When You Need a Child Travel Consent Form
You need a child travel consent form any time your child travels without one or both legal parents or guardians. This document is especially helpful for avoiding delays, answering questions from airline staff or border agents, and ensuring a smoother travel experience.
Common situations where this form is recommended include:
- Traveling alone, without any parent or guardian
- Traveling with only one parent or legal guardian
- Traveling with a grandparent, teacher, coach, or family friend
- Traveling as part of a school group, sports team, or church trip
- Traveling internationally, even with a trusted adult
Even when it’s not legally required, having a signed consent form can prevent confusion and make travel easier.
What to Include in a Child Travel Consent Form
A complete child travel consent form includes key details to ensure your child can travel smoothly and safely. In most cases, the form is valid only for the specific trip listed—so be sure to create a new one for each new journey.
Your consent letter should include:
- The child’s full name, date of birth, and passport number (if applicable)
- Details about the parent or guardian giving consent
- Name and relationship of the adult accompanying your child (if anyone is)
- Travel dates, destination and airline or travel method
- At least one emergency contact with phone and address
- Optional: Medical consent and health insurance details in case of emergencies
Legal Templates provides a customizable child travel consent form that you can complete online. Our builder helps ensure that nothing important is left out.
Travel Requirements for Minors
Travel requirements for minors vary from airline to airline and destination to destination. Check the airline’s ID policy and your destination’s entry requirements before your child travels. The table below outlines what’s commonly required.
| Travel Type | Requirements for Children |
|---|---|
| Domestic (within the US) | - ID not required by TSA for minors under 18 - Some airlines may request ID (check airline policy) - Consent form recommended if child is flying alone or with a non-parent |
| International Travel | - Valid passport required - Visa may be needed depending on the destination - Consent letter strongly recommended, especially if traveling with one parent or non-parent guardian |
| Travel to/from Canada or Mexico | - Valid passport or Trusted Traveler card (e.g., NEXUS, Global Entry) - Consent letter recommended - Follow destination-specific entry rules |
Travel Scenarios and What to Prepare
Here’s a quick look at what children typically need when traveling without both parents or legal guardians.
If a Child Is Traveling Alone
If your child is traveling alone, many airlines offer unaccompanied minor programs for children aged five to 14. These usually require a child travel consent form, emergency contact information and a completed airline unaccompanied minor form (and a fee).
Some airlines, such as American Airlines, allow teens aged 15-17 to travel alone without enrolling in the unaccompanied minor program.
If a Child Is Traveling With One Parent
If your child is traveling with one parent, some countries and airlines want written permission from the non-traveling parent. If you share custody, check your agreement and get written consent from the other parent. If you have sole custody, carry a copy of your custody order when traveling.
A child travel consent form helps demonstrate that the trip is approved by both legal guardians.
If a Child Is Traveling With Another Adult
If your child is traveling with another adult—say a relative, teacher, or close family friend—it’s best to include a consent letter signed by both parents or guardians. Some travel providers may also ask for a copy of the child’s birth certificate and a valid photo ID for the accompanying adult.
When someone other than a parent is in charge, include a child medical consent form to help in case of emergencies.
If a Legal Guardian Is Traveling With the Child
Most legal guardians don’t need special permission to travel with a child. But it’s still helpful to carry proof—especially if the guardian has a different last name than the child or there’s a court order related to custody or travel. A travel consent form isn’t always required, but having one on hand can save time and reduce stress.
Child Travel Consent Form Sample
Below, you can view a sample child travel consent form to understand its structure. Then, you can customize our template to meet your needs and download in PDF or Word format.
How Legal Templates Helps
At Legal Templates, we simplify the process of creating a child travel consent form with a guided form builder. Legal professionals review our templates, so you can feel confident that your document includes everything it should. Whether you’re preparing for a school trip, vacation, or international visit, our easy-to-use tools help you complete the task quickly and correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a child travel consent form need to be notarized?
Some countries and airlines require a notarized consent form—especially for international travel. Even if it’s not mandatory, notarizing the form can help prove its authenticity and reduce the risk of delays. To do this, you can attach a notary acknowledgment form when signing in front of a licensed notary public.
Do I need a child travel consent form?
You may need a child travel consent form if your child is traveling without both parents—whether they’re flying alone, with one parent, or with someone else. It’s strongly recommended for international trips and can help avoid delays at airports or border crossings.
Do grandparents need a child travel consent form?
Yes, if a child is traveling with a grandparent, it’s a good idea to have a signed child travel consent form from the parents or legal guardians. Some airlines or border agents may also ask for a copy of the child’s birth certificate and the grandparent’s ID.
Do you need a child travel consent form for Mexico?
Yes, a child travel consent form is recommended when traveling to Mexico without both parents. Mexican authorities may ask for a notarized letter of consent, especially for minors traveling with one parent or a non-parental adult. A passport is also required.
How do I get a child travel consent form?
You can create a child travel consent form using Legal Templates. Our easy-to-use builder walks you through the steps to customize your document. Once complete, you can download it as a PDF or Word file and print it for use.
