A child travel consent form is strongly recommended if a child travels alone, with only one parent or 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.
What is a Child Travel Consent Form?
A child travel consent form is a legal document that grants written permission for a minor to travel domestically or internationally without a parent or legal guardian. The form is primarily for when a child travels with a group, school, or an adult who is not a legal guardian. But the form is also essential when a child is traveling alone.
As a reference, people call this form by other names:
- Affidavit of Consent for Children Traveling Abroad
- Letter for Children Traveling Abroad
- Minor Travel Consent Form
- Travel Permission Letter
- Parental consent form
How To Write a Child Travel Consent Form
Step 1 – Provide Basic Child Information
The first step in writing a Child Travel Consent Form is including information about the child in question. You should write down the child’s name, date of birth, and the address where they were born.
In addition to these details, you should also provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate. US Customs and Border Control highly recommends children traveling without their parents or legal guardians carry a copy of their birth certificate to help ease travel through customs.
If you aren’t able to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, you can attach the following:
- The child’s passport
- The child’s driver’s license
- A photo of the child
If more than one child travels, you must create separate forms for each child.
Step 2 – Provide Legal Guardian Information
The parent or legal guardian is the person who is giving consent for their child to travel when they are not present. Include their contact details, such as their full name, address, phone number, and even email address.
Optionally include a copy of the parent/legal guardian’s passport or driver’s license.
One parent/legal guardian should sign this document if the child is traveling with the other parent/legal guardian. Both parents should sign the document if the child travels with another relative, friend, or group.
If one parent has sole custody of the child, attaching a copy of a court document or death certificate showing that you have sole custody of your child is highly recommended.
Step 3 – Include Emergency Contact Details
Include the contact information for an emergency contact person someone can contact if a parent or legal guardian cannot be reached when the child is under care. Provide their name, address, phone number, and email address.
You can also add an alternative emergency contact if the first contact cannot be reached.
Step 4 – Provide Trip Details
The next step is describing the purpose of the travel. This serves to explain why the child is on the trip. Example reasons include:
- Vacation
- School trip
- Traveling with a family member
- Business trip
- Other reasons which you can specify
In case the child is questioned, having the purpose of the travel on the Travel Consent Form will make it clear why the child is traveling.
In addition to the above, you must provide the following:
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Travel dates
- Include both the departure date and the return date. It is important to specific dates so that anyone looking at the form can know what dates the trip spans and how long it is.
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Travel type
- International: Traveling out of the country
- Domestic: Traveling within the country
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Travel Destination
- Include a short phrase to describe the destination. For example, if the child travels to a tourist destination in a particular city, you can name both the place and the city (i.e., “Disneyworld in Orlando, FL”). If there is more than one place the child is staying, list all the places.
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Location of stay
- Include the name of the person or lodging where the child will reside during the trip. The address and phone number should also be included in case of any emergency.
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Accompanying party
- Include the person’s full name and relationship to the child as part of the Child Travel Consent form information.
- Accompany party’s passport number
Step 5 – Add Medical Consent Information
If something happens to your child where they require medical attention, you can specify whether you give the accompanying adult medical consent. If you do give them consent, provide the following details:
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Health information of the child
- Include health conditions, allergies, prescriptions, and the date of their last tetanus shot.
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Primary doctor details
- Include the full name and phone number of the child’s doctor. It will be listed as part of the primary healthcare givers’ contact information on the medical consent form.
- Primary dentist (optional)
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Preferred medical facility
- If you do not know or have the information readily accessible, leave it blank and write it in later. Including this as part of your preferences regarding your child’s medical treatment is recommended.
- Insurance information
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Authorized treatments
- All available medical treatment rendered to your child as a licensed medical professional recommends will be administered unless you specifically exclude specific treatments. If there is no excluded treatment, in particular, the consented medical treatments will include procedures such as:
- X-Ray
- Anesthetic
- Blood transfusion medication
- Other medical diagnoses, cures, or hospital care.
- All available medical treatment rendered to your child as a licensed medical professional recommends will be administered unless you specifically exclude specific treatments. If there is no excluded treatment, in particular, the consented medical treatments will include procedures such as:
Step 6 – Fill in the Final Details
In this last section of the form, you sign the document. You can also include the signatures of witnesses or a notary acknowledgment from a notary public.
Finally, write in the date of consent.
What Should be Included in a Child Travel Consent Form?
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 accompanied
- Trip Dates: travel dates, the origin/destination sites, the purpose of the trip
- Contact Information: for both parents and emergency contact
- Responsible Adult: name of person or group who will accompany the child
- Signature: signed by a parent or legal guardian NOT traveling with the child
- Witnesses or Notary Public: some airlines require additional signatures from witnesses for authenticity, and the US Customs and Border Protection suggests a child travel consent form be notarized
When providing consent for a minor to travel, there are a few details you need to ensure it contains all the necessary information for the relevant travel authorities:
Who is traveling?
Children under 18 should travel with an authorized adult or have special permission documented in the form. Otherwise, law enforcement officers consider such children “unaccompanied minors.”
Who is giving permission?
The parent or legal guardian who has custody of the child must permit 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 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 any child’s food allergies or special needs.
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.
Tips for Writing a Child Travel Consent Form
Parent Signatures
While there are cases where only one parental signature is required to provide travel consent (such as one parent having sole legal custody), there are some situations where the signature of both parents is necessary:
- The child is traveling abroad alone
- The child is traveling without a legal guardian with sole custody
- There is a custody dispute between the parents
- There is a court requirement for both signatures
A Valid Passport Is Required When Returning from Abroad
When writing your child’s travel consent form, remember that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires a passport for any US citizen re-entering the country by air or crossing a border. [1] Children of any age are required to have a passport, and it would be beneficial to keep the passport together with your written consent form.
Documents to Include
Depending on your circumstances, adding certain documents alongside the consent may be helpful, especially in cases involving divorce, separation, or custody issues. Be sure to include any court orders, the Separation Agreement, or other legal custody documents to prove the custody arrangement.
Sample Child Travel Consent Form
Below is a sample of a child travel consent form.
Child Travel Consent Frequently Asked Questions
What must I write in a child’s travel consent form?
Include dates, addresses, method of travel, and names of adults responsible for your child. Explain any food allergies or medical concerns they may have, and include your phone number(s) for immediate contact if necessary.
Can I write my permission to travel letter for my child?
Yes, include all identifying information related to your child and the trip they are taking. A school trip consent form often has these already listed. Alternatively, you can use our form builder, which allows you to create a permission to travel letter using easy-to-follow prompts.
Do permission to travel letters need a to and from date?
Yes, a permission to travel letter for a minor must include specific dates to help other adults recognize the document as legitimate and provide consent for a minor to travel without one or both of their parents.
How do you write a permission letter for a school trip?
To write a permission slip for travel for your child, incorporate all the details needed to provide proper travel consent, but add details related to the school trip. For example, you should include the names of the responsible adults who will be taking care of your child, the trip destination, the travel method, and the trip length.
Do I need a consent form if my kid’s friend is coming on vacation with us?
When traveling with someone else’s child and the parents are not with you, be sure to bring some documentation to attest that you have permission from the parents to travel with their child.