What about apostille certification?

For travel to Hague Apostille Convention countries (most of EU, Australia, Japan, etc.), apostille certification of the notary's authority may be required. Process: notarised letter → apostille from the state's Secretary of State (1-3 weeks, $5-25 per document). Check destination country specific requirements at travel.state.gov.

My ex-spouse won't sign — what now?

Without joint consent, international travel with a minor by one parent is fraught with risk. Options: (1) Get court order specifically authorising the trip (family court motion); (2) Document sole legal custody if applicable (divorce decree); (3) Travel domestically only. Disregarding the other parent's objection can support international parental kidnapping charges under 28 U.S.C. §1204. Consult a family-law attorney before unilateral travel.

What if my child is travelling alone?

Most airlines have unaccompanied-minor (UM) services with specific age, fee, and procedure requirements. For international UM travel: (1) Consent letter from both parents notarised; (2) Specific contact information for the receiving adult; (3) Airline UM service paperwork. Some airlines won't carry unaccompanied minors internationally; verify before booking.

Do I need translations?

Some destination countries require consent letters translated into their official language by certified translator. Mexico, France, Spain commonly request Spanish/French translations. Check destination-country specific embassy requirements. Generic English-language notarised consent works for English-speaking destinations.

What about cruise travel?

Cruise lines typically require similar consent documentation for minors travelling without both parents. Cruise documentation requirements are sometimes stricter than airline (multi-country itineraries can complicate). Verify with cruise line policy 60+ days before departure; some require documentation submitted in advance for verification.

Child Travel Consent (International)

Notarised consent for a minor child to travel internationally with one parent or another adult.

Customise

Consenting parent 1 — name

Parent 1 phone

Consenting parent 2 — name

Parent 2 phone

Parents' address

Child — full name (as on passport)

Child — DOB

Child — passport number

Travelling with — adult name

Travelling adult — passport

Relationship to child

Travelling adult phone

Departure date

Expected return date

Destination country/countries

Trip purpose

Medical emergency consent

Live preview

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CONSENT FOR MINOR CHILD

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CHILD

  Full name:                       Ellis Taylor
  Date of birth:                   September 4, 2018
  Passport number:                 US passport 575XXXXXXX (issued 2025-04, expires 2030-04)

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CONSENTING PARENTS / LEGAL GUARDIANS

  Parent 1:                        Jordan Alex Taylor — +1 503 555 0118
  Parent 2:                        Aleksandra Petrova Taylor — +1 503 555 0119
  Address:                         482 Elm Street, Apt 3B, Portland, OR 97214

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TRAVELLING ADULT

  Name:                            Sam Taylor
  Passport:                        US passport 599XXXXXXX
  Relationship to child:           Aunt (sister of consenting parent 1)
  Phone:                           +1 503 555 0142

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TRAVEL DETAILS

  Departure date:                  August 1, 2026
  Expected return date:            August 22, 2026
  Destination(s):                  United Kingdom and France

  Trip purpose:

Educational and family-vacation trip. Itinerary includes London (1 week), Paris (1 week), and a brief visit to grandparents who live in Lyon, France (1 week). All accommodations and travel pre-arranged with itinerary attached.

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED PARENTS, HEREBY CONSENT:

  (1) To the international travel of our child, Ellis Taylor, with the travelling adult named above, on the dates and to the destinations stated.

  (2) To the travelling adult's authority to make all reasonable decisions regarding the child's welfare during the trip, including transportation, lodging, and routine activities.

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MEDICAL EMERGENCY CONSENT

In the event of a medical emergency or routine medical need during the trip, we authorise the travelling adult (Sam Taylor) to consent to medical, surgical, dental, or hospital treatment for the child. The travelling adult shall make reasonable efforts to contact us before authorising any non-emergency treatment.
Medical insurance: BlueCross BlueShield Oregon, policy 88312-Q (international travel rider verified active for trip dates). Emergency Travel Insurance through ACE Travel - policy ACE-2026-04481.

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EXECUTION

We declare under penalty of perjury that we are the legal parents/guardians of the child named above, that we voluntarily provide this consent, and that the information above is true.


_______________________________            Date: ____________________
Jordan Alex Taylor


_______________________________            Date: ____________________
Aleksandra Petrova Taylor


NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - REQUIRED FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

State of __________________   )
                                ) ss.
County of __________________   )

Sworn to and subscribed before me on _________________ (date) by Jordan Alex Taylor and Aleksandra Petrova Taylor.

________________________________
Notary Public — signature & seal

My commission expires: ____________________


APOSTILLE / EMBASSY AUTHENTICATION (where required)

For travel to certain destination countries (notably countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention or specific visa-issuing posts), this notarised consent may need apostille certification by the U.S. Department of State or by the issuing state's Secretary of State. Verify destination-country requirements before departure.

About this template

International travel with a minor child requires specific consent documentation to prevent border denials and abduction concerns. The U.S. Department of State and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recommend that any minor traveling internationally without BOTH parents carry a notarised parental consent letter. Border-control officers in destination countries (especially Mexico, Canada, EU countries, and many Asian nations) routinely ask about consent for unaccompanied minors or minors with one parent only. Without proper documentation, families are frequently turned back at the border. The basic consent should include: child's full name and passport number; consenting parents' names with notarised signatures; travelling adult's name and relationship; specific dates and destinations; medical-emergency authorisation; emergency contacts. For travel to Hague Apostille Convention countries, the notarised consent typically needs apostille certification from the U.S. Department of State or the state's Secretary of State - verifying the notary's authority. Some destination countries require the consent translated into the local language by certified translator. Mexico has particular consent requirements for minors (under 18) traveling without both parents; Canada similarly. Single parents should carry death certificate (deceased parent), divorce decree with sole custody (if applicable), or formal sole-custody documentation. The "international parental kidnapping" laws (28 U.S.C. §1204) and Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980) make documented consent essential evidence that one parent isn't taking the child without permission. For divorced parents with shared custody, the consent should specifically reference the custody decree and include both parents' notarised signatures.

When to use it

Minor child travelling internationally with one parent only.
Minor child travelling with grandparents, aunt/uncle, or other adult.
Minor child travelling alone (unaccompanied minor with airline supervision).
School-organised international trips.
Visiting non-custodial parent abroad (custody-sensitive case).

What to include

Child's full name, DOB, passport number.
Both consenting parents' names (or sole custody documentation).
Travelling adult's name, passport, relationship.
Specific departure/return dates and destinations.
Trip purpose.
Medical-emergency consent.
Notarisation (and apostille for some destinations).

Frequently asked

Strongly recommended for ALL international travel with a minor; effectively required for travel to Mexico, Canada, EU countries, Australia, and most Asian nations. CBP and destination-country border officers will accept unnotarised letters but with skepticism. The notary's authentication is the key element.

⚠ Legal disclaimer. International child-travel-consent requirements vary by destination country. Hague Apostille Convention countries often require apostille certification. Mexico and Canada have specific minor-travel rules. Travel during contested custody situations risks international parental kidnapping charges (28 U.S.C. §1204) and Hague Convention proceedings. For complex situations - sole custody traveling to ex-spouse country, contested custody, prior border issues - consult a family-law attorney before travel. State Department travel.state.gov publishes country-specific entry requirements.