Yes, one parent can travel internationally with a child. No U.S. law requires both parents to be on the trip or to sign anything when you leave the country. But that’s not the whole story. Border officers, airlines, and some foreign countries can ask for proof that the other parent agrees, and a custody order can limit travel outright.
The safest plan is simple: carry a signed consent letter from the other parent, the child’s birth certificate, and any custody papers. What else you need depends on your family’s situation.
Find Your Situation
Married or together, one parent staying home
This is the easiest case. Bring a consent letter signed by the parent who isn’t traveling, ideally notarized, with their phone number. U.S. Customs and Border Protection strongly recommends one, and Canadian border officers commonly ask for it. Our child travel consent letter guide includes a sample you can adapt. Make sure the letter lists the travel dates, destinations, and the name of the parent traveling, and warn the other parent that an officer might call to confirm, possibly at an odd hour.
Divorced or separated with shared custody
Read your custody order before booking. Many orders say whether international travel needs the other parent’s written consent or a court’s approval, and some require advance notice. If the order is silent, a notarized consent letter is still your best protection. Bring a copy of the custody order along with it.
You have sole custody
Carry a certified copy of the court order that gives you sole legal custody. A consent letter from the other parent isn’t needed if the order covers travel decisions, but border officers may still ask questions, and the order answers them.
The other parent has died
Bring a certified copy of the other parent’s death certificate. Ordering details are in our death certificate documents guide.
The other parent isn’t listed or can’t be found
If only one parent is named on the birth certificate, bring the certified birth certificate. If the other parent is listed but can’t be reached, talk to a family law attorney before traveling. A court order may be the only clean option.
Documents to Carry, Every Time
- The child’s passport (or passport card for land and sea travel to Canada and Mexico)
- A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate showing both parents
- A signed, preferably notarized, consent letter from the other parent
- Custody orders, death certificate, or name change papers, if they apply
- Your own passport and a way to reach the other parent
Carrying the birth certificate matters most when the child’s last name is different from yours. It’s the fastest way to show you’re the parent.
Getting the Child’s Passport With One Parent
Applying for the passport is a separate step, and it has stricter rules than the trip itself. For children under 16, both parents generally must appear in person. If one can’t, the absent parent signs Form DS-3053, a notarized statement of consent, and you bring a copy of their ID. Sole custody documents also work. Our passport application documents guide walks through it.
Country Rules Worth Knowing
| Destination | What to expect |
| Canada | Border officers may ask for a consent letter when a child travels with one parent; bring one |
| Mexico | A notarized consent form is required for minors who are Mexican citizens or residents leaving Mexico without both parents. U.S. tourist children aren’t required to have one, but airlines may still ask |
| Other countries | Many have their own rules. Check the U.S. State Department’s country page and the destination’s embassy site |
Driving south? See do you need a passport to drive to Mexico for what kids need at the land border.
Cruises and Airlines
Cruise lines often have their own minor policies, including consent letters when a child sails without both parents. Check cruise documents for minors before you board. Airlines also may ask for proof at check-in for international flights, especially for unaccompanied minors.
Should the Letter Be Notarized?
The law doesn’t usually require it, but a notary’s stamp makes the letter much harder to question. It also helps if a border officer can’t reach the other parent by phone. Read does a child travel consent letter need to be notarized for the details.
Quick Answers
Can my ex stop me from traveling with our child?
Possibly. If your custody order requires consent and your ex refuses, you’ll need a court order. Traveling anyway can violate the order.
Does the consent letter need to be in another language?
Sometimes. For countries where officials may not read English, a translated copy can help. Some countries, like Mexico for its own citizens, have official forms.
Do grandparents need a consent letter?
Yes, ideally signed by both parents, plus a medical authorization in case the child needs treatment.
Will the U.S. stop me at departure?
Rarely. The U.S. doesn’t run routine exit checks of parents’ consent. Problems usually come up at the destination or on the way back in.