5 Jun 2025
5 Jun 2025
min read
Is Your Child Travelling Without Both Parents? If yes, your child needs to have a Minor Travel Consent Form.
This is not a “nice-to-have” document, but a “must-have” document that should be part of your Travel Visa Documents Checklist.
In this blog, we will equip you with everything you need to know about:
A Minor Travel Consent Form gives permission to your child to travel without a guardian / both the parents.
This is a proof of consent required by immigration officers and airlines to permit a child to travel alone i.e. without both the parent / guardian.
It is important to also understand the minor child age limit.
Minor child legal definition according to 42 U.S. Code § 619(2) : “minor child” means an individual who— (A) has not attained 18 years of age; or (B) has not attained 19 years of age and is a full-time student in a secondary school (or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training)
So, there are exceptions:
You typically need this form when:
The thumbrule is that your minor child needs a minor travel consent form if he is travelling alone.
So, how to confirm whether the Minor Travel Consent Form is Mandatory? Step By Step Guide
Contact the airline customer service would be the easiest way to ascertain if the requirement for a minor travel consent form is applicable in your case. Just enquire about the travel documents necessary for kids flying out with the airline
Airline websites list the travel documents for kids including the requirement for minor travel consent form.
For example, the KLM airline lists out the travel documents for kids and offers free consent form for minor in English for download. It provides that travel consent form for minor is required in the following scenario:
If your child is travelling alone, or with only 1 parent or guardian, or with an adult that does not have parental authority then a travel consent form for minors is mandatory.
Do I Need To Check The Laws of The Destination Country To Determine If I Need A Minor Travel Consent Form? Yes, you must check the travel documents requirements for kids travelling alone by contacting the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
Cathay Pacific also lists out the travel document requirements for unaccompanied minors. It also lists country specific regulations that may be applicable in such cases The U.S. government also lists out the mandatory travel documents for kids.
Use this checklist to determine if you need a travel consent form for a child:
🔲 Is the child under 18 years old?
(Check the age of majority in your jurisdiction for a minor.)
🔲 Is the child traveling with a single parent or adult without authorization, or without both legal parents or guardians?
🔲 Is the child traveling alone (unaccompanied minor)?
🔲 Is the child traveling with a grandparent, relative, or family friend?
🔲 Is the child traveling with a school, sports team, or organization?
🔲 Is the destination country or airline requiring a consent form?
(Many international borders and airlines have strict policies.)
Tip: Having a form helps even when not legally required.
A valid minor travel consent form should include:
Notarization validates the document’s authenticity. The requirement for notatization for a minor travel consent form may vary by jursidction.
However, it is strongly recommended to get the minor travel consent form notarized to avoid any issues regarding the authenticity of the document with border officials.
Here’s a free template you can copy, customize, and use:
_________________________________________________________________________________
I hereby declare that I am the legal parent/guardian of the following minor child:
I confirm that the above minor child is traveling alone (without adult supervision).
Travel Authorization
I authorize my minor child listed above to travel unaccompanied to [Destination] from [Start Date] to [End Date], for the purpose of [Reason for Travel].
Emergency Contact Details
If needed, I can be contacted at the following details:
Primary Contact Name: [Your Full Name]
Phone Number: [Country Code + Number]
Email Address: [Your Email Address]
Authorizing Parent/Guardian Details
Full Name: [Your Full Name]
Passport Number: [Your Passport Number]
Full Residential Address: [Your Full Address]
Signature: [Sign]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
_________________________________________________________________________________
You can copy the form above or download the editable Word/PDF version to customize it for travel with a single parent, another adult, or an organization.
Need more travel-related legal templates? Explore DocPro – the only affordable legal document tool you will ever need!
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