A child travel consent letter is a short, signed note from a parent who isn’t on the trip, saying they know the child is traveling and they agree to it. No U.S. law requires one for most trips. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Canada’s border agency, airlines, and cruise lines all recommend it anyway, because officers are trained to ask questions when a child crosses a border without both parents. A good letter answers those questions before they’re asked.
Below: when to bring one, exactly what to put in it, a sample you can adapt, and the documents that should travel with it.
When to Bring One
| Who the child is traveling with | Bring a consent letter? |
| Both parents | No |
| One parent, international trip | Yes, signed by the other parent |
| One parent, domestic flight | Optional; useful if last names differ or custody is shared |
| Grandparents, other relatives, or family friends | Yes, signed by both parents |
| A school, sports, church, or youth group | Yes, signed by both parents; many groups have their own form |
| Alone, as an unaccompanied minor | Yes, along with the airline’s own unaccompanied minor paperwork |
| One parent who has sole custody | No consent letter needed, but carry the custody order |
| One parent whose co-parent has died | No consent letter possible; carry the death certificate |
The general idea: if either legal parent isn’t on the trip, the child should have that parent’s written consent or a document showing why it isn’t needed. For trips abroad, our guide to one parent traveling abroad with a child goes deeper into custody and passport issues.
What the Letter Should Say
There’s no official form for U.S. families. What matters is that the letter is specific enough that a stranger at a border can verify it.
The child
Full legal name exactly as it appears on the passport or birth certificate, date of birth, place of birth, and passport number if traveling internationally.
The adult traveling with the child
Full name, relationship to the child, passport number, and phone number.
The parent or parents giving consent
Full names, home address, phone number, email, and a copy of each signing parent’s government-issued photo ID attached to the letter. Officers may call the number, so it should reach someone who will answer.
The trip
Destination countries and cities, departure and return dates, flight numbers or cruise name if known, and where the child will stay.
The consent itself
A plain statement that you consent to the trip. You can also authorize the accompanying adult to approve emergency medical treatment, which is useful if you’ll be hard to reach.
Signature and date
Signed by each consenting parent, ideally in front of a notary.
A Sample Letter You Can Adapt
I, [Parent’s full name], am the [mother/father/legal guardian] of [Child’s full name], born [date of birth] in [city, state], U.S. passport number [number].
I give my consent for my child to travel with [Accompanying adult’s full name], [relationship to child], passport number [number], to [destination country/countries] from [departure date] to [return date]. They will be staying at [address or hotel name] and can be reached at [phone number].
I also authorize [Accompanying adult’s name] to consent to any necessary emergency medical treatment for my child during this trip.
I can be contacted at [phone number] and [email address]. My home address is [address].
Signed: ______________________ Date: __________
[Notary block]
If both parents are giving consent because neither is traveling, list both names and add a signature line for each. If you’re sending a child abroad for a long stay, such as a semester or a summer with relatives, consider a broader document; a power of attorney can give the caregiver authority over school and medical decisions that a travel letter doesn’t cover.
Should It Be Notarized?
Notarization isn’t legally required for U.S. trips, but it makes the letter far more credible, and some countries’ officials and some airlines expect it. A notary confirms the signer’s identity, which is the main thing a border officer can’t check on the spot.
Getting it done is quick: bring the unsigned letter, your photo ID, and sign in front of the notary. Our notarized child travel consent letter guide covers the process, our general notarization requirements list what to bring, and many banks offer free notary services to customers. If the other parent lives far away, online notarization lets them sign from home.
For countries that require an apostille on foreign documents, ask the destination’s consulate whether a travel consent letter needs one. Most short tourist trips don’t.
Documents That Should Travel With the Letter
The letter alone proves very little. Pack these with it:
- ☐ The child’s passport, or for land and sea trips where it’s allowed, a certified birth certificate
- ☐ A copy of the child’s birth certificate even if they have a passport, because it shows the parents’ names and links the child to the signers. Order a certified copy with our birth certificate documents guide if you don’t have one.
- ☐ Copies of the consenting parents’ photo IDs
- ☐ Custody orders or parenting plans, if they mention travel. Our divorce paperwork guide explains where travel clauses usually appear.
- ☐ A marriage certificate or name change documents, if the traveling parent’s last name is different from the child’s
- ☐ A death certificate, if the other parent has died
- ☐ Adoption or guardianship papers, if they apply
Country Notes Worth Knowing
Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency recommends a consent letter for any child traveling with one parent or with someone other than a parent, and officers do ask for it. This is the most common place U.S. families get questioned.
Mexico. Mexico requires a formal exit permit only for Mexican citizen children leaving without both parents. U.S. children aren’t subject to that rule, but airlines and immigration officers still ask questions. Our Mexico travel documents guide covers the full entry picture.
Cruises. Cruise lines often require a consent letter when a minor sails without both parents, and some have specific wording or notarization rules. Check the cruise documents for minors before you book.
Domestic flights. TSA doesn’t require ID or consent letters for children flying with an adult. Airlines may ask for proof of age or relationship, especially for lap infants and teens flying alone. See what ID you need to fly for the adult side.
Mistakes That Make a Letter Useless
Border officers see a lot of consent letters. These are the ones that don’t help:
- Names that don’t match the passport. “Mike” on the letter and “Michael James” on the passport invites questions. Copy names exactly from the travel documents.
- No way to reach the absent parent. An officer who can’t verify the letter by phone has to rely on the paper alone. Give a number that will be answered, and warn the other parent that a call may come, possibly late at night in their time zone.
- Missing dates or destinations. “My son can travel with his mother” doesn’t say when or where.
- Only one parent signed when both should have. If neither parent is traveling, both need to sign.
- No ID copy attached. Without a copy of the signer’s photo ID, the signature can’t be compared to anything.
- Last names that differ, with nothing linking them. If a mother has remarried and changed her name, bring the marriage certificate or court order. Our name change document guide covers which documents prove each change.
Keep the original letter in your carry-on with the passports, and a photo of it on your phone in case the paper gets lost.
Getting the Passport in the First Place
A consent letter for travel is different from consent to get a child’s passport. For a child under 16, both parents generally must appear when applying, or the absent parent must sign Form DS-3053, a notarized statement of consent. Our passport application documents guide covers the full list.
Questions Parents Ask
How far in advance should the letter be written?
Close to the trip, ideally within a month or two. A letter dated a year earlier raises more questions than it answers.
Does one letter cover several trips?
Write a new letter for each trip. A letter with specific dates and destinations is more persuasive than a blanket “any travel” letter.
What if the other parent refuses to sign?
You may need a court order allowing the trip, especially for international travel. Don’t travel without one if your custody arrangement requires the other parent’s consent.
Do teens traveling alone need a letter?
Airlines usually have their own forms for unaccompanied minors, often required up to age 14 and optional for older teens. For international trips, a consent letter from both parents is still wise.
Does the letter need to be in another language?
Not usually, but a translation can help in countries where English isn’t widely used. Keep the original English letter with the translation.
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