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PRIVATE, GROUPS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU!
PRIVATE, GROUPS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU!
PRIVATE, GROUPS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU!
PRIVATE, GROUPS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU!
PRIVATE, GROUPS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU!
PRIVATE, GROUPS, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU!
Important Information and Instructions for Parents / Guardian Approval for Minor Child to Travel.
Children can make many aspects of travel more rewarding, but they can also add a level of complexity that traveling as adults-only lacks. Beyond that, traveling with children who aren’t your own (or are yours but with special cases), can make things like medical care and interfacing with customs a challenge, and can even potentially stop a vacation in its tracks.
Nobody’s trying to be a bad guy on your trip. But, in their attempts to keep children safe from trafficking and other similar issues, many authorities require documentation. Here is our guide to help you demystify what you’ll need, and to have it in hand if you’re ever called to present it.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this is a guide, and we are not giving legal advice. This information cannot replace professional legal help, and a lawyer should be consulted as each situation is different.
START YOUR FORM HERE!
It’s a good idea to prepare these documents to send with your kids if they’re TRAVELING out into the world with other adults.
Things You Need to Know About "Child Travel Consent Form"
TOPICS
- What is a Child Travel Consent Form?
- When is This Form Needed
- Why Should You Use a Travel Consent Form
- Common Situations for Using This Form
- What Should be Included in a Minor Travel Consent Form
- Other Considerations
- Fill out your Child Consent Form
1. What is a Child Travel Consent Form?
This form is strongly recommended if a child is traveling alone, with only one parent, or with an authorized adult. It notifies others that the child has written permission or legal authority to travel without their parent(s). Travel can occur either across state lines or across country borders.
Although not required by U.S. laws, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), immigration officers, or law enforcement officers may detain the child if they suspect an abduction or kidnapping. A consent letter for children traveling without parents or legal guardians, locally or abroad can help prevent any issue from taking place.
A simple Child Travel Consent form will identify the following basic elements:
- Parents: name of parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with legal custody
- Child: name, date of birth, place of birth, and passport details
- Travel Details: Traveling alone to meet a specific adult OR accompanied
- Trip Details: Travel dates, origin/destination cites, the purpose of the trip
- Contact Information: Address of destination and emergency contact
- Responsible Adult: Name of person or group who will be accompanying
- Signature: Signed by the parent or legal guardian NOT traveling with the child
Witnesses or Notary Public: some airlines require additional signatures from witnesses for authenticity while the U.S. Customs and Border Protection suggests it be notarized
2. When is This Form Needed
This form is commonly used when one or both parents or the legal guardians are unable to travel with the child.
- It is needed under these circumstances:
- The child is under 18 years old
- Traveling by car, plane, train, or ship
- Crossing U.S. borders by plane
- Flying domestically in or out of state
- Custody of the child is disputed
- Only one parent has sole custody
- If only one parent has custody of the child, the parent traveling with the child might consider bringing certified copies of the following supporting paperwork:
- Court decision
- Death certificate
- A birth certificate naming only one parent
- Custody papers documenting the guardian has legal custody
- Notarized statement or affidavit if one of the legal parents is absent
3. Why Should You Use a Travel Consent Form
When traveling with children, adults should formally document that they are authorized to travel with a child that is not their own. Customs and Border Protection Officers have the right to ask you for documentation, so it is best to be ready with a Travel Consent Form. Otherwise, you and the child may be detained until the situation is clarified.
This is particularly necessary when only one parent is traveling with the child and the parents are separated or in a custody battle over the child.
Carrying a Parental Consent form does not guarantee entry or exit from a country. Border officials have the absolute right to allow or deny your child and/or the responsible adult into or out of their country.
CONSEQUENCES SUFFERED BY PARENTS & CHILDREN
- Consequences Suffered by Parent/Adult
- Consequences Suffered by Child
1. Loss of Money
- Denied entry into a country with a child
- Unable to enter a foreign country without formal document to travel alone or with an unauthorized adult
- Need to hire a lawyer to dispute custody challenge with ex-spouse
2. Loss of Time
- Detained because law enforcement fears the child is being abducted or kidnapped
- Detained by police or immigration officers about your legal authority over the child
- Repeatedly questioned by airline employees and immigration officers about why they are traveling alone
- Numerous questions about legal authority from airline employees
3. Mental Anguish
- Difficulty getting past law enforcement checkpoints
- Questioned at immigration checkpoints at the airport until situation explained
- Suspected of being a runaway, a victim of child pornography, subjected to human trafficking, or abducted
- Embarrassed because suspected as a kidnapper
4. Common Situations for Using This Form
This document should be used if the child is:
- Traveling with only one parent
- Visiting parents who are separated
- Traveling alone because one parent has passed away
- Traveling with the one parent who has sole custody
Alternatively, this form is useful if both parents allow the child to:
- Vacation with family friends
- Go on a church outing with their congregation
- Attend a school trip with teachers or chaperones
- Travel or study abroad for a temporary amount of time
- Travel with a grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sibling, or babysitter
Check with your Transporting organization about any specific travel regulations for children.
5. What Should be Included in a Minor Travel Consent Form
Our sample Child Travel Consent form asks you easy questions that help you fill out the document step-by-step.
Who is traveling?
- Children under 18 years of age should either travel with an authorized adult or have special permission documented in the form. Otherwise, law enforcement officers will consider such children as “unaccompanied minors”.
Who is giving permission?
- The parent or legal guardian who has custody of the child must give permission for the child to travel alone or with another parent, family member, or adult. If the child is traveling alone, the Child Travel Consent form should be signed by both parents or legal guardians who have custody of the child.
What are the details of the trip?
The Child Travel Consent form should also spell out the following details:
WHERE the child is traveling to (final destination)
- WHEN the child will be traveling and returning
- WHY the child is on a journey with another adult or by themselves
- WHO the responsible adult is, if anyone, that will be traveling
What other details should be included?
- This form may also cover the food allergies or special needs of the child.
You may also need a Child Medical Consent Form if you want another responsible adult to make medical decisions and authorize certain medical treatments for the child.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Although they may seem like a needlessly complex irritation, both documents are actually fairly simple. That being said, keep a handful of other small details in mind when traveling with children:
- Even though domestic travel rules don’t require photo ID for traveling minors, go ahead and get something for every child traveling with you.
- Make certain your consent forms match the information on the child’s ID, and that the child still looks like their photo. This is especially important for children under 10, whose appearances can change a lot during the lifespan of an ID.
- Make at least two extra copies of the letter, and pack them in different areas.
- Consider mobile notaries. They rarely cost much more than going to a notary in person and will save you a trip while you’re busy getting ready to travel.
It’s a good idea to prepare these documents to send with your kids if they’re going out into the world with other adults.
Transportation With Mo` Inc.
P.O. Box 852, Parkton, NC 28371, United States
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