to over $200 depending on the airline.

In exchange for this fee, airlines provide some extra assistance for their young travelers:

• Preferential seating - Many airlines will only seat unaccompanied children in specific seats. These are usually locations that are within easy access of flight attendants, restrooms, and boarding entrances and exits.
• Extra supervision - Flight attendants are assigned to keep eyes and ears on unaccompanied minors. While they are not full-on chaperones, these airline employees strive to make the experience safe and comfortable for kids flying alone.
• An escort on and off the plane - In most cases, airlines will assign an employee to receive an unaccompanied child from their caregiver at the boarding gate. An employee will also help the child gather their belongings and get from their plane to their waiting adult.
• Transfer assistance - For airlines that allow unaccompanied minors on multi-leg flights, there are usually employees tasked with helping children get to their connecting flights.
• Complementary comfort services - Some airlines include food, drinks, and/or entertainment packages specifically for unaccompanied minor flyers.
• A parental gate pass - With airport security being what it is, many airports and airlines require parents to get a special gate pass to allow them to escort a child to their flights. Some airlines flat out require this as part of the ticketing process for unaccompanied minors.

Additional Tips for Parents of Unaccompanied Minor Travelers

You may also be able to register your child's travel itinerary with an embassy for some extra peace of mind in case of a potential emergency.

• Invest in a GPS tracker. In today's world, you can never be too safe. If your child is outside of your care consider having them carrying a GPS tracker so that you always know where they are. Apple AirTags and the JioBit are two popular, reliable, and affordable choices that work internationally.

More Articles about Passports for Minors

Expedited Passport for Minors

Minor Passport FAQ

Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program

Minor Travel Consent Form

Minors' passports and child support issues

Documents for travel to Mexico with minor child

Passport when birth certificate lists only one parent

In a Hurry? Get Reliable Expedited Passport Courier Service: Expedite My U.S.Passport Now!

Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers

1. How can you get a passport when you're in a hurry? 2. What exactly does a passport expediter do? 3. Are passport expediting services legitimate? 4. How can I identify a reliable passport expeditor? 5. Is expedited passport service worth it?

Get the Latest Updates

Contact us whenever you need it!

+1 855 997 0206

Contact Hours: Sun-Sat 8am - 10pm ET

• What Documents Does a Minor Traveling Without Parents Need?

• LawDistrict ❯

If you have a child, you know that traveling can be stressful whether visiting out-of-state relatives or taking part in family vacations.

There may be moments when your child should travel alone, and you may be worried, but with the correct legal documents and planning you and your child shouldn’t have a problem.

In fact, around 7 million minors travel alone in the United States, each year.

For their safety, there are limits and requirements for children traveling with guardians or unaccompanied.

Minors under 18 may be required to provide supplementary documentation if they leave their home country. Likewise, in cases of separated parents , both parents may have to give authorization.

The paperwork and requirements that you must meet will differ depending on:

• If your child is traveling alone in the United States
• If your child travels unaccompanied internationally

You may need to provide special consent if they are traveling internationally or use an airline’s unaccompanied minor program.

The tight regulation makes children less vulnerable to kidnappings and international custody disputes.

Keep reading to find out exactly what documents you should use to ensure you and your child have as little to worry about when they’re traveling alone.

• Travel Documents for a Child in the U.S.

Whether the child is traveling with their parents, another adult, or a group, bringing the birth certificate with you is a good idea .

To confirm that the child is not a kidnapping victim or in a custody dispute, border officers will also need copies of adoption certificates or legal guardianship paperwork.

All passengers, even newborns , must have a current passport while flying internationally .

Security screenings at airports are conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for passengers under 18, and children under 18 are not required to carry identification on domestic travel.

However, older minors who appear to be 18 may be stopped to show their TSA travel consent form to show identification. For this reason, ensure that your child who has just turned 18 always has a valid photo I.D. , such as a driver's license or school I.D.

Minor Travel Consent Form

A child travel consent form , often known as a letter of permission to travel as required by law, enables a minor child to travel without being accompanied by both parents or other legal guardians.

You should use this document when:

• Your child travels alone
• Your child travels alone or with only one parent or guardian, out of the country

Foster children leave the country

A notarized letter for a minor to travel is useful for divorced parents , as permission from the other parent is also required if you plan to travel outside the country with them.

Foster children must also obtain consent from their caseworker or social worker before leaving the country.

A child travel consent form is strongly advised, even if it is not legally necessary. You or your child may be refused entry or exit from the country without the required documentation. There may be rules limiting the child's capacity to travel without the consent of one or both parents if the courts are involved in the child's life.

Start your Free Child Travel Consent Form

What Is on a Child's Travel Consent Form?

To create a child travel consent form to allow your child to go from one place to another without supervision, familiarize yourself with the information that must be added to the document.

• Personal information : Name, birthplace, and passport information of the child
• Permission from the parent or guardian who isn't going, along with their contact information
• Information of the traveling parent or guardian , such as name, custody details, and passport information
• Information about the journey , such as the destination and the start and end dates
• The child's allergies and specific requirements
• The signature of the non-traveling parent authorizing the child's journey

The likelihood that travel authorities will question the legitimacy of your child's travel consent is reduced if it is witnessed or notarized. The particulars of the signing will depend on the nation you are visiting and the airline with which you are flying. Particularly when taking a minor out of the country, double-check their policies before signing.

• Letter Of Consent For Child To Travel With Grandparents

Grandparents could usea letter of authorization if they want to take their grandchildren on a trip without their parents. It is not against the law for grandparents to travel with their grandchildren without a letter of authorization.

But a travel letter for minors may come in handy if an emergency arises or if you need to interact with law enforcement authorities.

• Unaccompanied Minors

Most American airlines allow minors who have turned five to fly alone. When flying alone, children between the ages of 5 and 11 must follow a strict " unaccompanied minor " protocol. For unaccompanied adolescents, the process will vary depending on the carrier.

Child Medical Consent Form For Travel

A child medical consent form gives the adult traveling with your child permission to make healthcare decisions for them if you are not there . This gives you the power to approve your child's medical care while they are on the trip. In a medical emergency, the chaperone is given a temporary power of attorney by the form.

A thorough child medical permission form can provide parents peace of mind that their child will be cared for in an emergency. A delay in giving the child the required medical attention can result from leaving out a crucial element.

A general consent to travel and a medical release form are occasionally combined. You may want to mention whether the accompanying adult can consent to elective procedures, such as plastic surgery, even though it is not required.

• Items Included in the Document
• Minor's name and place of birth
• Licensed medical procedures
• Information concerning the child's health
• The identity of the person entrusted with the responsibility
• Details about health insurance
• Insurance for Travel

A family travel insurance policy is a wise investment. It is less expensive than you might think if you're prepaying for a significant vacation with flights, hotels, cruises, or any other non-refundable fees, or if you're simply concerned about a "what if" scenario when traveling with a child.

Planning ahead can significantly reduce stress when traveling . Gather details about any papers your child will require to travel with in advance.

Making sure you have the required documentation will help you and your family feel more at ease on your trip , allowing you to enjoy your trip with a child and worry less about it.

Read more : Guardianship vs custody

• What Is on a Child's Travel Consent Form?

Create a Customizable Legal Form Now

Get 7 Days Total Access to Our Entire Catalog!

Most Popular Posts

How Do I Get an Eviction Removed From My Record?

Squatter Rights in 2024: What to Know If You’re a Property Owner

clock This article was published more than  3 years ago

If you’re a solo parent traveling internationally with your kids, be ready for this question

Traveling safely in a post-pandemic world will require thoughtful planning, including research into coronavirus vaccination rates in the places you’ll be visiting. If you’re a parent taking an international trip solo with kids, you should also research laws related to children and travel in your destinations, as I learned on my family’s last pre-pandemic journey.

It was January 2020. My daughters and I were at the passport control counter inside the Frankfurt, Germany, airport, eager to board our flight home to the United States. Normally my husband travels with us, but this time was different: He was staying in Germany a few days longer for a work trip we had combined with a family vacation.

 The unsmiling agent thumbed through our passports, peered at us and asked a question that left me dumbfounded: “Where is the father of the children?” My cheeks burning, I stammered my explanation. The agent waved us along, but I felt shaken and defensive. As a U.S. citizen, I had always traveled freely with my kids — now ages 9 and 11 — and had never been asked to explain where their other parent was. Did I look suspicious because my daughters’ eyes are blue and mine are brown? Was the agent making a judgment about my ability to parent without a husband?

I later discovered that a lot of parents traveling alone with their kids have experienced similar questioning on international trips, and many of us — even seasoned travelers — were caught off-guard by it. But you can be prepared for any questioning and now would be a good time to start gathering the documentation you’ll need and researching identification requirements at potential destinations.

Understand safety is the goal

Solo parents aren’t the only travelers noticing increased scrutiny. “All border crossings have become more difficult over the past few years,” says Erin Barbato , a clinical professor and director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School. From political unrest to the global pandemic, different forces have added complexity to international travel. In this environment, we need to expect that agents may ask more questions, Barbato says.

Navigating pandemic-era air travel: Here’s what it’s like to fly internationally right now

 While border security has become more intense in general, adults traveling alone with children face extra questioning for a specific reason: to make sure kids are safe. “The number of children internationally trafficked every year is pretty astounding,” Barbato says. In 2016, 10 million children under age 18 were victims of forced labor or forced marriage, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Walk Free Foundation. Children are also at risk in households with severe marital discord. International parental kidnapping occurs when a parent takes a child to a different country in violation of another parent’s custodial rights. The U.S. Department of State reports that 485 such cases were opened in 2019.

 Get the right documentation

My kids and I had U.S. passports for our Germany trip, and I assumed they were all we needed. But in hindsight, I had no documents proving I was my children’s mother — and I could have been detained for a secondary inspection if the agent had concerns about my credibility.

You can obtain or make copies of documents that will lower the likelihood of problems. Both Barbato and U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommend that solo parents always carry a letter — preferably notarized and updated annually — communicating the other parent’s consent to travel with the children. Birth certificates or adoption records are also a good idea.

If a mother has changed her surname following a child’s birth or adoption, it’s important to bring that supporting documentation as well. If no other parent is legally involved, the traveling adult should pack relevant paperwork such as sole legal custody documentation, a death certificate or the birth certificate listing only one parent.

It’s best to have certified copies of all of the above, as well as electronic versions of your documents, and to pack extra copies in different suitcases.

Traveling with kids during the pandemic

Barbato counsels that questioning can be more intense for parents whose surname or skin color is different from their children’s. Lucy Jordan, a British writer living in Brazil with her family, experienced this firsthand. Jordan kept her birth name after getting married; her children have her husband’s last name. In 2016, Jordan was traveling alone with her infant son on the Eurostar train from Paris to London. Like me, she had packed passports but no other documentation.

A border agent inspected the passports, immediately noticed the different surnames, and asked how Jordan could prove she was the mother. Stunned, Jordan said, “I could breastfeed him for you if you want.”

 The agent continued to question her but stopped when Jordan suggested calling the American Embassy in Paris, where her husband was then stationed as a diplomat. “If I hadn’t had that backup, I don’t know if they would have let me through,” Jordan says.

 Jordan prepares a bit differently these days for solo travel with her son, now 5, and 2-year-old daughter by carrying passports, birth certificates and a letter of consent from her spouse. Border agents still question her, but the encounters go smoothly.

 Plan for contingencies

Because every country has different laws and guidelines for children traveling internationally, “parents really need to do their research and make sure they review the policies for each specific country they’ll be traveling to,” Barbato says. There’s no central place to find this information, so expect to do a little digging online.

Barbato recommends making sure a friend or family member you’re not traveling with knows your itinerary and when you’re expected to arrive at your destination. Ask your contact to be available via phone during your travel day.

Talk with kids in advance

Children old enough to carry on a conversation may be surprised when agents ask them questions. On another overseas trip, my normally talkative tween suddenly became shy when an officer asked who her parents were.

“You can explain to your kids why questioning might happen,” Barbato says. “The officers are just doing their job to make sure that every child is safe in the world.” Let your kids know it’s okay to say whom they’re traveling with, and that agents may ask where the other parent is.

 MacKenzie Passegger is an American citizen living in Austria, where she is married to an Austrian and works as a social media manager. A few times per year, Passegger flies home to the United States with her children while her husband remains behind for work. Passegger has learned to expect a lot of questions from airport passport agents who sometimes want to speak with her preschooler as well. She prepares her daughter by telling her, “They’re probably going to ask where your dad is. Do you know where he’s at?”

Help kids understand that the passport counter isn’t the place to goof around — there will be plenty of time for that later on the trip. Remind children that it’s important to answer to their names if agents ask.

Stay calm and polite

It’s natural to feel startled, nervous and irritated when a uniformed stranger questions your family relationships — especially before or after a lengthy overseas trip. But you’ll stay calmer if you know you have the right documents easily at hand and if you keep in mind that such measures aren’t meant to judge or disparage you.

 Passegger has found that her experiences go more smoothly when she makes eye contact and offers answers to potential questions — like where her family will be traveling and for how long — before agents ask.

 “Traveling with kids is stressful. You’re already on edge,” Passegger says. “But it’s really important just to stay calm when agents ask you a question that catches you off-guard.”

Rich is a writer based in Wisconsin. Her website is lovehopeandcoffee.com . Find her on Twitter ( @GinaRichWriter ) and Instagram ( @lovehopeandcoffee ).

More from Travel:

How to make sure your documents are up-to-date for the return of travel

How my wife and I have traveled with our kid, from 12 weeks old to toddler

The argument against vaccine passports is growing

Your Life at Home

The Post’s best advice for living during the pandemic.

Health & Wellness: What to know before your vaccine appointment | Creative coping tips | What to do about Zoom fatigue

Newsletter: Sign up for Eat Voraciously — one quick, adaptable and creative recipe in your inbox every Monday through Thursday.

Parenting: Guidance for vaccinated parents and unvaccinated kids | Preparing kids for “the return” | Pandemic decision fatigue

Food: Dinner in Minutes | Use the library as a valuable (and free) resource for cookbooks, kitchen tools and more

Arts & Entertainment: Ten TV shows with jaw-dropping twists | Give this folk rock duo 27 minutes. They’ll give you a musically heartbreaking world.

Home & Garden: Setting up a home workout space | How to help plants thrive in spring | Solutions for stains and scratches

Travel: Vaccines and summer travel — what families need to know | Take an overnight trip with your two-wheeled vehicle

Call Us Today (973) 467-3200

Click to Call

• Elliot H. Gourvitz
• Ari H. Gourvitz
• Melissa Gourvitz
• Testimonials
• Selecting the Best Attorney
• Child Abduction Attorney (NY, NJ, VT and Nationally)
• Custody and Parenting Time
• Child Support
• Child Relocation-Interstate Removal
• Retirement and Effect on Alimony
• High Net Worth Divorces
• Equitable Distribution
• Enforcing Marital Settlement Agreements
• Post Judgment
• Emancipation
• College Contribution
• Prenuptials
• Cohabitation
• LGBTQA Issues
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• International Child Abduction Lawyer-Hague Convention (NY, NJ, VT, Nationally)
• Domestic Torts
• Domestic Violence
• Civil Litigation and Complex Commercial Transactions
• Court Decisions
• Seminars And Lectures

Do Parents Need Permission from the other parent to Take their Children on an International Vacation?

Parental permissions for international travel with another parent.

One parent wants to take the child out of the country , and the question presents itself whether that parent needs permission of the other parent to go.

The above depends upon what custody agreement is already in place, or the permission granted to each parent by the other parent. If there is no divorce agreement or prior Order of the Court, the problems become greater and either written permission is needed, or a court proceeding must be imitated to allow that travel.

Does Your Custody Agreement Address the Issue of Travel?

Sometimes court-approved custody agreements address travel. This can be the case if one parent has primary custody or if both parents share custody.

Vacation clauses in custody agreements might set limits on what parents can and cannot do or they might provide instructions for notice of travel. For instance, one parent might be required to notify the other parent concerning all out-of-state travel or to get permission before traveling out-of-state with the child, or no such provision exists.

If permission is not granted by the non-traveling parent, court permission would be required for the traveling parent to legally take the child out of the state, and the parent could petition the court.

If there is nothing in the custody agreement that addresses travel or vacations, or there is no divorce or agreement, either parent would have permission to take the child out of state, but within the confines of his or her normal custody time. For instance, if a parent has custody of a child during the weekends, an out-of-state vacation would need to occur within that 48 hour time duration. Should both the custodial and non-custodial parent agree to extended travel, the court would have no reason for intervention.

If the custodial parent does not agree to an extended visitation and/or travel, the non-custodial parent has the option of requesting a custody modification from the court. There’s usually an uptick in custody modification requests during the summer months when children are out of school and parents want to take them for an extended summer vacation.

In most cases, when a parent has concerns about the other parent traveling with the child and not returning, there is a court order addressing vacationing and travel. If a court order about travel is violated, the accusing parent should notify police and request assistance with return of the child.

International Travel with a Parent

Traveling internationally with a child can be a bit more complicated when both parents are not in agreement concerning the travel plans.

The United States does not have exiting controls that monitor outbound international travel, however, the majority of other Countries do have such mechanisms in place. Exiting the United States with your child is rather easy but entering another Country will usually require permission. Exiting the country that you have traveled to with a child requires proving the child’s identity and providing documentation proving that you have permission to do so. Essentially, showing that both of the child’s parents have agreed to the travel arrangements.

There are very few instances in which a parent can legally leave the country with his or her child without the consent of the child’s other parent, even when the traveling parent is the custodial parent. These restrictions were created to reduce of out-of-country parental kidnapping.

Like adults, children must have a passport before they can travel by air to a non-contiguous country. In order to be granted a passport, the US State Department requires all children under the age of 16 to have permission from both parents. Both parents will need to apply for their child’s passport in person or one parent may apply with signed and notarized permission from the other parent.

For more information on obtaining a passport for a minor child, refer to this information from the US Department of State .

If you are traveling throughout North America by car you’ll need to show both your child’s birth certificate and a written statement verifying your child has permission from his or her other parent before crossing out of the United States and into Canada or Mexico

Parents with sole custody are granted permission to travel out of country with their children without permission from the child’s other parent. However, to do so, the parent with sole custody must show the court-ordered custody arrangement to obtain the child’s passport. A copy of the court order would also be needed when traveling to Canada or Mexico without a passport.

As part of all our final marital settlement agreement(s) unless our client(s) choose not to, Gourvitz & Gourvitz, LLC, always inserts agreed on language with respect to domestic and international travel. We even go as far as to make a distinction between signatory Countries to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction and non-signatory Countries.

If you have questions about traveling with your child or you are concerned your child’s other parent might attempt to travel without the appropriate permission, an attorney familiar with parental custody laws can help. For more information or to speak to someone about parental abduction, contact Gourvitz & Gourvitz, LLC at (973) 467-3200 or (212) 586-1700.

• Alimony (4)
• Charity (1)
• Child Abduction (14)
• Custody (7)
• Divorce (7)
• Domestic Violence (2)
• Equitable Distribution (1)
• Florida (1)
• General (14)
• Hague Convention (7)
• International Removal and Custody (3)
• interstate removal (2)
• New Jersey (10)
• New York (3)
• Relocation (1)
• Testimonials (1)

Blog Archive

• December 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018
• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• December 2014
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014

Contact Gourvitz & Gourvitz LLC.

Pay Your Invoice

* Note that no aspect of Super Lawyer’s and Avvo advertisement have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Click here to view the awards and methodology of Super Lawyer’s and Avvo .

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Traveling with Children

All passengers are required to undergo screening. However, TSA has developed modified screening procedures for children who appear to be 12 years old and younger. TSA officers will consult parents or the traveling guardian about the child’s screening.

TSA standard screening procedures apply for children 13 years and older. Carry-on property of all passengers, regardless of age, must be screened. All passengers who alarm will undergo additional screening.

Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids

Inform the TSA officer if the child has a disability, medical condition or medical device.

Let the TSA officer know if your child is able to walk through the metal detector or needs to be carried through the metal detector by a parent/guardian. You may carry your child through the WTMD. The TSA officer will not remove your child from their mobility aid, wheelchair or scooter.

Request Assistance

TSA Cares provides information to passengers with disabilities, medical conditions and those that need additional assistance to better prepare for the security screening process. Call  TSA Cares 72 hours prior  to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. You may also call to request assistance at the checkpoint.

Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches)

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies.

Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. TSA officers may need to test the liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items.

It’s helpful to the officers when formula and breast milk are in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. Liquids in plastic bags or pouches may not be able to be screened by Bottle Liquid Scanners, and you may be asked to open them (if feasible) for alternate screening such as Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis for the presence of liquid explosives. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid.

TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicines. However, if you do not want the formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) to be X-rayed or opened, please inform the TSA officer. Additional steps will be taken to resolve alarms. You or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, to include Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) – regardless of the presence of breast milk – are also allowed in carry-ons, along with liquid-filled teethers. If these items are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above.

Passengers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may request assistance by contacting  TSA Cares  or by phone at (855) 787-2227.

Screening of Children’s Items

• Place all carry-on baggage such as children's toys, bags and blankets on the X-ray belt for screening.
• Strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats and backpacks must be screened by X-ray.
• Place items in the stroller pockets or baskets, in a carry-on bag or on the X-ray belt for screening.
• Equipment that does not fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers.

Screening Technology

Walk-Through Metal Detector

Children able to walk through the metal detector without assistance may do so separately from their parent or guardian. If they alarm, children are allowed multiple passes through screening technologies and may undergo other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down. Infants and small children may be carried through the metal detector. Should the alarm sound, additional screening is required.

Advanced Imaging Technology

If your child is able to remain standing in the required position for 5 seconds, he or she may be screened through the advanced imaging technology. If a child 12 and under goes through the machine and alarms, they have an opportunity to go through again or the TSA officer may use other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down.

You may not be screened by this technology when carrying an infant or child.

Screening your Child

• Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening. For AIT screening, light jackets must be removed and placed on the X-ray belt.
• Children will not be separated from their parent/guardian.
• Remove infants and children from strollers and car seats and carry them in arms through the walk-through metal detector.
• Infants may be carried in a sling/carrier (to include lap baby) through the walk-through metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair, but may be subject to additional screening
• Modified screening procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of a pat-down.

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad

Get permission to take a child abroad

You must get the permission of everyone with parental responsibility for a child or from a court before taking the child abroad.

Taking a child abroad without permission is child abduction .

You automatically have parental responsibility if you’re the child’s mother, but you still need the permission of anyone else with parental responsibility before you take the child abroad.

You can take a child abroad for 28 days without getting permission if a child arrangement order says the child must live with you, unless a court order says you can’t.

Get permission from someone with parental responsibility

A letter from the person with parental responsibility for the child is usually enough to show you’ve got permission to take them abroad.

You might be asked for the letter at a UK or foreign border, or if there’s a dispute about taking a child abroad. The letter should include the other person’s contact details and details about the trip.

It also helps if you’ve:

• evidence of your relationship with the child, eg a birth or adoption certificate
• a divorce or marriage certificate, if you are a single parent but your family name is different from the child’s

Get permission from a court

You’ll need to apply to a court for permission to take a child abroad if you haven’t got permission from the other people with parental responsibility.

You must give details of the trip, eg the date of departure, when and how you’re returning, and contact details of people with parental responsibility staying in the UK.

You must give more information if you’re taking the child abroad for a longer trip, eg what education the child will get while they’re abroad.

Find a solicitor to get legal advice about permission to take a child abroad.

Check the age limit in the country you’re travelling to

You need to contact the embassy or consular office of the country you are travelling to for information about the age limit up to which a person is considered a child.

Related content

Is this page useful.

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

Search Smartraveller

Travelling with children.

This page is for Australian parents and children travelling overseas.

Read this page to learn about:

• what to do before you travel
• children travelling without one or both parents
• child custody
• international child abduction

What to do before you travel

• Read the  travel advice for your destinations  and  subscribe for updates . Also read about your transit locations.
• Buy  travel insurance  that covers your whole family. Read the fine print and know what it covers.
• Look online for tips on travelling with kids in the country you're going to.
• Leave an itinerary with someone at home. Plan to keep in contact.

Local laws and culture

Research the local laws and culture where you're going. They may differ from what you're used to in Australia.

• Check the safety standards of any equipment you'll use. This includes pools, balconies, car seats, cots and play equipment.
• Find out local attitudes towards breastfeeding in public.
• Learn the laws around disciplining children. In some countries, physical punishment is illegal, including smacking.

Research any childcare you plan to use overseas. Standards in other countries may vary.

• the accreditation of providers
• the provider's child abuse prevention plans
• how they screen their staff, including police checks and qualifications
• the ratio of staff to children
• staff training, including first aid and emergency processes
• security on the premises
• their injury liability insurance.

Staying healthy

Take your children to a doctor or travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you leave.

• Get a basic health check-up.
• Ask if your travel plans may affect their health.
• Plan any  vaccinations  they need.
• Find out if there are common health risks for kids where you'll travel.

Check if your child's medicine is legal where you're going. For example, some countries control or ban ADHD medicines.

Some over-the-counter medicines are also banned overseas.

• Check the 'health' section of  your destination's travel advice .
• Talk to the  embassy or consulate of that country .

See our advice on  taking care of your health . And read  more about travelling with medication .

Children travelling without one or both parents

There are laws around children travelling without both parents. Airlines also have rules you must follow.

Travelling with only one parent

You may need extra documents if only one parent is travelling. Particularly if you don't have the same surname as your child.

For example, you may need:

• proof of the other parent or guardian's consent for the child to travel
• proof of any custody agreements
• proof of guardianship
• adoption papers
• a certified copy of their birth certificate. Particularly if it doesn't list the travelling parent.

Travelling without parents

Most airlines have rules for children under 15 who travel alone. You may need to fill out a permission form. Contact your airline for details, including in-flight protocols for kids travelling alone.

The country your child travels to may also have forms you must complete. Contact the  embassy or consulate of the country they're going to . Find out if there are entry rules for children before they travel.

Child travel consent

Your child may need a consent letter if they travel:

• with someone who isn't their parent or guardian, such as a school group or grandparent.

The letter usually states:

• the child's name, gender and place and date of birth
• who the child is with
• where the child is going
• the child's passport information.

The letter should be signed by the parents and  witnessed by a public official .

Child custody

Before taking your child overseas, you must get consent from anyone with parental responsibility for them. Or get a court order to let them travel. You may be breaking the law if you don't.

Many countries recognise Australian parenting orders. Some will not.

Read  more about international family law and children  (Attorney-General's Department).

Child support payments

Your child support payments must be up-to-date before you can leave Australia. Services Australia can stop you from leaving if they aren't. If you have overdue child support and haven't made a payment plan:

• call 131 272 to discuss your options
• visit  the Services Australia website .

Dual nationality and child custody

Some countries don't recognise  dual nationality . This can affect how local authorities make custody decisions.

Get legal advice before travelling with children who may be dual nationals.

Stop orders on women and children

In some countries, husbands or relatives can place a 'stop order' on women and children. A stop order can stop a person from leaving the country, regardless of nationality.

Contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate if you or your child are being stopped from returning to Australia.

International child abduction

If you think someone may try to take your child out of Australia without your consent, report it. Get legal advice, they can help you:

• get a court order to register your children on the Australian Federal Police's  Family Law Watchlist
• submit a Child Alert Request with the  Australian Passport Office .

Learn more about  international child abduction  (Attorney-General's Department).

Help from the Attorney-General's Department

The Attorney-General's Department may be able to help if someone has taken your child overseas without your consent.

Contact the International Family Law Section:

• 1800 100 480 (within Australia)
• +61 2 6141 3100 (from overseas)
• [email protected]  

The help they can give you depends on where your child is taken.

Help from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

If someone has taken your child while you're overseas, contact the  Consular Emergency Centre .

DFAT can give:

• a list of local lawyers
• information on local child welfare agencies or organisations
• consular help to the parent who is left behind.

You may also find a lawyer overseas through:

• International Academy of Family Lawyers
• Find out more about buying travel insurance .
• Check which vaccinations you should get .
• See our advice for  pregnancy ,  adoption  and  surrogacy  overseas.
• Carry-on luggage restrictions  (Department of Home Affairs)
• Separated parents  (Services Australia)

Related content

Read more about the legislative protections designed to prevent child sex offences abroad.

In many countries age, gender and sexual preferences can pose challenges. Understanding the culture and laws in your destination will help things go smoothly.

If you're pregnant and planning to travel overseas, research your destination before you go. Being informed about the risks will help you manage them.

• Share full article

Advertisement

How to Fly Your Kid Solo, Free of Stress

By Alexander Nazaryan

For many parents and guardians, putting a child on a flight alone may seem terrifying. Belligerent passengers, delays, turbulence: All loom large in a caregiver’s imagination.

Life sometimes leaves no other option. Hudson Crites , 17, of Marshall, Va., was 10 when he started flying unaccompanied to visit his father in Kansas and later Georgia, said his mother, Chelsea Tippett. But the extra attention from airline staff made Hudson “feel special,” Ms. Tippett recalls. Other than a single tarmac delay, he has had no problems.

On rare occasions, children have had troubling experiences. In December, Spirit Airlines accidentally flew a 6-year-old to Orlando, Fla., instead of the intended destination of Fort Myers. Spirit apologized, fired the gate agent responsible and offered reimbursement to the boy’s grandmother for her travel to Orlando. But while the boy was unharmed, his grandmother expressed worry that he had been kidnapped .

If you decide to fly your child unaccompanied, you’ll discover that each airline has its own procedures, fees and routes open to children. While some may find the process complicated, flying alone may be exciting for your child, instilling some independence. Here’s what you need to know.

Before you book, know the process

Regardless of the airline or route, flying an unaccompanied minor differs from an adult or a family catching a flight. Airlines require a trusted pre-authorized adult to be at the departure and arrival gates, and will ask you at booking to provide contact information for those adults. They will also need to present identification at the terminals.

The journey begins at the originating airport’s airline ticket counter. There, airline staff will check your identification and check in the child, perhaps handing them a lanyard or wristband to wear. The agents will provide you with a pass to get through security with your child. You will accompany them to the gate, where you will hand them off to a gate agent. You must stay at the gate until the plane takes off.

In the air, the flight crew will keep watch — but will not babysit, or sit with, your child. If the flight has a connection, a crew member will walk your child off the plane and a gate agent will take him or her to the next gate.

At the arrival airport, the child will be handed off by staff to the authorized guardian or parent who should have already checked in at the ticket counter with proper identification, gone through security with their gate pass and be waiting at the gate.

To learn more about this process, read the Department of Transportation’s online guide, “When Kids Fly Alone,” followed by the website of your selected carrier.

Choosing an airline and paying an extra fee

Before purchasing a ticket, experts advise you to consider an airline’s on-time performance. “Solid on-time performance is hard-earned, and signals a carrier that has tight control of its operation,” said the Ask the Pilot author, Patrick Smith. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has those numbers.

Booking procedures vary. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines require you to call. United Airlines allows bookings online. JetBlue Airways does online bookings, too, but asks for three printed copies of its forms upon arrival at the airport.

International flights may call for a notarized consent letter describing where the child is traveling, with whom they’ll stay and how long they’ll be there.

On top of the ticket fare, flying an unaccompanied minor can be pricey.

Southwest Airlines charges $100 one way for each child, regardless of distance. Alaska Airlines charges $50 per child if the flight is nonstop; a connection adds $25. On Delta, one $150 fee will cover up to four children, and American’s $150 covers all siblings, with no cap on number. United charges $150 for one child, or two children flying together.

Restrictions: There are plenty

U.S. carriers allow children to fly as unaccompanied minors once they turn 5 and before they turn 18. But regardless of your child’s age, make sure he or she is ready by discussing the trip details and your expectations of their behavior. No policy can replace your judgment.

The low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air don’t allow unaccompanied minors, Other airlines have restrictions that, in the broadest terms, differentiate between young children and teenagers. American and Delta restrict children under 8 from routes requiring connections. Both airlines allow children between 8 and 14 to take some connecting flights.

On American, no unaccompanied minor is allowed to take an overnight flight requiring a connection, or a flight that includes a connection on its final leg that also happens to be the last such flight that day (“unless it’s the only flight,” the company adds). Minors are not allowed on code-share flights.

United and Delta have similar rules. Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit don’t allow unaccompanied minors on connecting flights.

JetBlue prohibits minors from flying to Europe, and limits the number of unaccompanied minors in one party to three. Spirit does not allow children on flights to Central or South America. Southwest doesn’t allow children on any international flights. American, United and Delta let minors fly abroad, but restrictions on connections, code-shares and overnights limit options.

American and Delta allow children to opt out of flying as unaccompanied minors once they turn 15 — that is, the child can fly without the assistance of airline personnel. JetBlue ends unaccompanied minor service at 14, while Alaska has an opt-out option at 13. Southwest boasts the lowest opt-out age: 12.

However, you should be able to accompany your child to the gate even if they’re not flying unaccompanied. American requires that you do so for teens between the ages of 15 and 17, even if they’ve opted out.

What to pack

Have a plan to head off your child’s hunger, boredom and thirst. If they are older, make sure they have emergency money and a charged phone.

When her two daughters, then 9 and 11, flew to Denver, Joey Conover of Charlottesville, Va., had a long list for their carry-ons.

“Pack a backpack with iPad, headphones, lightweight book to read, a pad of paper and colored pencils (markers might smear), a small travel game, water bottle (bring empty and fill in airport), snacks, some kind of surprise fidget or animals to play with, hoodie, and a lovey,” she wrote in an email.

“Write your name and phone number on the inside of their arm in Sharpie and put a parent’s business card in a luggage tag on both suitcase and backpack,” Ms. Conover said. (A sheet of paper with all their identification, and their guardian’s contact information, also works. Simply stick in an easy-to-access pocket.)

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Language selection

• Français fr

I am travelling with my minor child without my spouse. What documents must I present?

You must present the following documents:

• A copy of the child’s birth certificate
• A letter of authorization signed by the parent who is not travelling, containing their address and telephone number, in English or French if possible, and
• A photocopy of the non-accompanying parent’s signed passport or national identity card

If the parents are separated or divorced, and share custody of the child, the parent travelling with the child should carry copies of the legal custody documents.

If the parents are separated or divorced and one of them has sole custody of the child, the letter of authorization may be signed by that parent only and they should bring a copy of the custody papers.

If one of the child’s parents is deceased, the travelling parent should bring a copy of the death certificate.

For more information, see Minor children travelling to Canada .

New entry requirement now in effect

Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada by air. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens , and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.

Did you find what you were looking for?

If not, tell us why:

You will not receive a reply. Telephone numbers and email addresses will be removed. Maximum 300 characters

Thank you for your feedback

Answers others found useful

• Do I need a visa to visit Canada?
• Do I need a Canadian visa if I have a United States visa?
• How do I apply for an eTA for travel to Canada?
• I am visiting the U.S. I want to come to Canada. Do I need an eTA?
• Do I need a visa if I am travelling through Canada without stopping or visiting?
• How do I help a family member or friend apply to visit Canada?
• What’s the difference between a visitor visa and a visitor record?
• Do I need to apply for both a visitor visa and an eTA?

How-to video

Form and guide

• Application for a temporary resident visa

Glossary term

• Multiple-entry visa
• Single-entry visa
• Temporary resident

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Raising Kids

10 Ways To Have a Healthy, Effective Co-Parenting Relationship

Learn how to build a healthy, effective co-parenting relationship, including tips for making positive change.

Have Clear Boundaries

• Have a Schedule

Be Flexible

• Defer to One Another
• Be in Agreement

Avoid Manipulation

• Discuss Changes
• Give Kids a Positive Perception
• Attend Events Without Tension
• Recognize Each Other's Importance

Co-parenting is an arrangement between parents who are not in a romantic relationship with each other but work together to raise their child and ensure they grow up in a safe and loving environment. To work, co-parenting requires that both parents contribute to their child's care, upbringing, and activities and interact frequently and respectfully with one another.

The best co-parenting relationships involve the parents putting their personal feelings aside to give their child what they need emotionally and physically. To start, try to identify what is going well rather than focusing on what's not working. That way, you can accentuate the positives as you work toward resolving parenting conflicts with your ex . Read on to learn 10 ways to have a healthy and productive co-parenting relationship.

Odilon Dimier / Getty Images

It's much easier to work together as co-parents when you establish boundaries and recognize what you have control over—and what you don't—regarding your children and your ex. For example, you cannot control who your ex dates or whether they introduce that person to your children (unless it's written into your custody agreement or parenting plan).

However, you can control the example you set for your kids regarding dealing with disappointments and setbacks. One way to be a fantastic parent is to be a good role model.

Research has found that emotional well-being is a "bidirectional process," meaning an interdependency exists between a parent's and child's well-being. When parents are mentally healthy, they can better model healthy behavior for their children.

Have a Predetermined Schedule

One of the trickier parts of co-parenting involves managing schedules. Parenting time transitions are more manageable for everyone involved when the schedule represents a solid, predetermined routine rather than an iffy, "we'll see" type of arrangement.

Parents who've reached a healthy level of communication know they can count on the other parent to maintain their commitments unless something extraordinary requires a change in the routine.

Research has found that consistent routines improve kids' mental health and reduce incidents of depression, suicidality, impulsivity, and aggression. Routines are essential in higher-stress environments like divorce .

While routine is healthy, it's also important to be flexible with one another while co-parenting. A healthy approach is to be as accommodating with your ex as you'd like them to be with you.

Even if you suspect your ex may not return the courtesy, try to be the bigger person. Demonstrating how you'd like things to be between you can be more effective than repeatedly telling them that the current arrangement isn't working or displeases you.

A lack of flexibility can inevitably lead to more conflict, which, in turn, creates a sense of instability for kids. Researchers say kids are sensitive to parental interaction and conflict, which can impact a family's emotional climate and a child's sense of emotional security.

Defer to Your Co-Parent

This is another sign of a healthy co-parenting relationship. Parents who work well together and collaborate as parents will call one another to offer an opportunity to be with the kids before leaving them with a babysitter .

Some families write this intention into their parenting plan. Whether you take that formal step or not, it’s common courtesy to ask your ex if they would be willing to take the kids rather than leave them with a sitter. Of course, this works best when parents live in close proximity.

Aim To Be in Agreement

No two parents are going to agree on every decision. However, co-parents who work together well for the sake of their kids have reached a basic level of agreement on the most important things. Try to come to a consensus on issues about important things like the following:

• Children’s health
• Spiritual upbringing

In some cases, a written parenting plan has helped co-parents reach this healthy level of communication.

Parents who share a good, healthy co-parenting relationship do not attempt to manipulate one another or control their children’s allegiances.

They recognize that their children need to have relationships with both parents and that their children’s affection for the other parent is no personal threat to them.

Discuss Changes With Your Co-Parent

When last-minute changes are needed, parents who share a healthy co-parenting relationship make an effort to talk with one another first—before announcing any schedule changes to their children.

Some families find it helpful to include guidelines for handling schedule changes in their parenting plan. These written "rules" can help everyone stay on the same page and limit conflicts.

Show Your Kids That You Co-Parent Well

Generally, the kids of co-parents who work well together believe that their parents get along. This doesn't mean you necessarily agree on everything or always like one another. But you do make a concerted effort to show respect to each other in front of your children.

Research has found that parents' hostility is significantly correlated with a child's aggression. In studies, the more hostile parents were toward others, the more aggressive their children were.

If, on the other hand, your kids perceive that you get along with their other parent, it likely means you have learned how to communicate effectively and minimize conflict. And that's good for everyone!

Co-Parent at Events Without Tension

Having no problem attending school meetings, sporting events, and recitals when the other parent is present is another sign of an effective co-parenting relationship. These parents choose to put their children first and worry about what “others” think last. They can practice putting their feelings about one another aside.

Recognize the Your Co-Parent's Importance

Co-parents who share a healthy relationship are also well aware of how important they both are to their children. They’ve worked hard to get to the point where they can work well with each other.

Even though it’s hard sometimes, try to value your children’s opportunity to know and spend time with the other parent.

The indivisibility of parental and child mental health and why poverty matters .  J Adolesc Health . 2023.

Routines and child development: A systematic review . Journal of Family Theory and Review. 2023.

Parenting styles, coparenting, and early child adjustment in separated families with child physical custody processes ongoing in family court .  Children (Basel) . 2021.

Correlation between parental hostility and child self-control and aggression .  Healthcare (Basel) . 2023.

Related Articles

• Skip to main content
• Skip to site information

Language selection

Help us to improve our website. Take our survey !

Travelling with children

Whether you and your children plan to travel or live abroad together or your child will be travelling alone, prepare well in advance to ensure a safe and happy trip.

Travel documents

Check the entry and exit requirements of each country you plan to visit in our Travel Advice and Advisories . Do you need visas? Do your passports have to be valid for a certain period of time after your return date to Canada? Do you need to carry return air tickets? Contact the embassy or consulate  of each country you plan to visit to check their entry requirements.

All children should carry a valid Canadian passport when they are travelling or living abroad. Children under the age of 16 can sign their own passports. If they do not, leave the signature block on page 3 blank. If you sign it on behalf of the child, the passport will be invalid.

If you or your children are dual or multiple citizens, always travel with your Canadian passport so you can access Canadian consular services while you are abroad and re-enter Canada. Always present yourself as Canadian to foreign authorities, especially when entering and leaving the country of your other nationality, unless you must use that country's passport to do so.

Carry supporting identification for each child , such as a photocopy of their birth or citizenship certificate; divorce papers; consent letter for children travelling abroad; all documents referring to the custody of, mobility of, or access to the child; or a death certificate, if one or both parents are deceased. This will help prove the child's citizenship, residency and your custodial and decision-making rights when you return to Canada.

Make sure you have a  consent letter for children travelling abroad or a court order , if required, if a child is travelling abroad alone, without all parents or legal guardians, or with friends, relatives or a group. A consent letter demonstrates that the child has permission to travel abroad, away from parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who are not accompanying them. It may be requested by authorities when a child enters or leaves a foreign country or by Canadian officials when the child re-enters Canada.

The consent letter should be signed by all persons or organizations who are not travelling with the child and who have the legal right to make major decisions for the child, including anyone with access, custody rights or guardianship rights or parental authority .

Make sure the letter includes the date on which the child is to return home. It may also help to have the letter witnessed by a notary public so that border officials will be less likely to question it.

Speak with a lawyer if you are involved in a custody dispute or if a dispute might develop while the child is abroad. If you already have a custody order or agreement, make sure that it permits the child to travel outside Canada. Travelling abroad with the child without the legal right to do so may result in legal or criminal consequences. Canadian custody orders are not automatically recognized or enforceable in other countries without going to court. Check with your destination country’s embassy or consulate if you have any questions.

If your child has been abducted or retained without authority abroad , contact the local police and the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate abroad. For more information, visit Child abduction and custody issues . 

Keep a business card or a piece of paper with emergency phone numbers in your child’s pocket in case you become separated. If the child has a cellphone, activate the GPS tracking system to make it easier to locate them.

Carry recent photographs of your child in case of emergency. If your child goes missing, take a screen shot of the map location where you last saw them.

Stay healthy

Visit your health care professional preferably 6 weeks before leaving Canada to learn how to protect your child’s health while you are in areas where there are infectious diseases that are not common here. You may need to arrange an alternative or accelerated childhood immunization schedule for your child. Research the medical facilities available in your destination country. For more information on health risks at your destination, see our Travel Advice and Advisories .

Children flying alone

Some airlines will provide services for an unaccompanied child for a fee. If your child will be travelling alone, make sure you

• confirm with the airline whether its staff will escort and supervise your child from check-in through arrival
• find out if there are age limits or flight restrictions for unaccompanied children
• ensure that your child carries their passport on them and pack other identification in their luggage
• ensure that a parent or legal guardian stays at the airport until the flight has departed, even if it is delayed
• ensure that the person meeting the child has appropriate identification and authorization

Important: Global Affairs Canada does not escort or supervise unaccompanied children travelling to or from Canada.

Contact your airline, bus, train or other transport company to check its policies for child travellers, particularly when children are travelling on their own.

Make sure you read about Taking small children through security screening .

If you are flying with a child under the age of 2 , you can carry baby food, milk, formula, water, juice and gel packs in small containers in your carry-on bag. You must declare these items when you go through security screening.

Pregnant travellers

If you are pregnant or expect to give birth in a foreign country, be sure to consult your health care professional preferably 6 weeks before you travel. Ask them about diseases that may have negative effects on your pregnancy. Make sure you find a local hospital or birthing facility that meets your standards in advance. For more information on health risks at your destination, see our Travel Advice and Advisories.

Make sure your travel health insurance covers pregnancy-related conditions, pre-term and full-term birth and neonatal care. Ask your airline about its policy on flying while pregnant before you book your flight.

If your baby is born abroad, contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate to find out how to apply for the child's Certificate of Canadian Citizenship and passport.

Publication information

Published by Global Affairs Canada

Information in this publication is readily available for personal and public non-commercial use and may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from Global Affairs Canada. We ask only that:

• Users exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced;
• Global Affairs Canada be identified as the source department; and
• the reproduction not be represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of Global Affairs Canada.

All information in this publication is provided on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Global Affairs Canada makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate. The reader is also encouraged to supplement this information with independent research and professional advice. This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. To obtain more information or free copies of this publication, write to: Public Enquiries Service Global Affairs Canada 125 Sussex Drive Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2 Tel.: 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada) or 613-944-4000 Email: [email protected] We would like to receive your comments on this publication. Write to us at the address above or e-mail us at [email protected] .

• Live In The D
• Newsletters

WEATHER ALERT

A freeze warning in effect for 11 regions in the area

America’s child care crisis is holding back moms without college degrees.

Moriah Balingit And Sharon Lurye Of The Associated Press And Daniel Beekman Of The Seattle Times

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Adriane Burnett poses for a photo on Saturday, April 14, 2024 in Birmingham, Ala. Women's participation in the American workforce has reached a high point, but challenges around child care are holding back many working class parents. When women without college degrees face an interruption in child care arrangements whether it's at a relative's home, a preschool or a daycare center they are more likely to have to take unpaid time or to be forced to leave their jobs altogether, according to an Associated Press analysis. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

AUBURN, Wash. – After a series of lower-paying jobs, Nicole Slemp finally landed one she loved. She was a secretary for Washington’s child services department, a job that came with her own cubicle, and she had a knack for working with families in difficult situations.

Slemp expected to return to work after having her son in August. But then she and her husband started looking for child care – and doing the math. The best option would cost about $2,000 a month, with a long wait list, and even the least expensive option would cost around $1,600, still eating up most of Slemp’s salary. Her husband earns about $35 an hour at a hose distribution company. Between them, they earned too much to qualify for government help.

Recommended Videos

“I really didn’t want to quit my job,” says Slemp, 33, who lives in a Seattle suburb. But, she says, she felt like she had no choice.

The dilemma is common in the United States, where high-quality child care programs are prohibitively expensive, government assistance is limited , and daycare openings are sometimes hard to find at all. In 2022, more than 1 in 10 young children had a parent who had to quit, turn down or drastically change a job in the previous year because of child care problems. And that burden falls most on mothers, who shoulder more child-rearing responsibilities and are far more likely to leave a job to care for kids .

Even so, women’s participation in the workforce has recovered from the pandemic , reaching historic highs in December 2023. But that masks a lingering crisis among women like Slemp who lack a college degree: The gap in employment rates between mothers who have a four-year degree and those who don’t has only grown.

For mothers without college degrees, a day without work is often a day without pay. They are less likely to have paid leave . And when they face an interruption in child care arrangements, an adult in the family is far more likely to take unpaid time off or to be forced to leave a job altogether, according to an analysis of Census survey data by The Associated Press in partnership with the Education Reporting Collaborative.

In interviews, mothers across the country shared how the seemingly endless search for child care, and its expense, left them feeling defeated. It pushed them off career tracks, robbed them of a sense of purpose, and put them in financial distress.

Women like Slemp challenge the image of the stay-at-home mom as an affluent woman with a high-earning partner, said Jessica Calarco, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“The stay-at-home moms in this country are disproportionately mothers who’ve been pushed out of the workforce because they don’t make enough to make it work financially to pay for child care,” Calarco said.

Her own research indicates three-quarters of stay-at-home moms live in households with incomes less than $50,000, and half have household incomes of less than $25,000.

Still, the high cost of child care has upended the careers of even those with college degrees.

When Jane Roberts gave birth in November, she and her husband, both teachers, quickly realized sending baby Dennis to day care was out of the question. It was too costly, and they worried about finding a quality provider in their hometown of Pocatello, Idaho.

The school district has no paid medical or parental leave , so Roberts exhausted her sick leave and personal days to stay home with Dennis. In March, she returned to work and husband Mike took leave. By the end of the school year, they’ll have missed out on a combined nine weeks of pay. To make ends meet, they’ve borrowed money against Jane’s life insurance policy.

In the fall, Roberts won’t return to teaching. The decision was wrenching. “I’ve devoted my entire adult life to this profession,” she said.

For low- and middle-income women who do find child care, the expense can become overwhelming. The Department of Health and Human Services has defined “affordable” child care as an arrangement that costs no more than 7% of a household budget. But a Labor Department study found fewer than 50 American counties where a family earning the median household income could obtain child care at an “ affordable ” price.

There’s also a connection between the cost of child care and the number of mothers working: a 10% increase in the median price of child care was associated with a 1% drop in the maternal workforce , the Labor Department found.

In Birmingham, Alabama, single mother Adriane Burnett takes home about $2,800 a month as a customer service representative for a manufacturing company. She spends more than a third of that on care for her 3-year-old.

In October, that child aged out of a program that qualified the family of three for child care subsidies. So she took on more work, delivering food for DoorDash and Uber Eats. To make the deliveries possible, her 14-year-old has to babysit.

Even so, Burnett had to file for bankruptcy and forfeit her car because she was behind on payments. She is borrowing her father’s car to continue her delivery gigs. The financial stress and guilt over missing time with her kids have affected her health, Burnett said. She has had panic attacks and has fainted at work.

“My kids need me,” Burnett said, “but I also have to work.”

Even for parents who can afford child care, searching for it — and paying for it — consumes reams of time and energy.

When Daizha Rioland was five months pregnant with her first child, she posted in a Facebook group for Dallas moms that she was looking for child care. Several warned she was already behind if she wasn’t on any wait lists. Rioland, who has a bachelor’s degree and works in communications for a nonprofit, wanted a racially diverse program with a strong curriculum.

While her daughter remained on wait lists, Rioland’s parents stepped in to care for her. Finally, her daughter reached the top of a waiting list — at 18 months old. The tuition was so high she could only attend part-time. Rioland got her second daughter on waiting lists long before she was born, and she now attends a center Rioland trusts.

“I’ve grown up in Dallas. I see what happens when you’re not afforded the luxury of high-quality education,” said Rioland, who is Black. “For my daughters, that’s not going to be the case.”

Slemp still sometimes wonders how she ended up staying at home with her son – time she cherishes but also finds disorienting. She thought she was doing well. After stints at a water park and a call center, her state job seemed like a step toward financial stability. How could it be so hard to maintain her career, when everything seemed to be going right?

“Our country is doing nothing to try to help fill that gap ,” Slemp said. As a parent, “we’re supposed to keep the population going, and they’re not giving us a chance to provide for our kids to be able to do that.”

Carly Flandro of Idaho Education News, Valeria Olivares of The Dallas Morning News and Alaina Bookman of AL.com contributed to this report. Balingit reported from Washington, D.C., and Lurye from New Orleans. ___

This series on how the child care crisis affects working parents — with a focus on solutions — is produced by the Education Reporting Collaborative , a coalition of eight newsrooms, including AL.com , The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor, The Dallas Morning News, The Hechinger Report, Idaho Education News, The Post & Courier, and The Seattle Times.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines.

Research highlight: Chemical tool illuminates pathways used by dopamine, opioids and other neuronal signals

University of Michigan researchers have developed a new tool to better understand how chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine interact with neurons.

These chemicals are among a wide variety of signals that get processed in the brain through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), proteins that sit on the surface of neurons to receive messages — in the forms of proteins, sugars, fats, even light — that inform cellular behavior. 

GPCRs are involved in an enormous number of biological functions, making them a prime target for treating diseases; more than one-third of FDA-approved drugs target GPCRs. But to fully understand how various molecules interact with GPCRs, researchers need to be able to detect those molecules across the whole brain with high spatial resolution.

“The challenge in our field has been achieving the right balance between a detailed view and the whole picture across the brain,” says Wenjing Wang, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the U-M Life Sciences Institute. 

“With most existing tools, you can detect a neural modulator either in a small part of the brain with high spatial resolution or in the whole brain with very low resolution,” adds LSI faculty member Peng Li, Ph.D. “But we need to identify the cells that respond to the neuromodulators across various brain regions, in high resolution.” 

In a  new study published April 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , Wang, Li and their colleagues unveiled a new chemical tool that achieves both goals for three chemicals that all target GPCRs.

Ideally, we aim to be able to create a brain map for multiple neuromodulators concurrently, offering a comprehensive understanding of the sites of neuromodulation.

Wang’s lab at the LSI uses protein engineering to develop technologies that can detect how signaling molecules travel within the brain to reach and interact with specific neurons. They previously created a tool to reveal the presence of opioids , another GPCR binding partner, at a cellular level.

When the molecule is detected, the tool creates a permanent fluorescent mark in the cells. Thus, researchers can see the specific cells that are highlighted, as well as the whole picture of cells across the brain.

This latest work broadens the utility of that sensor to detect multiple types of GPCR activators, beyond just opioids. So far, the team has tested the tool with opioids and epinephrine in cultured neurons and in mouse models. The team also expanded the tool to use both green and red fluorescence, enabling the tracking of multiple molecules at once.

“Coming from detecting just opioids, we now have a tool that we can begin to easily modulate for various signals that interact with GPCRs,” says Wang, who is also an assistant professor of Chemistry in the U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. “The goal is eventually to even study the interplays of different signaling pathways simultaneously.”

The team cautions that while the tool provides important visualizations of how signals travel across neurons for analysis postmortem, it cannot be used to track chemicals in real time, as it takes several hours for the fluorescence to appear. But it does offer a new path forward for improving understanding of neuronal signaling and the role of GPCRs as drug targets.

“Ideally, we aim to be able to create a brain map for multiple neuromodulators concurrently, offering a comprehensive understanding of the sites of neuromodulation,” says Li, who is also an assistant professor in the U-M School of Dentistry.

Top image: A slice of the mouse brainstem demonstrates the detection of morphine (green) and the expression of the SPOTIT sensor (magenta). Image credit: Noam Gannot and Peng Li, U-M Life Sciences Institute.

Disclosure & Authorship

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health. 

Study authors are: Kayla Kroning, Noam Gannot, Xingyu Li, Aubrey Putansu, Guanwei Zhou, Jennifer Sescil, Jiaqi Shen, Avery Wilson, Hailey Fiel, Peng Li and Wenjing Wang of the University of Michigan.

Go to Article

“ Single-chain fluorescent integrators for mapping G-protein-coupled receptor agonists ,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307090121