Notarial Consent for Travel for Minors: What Parents Need to Know
When a child is travelling abroad without one or both parents, it is often advisable to carry a written consent to travel. In many cases, airlines, border authorities, schools, embassies or foreign officials may ask for evidence that the child has permission to travel.
A notarial consent for travel for a minor is a formal document signed by a parent or person with parental responsibility before a Notary Public. It confirms that the parent or guardian consents to the child travelling abroad for a specific journey.
At KG Notary Public, we assist parents and guardians with notarised travel consent documents for children travelling overseas.
When may a travel consent be required?
A notarial travel consent may be needed where a child is travelling:
with one parent only;
with grandparents or other relatives;
with a family friend or another third party;
as part of a school trip or organised group;
alone as an unaccompanied minor;
where the child has a different surname from the accompanying adult;
where the airline, embassy, consulate or destination country requests a notarised consent.
Even where a consent letter is not expressly required, it can help avoid delays and questions at check-in, immigration control or border crossings.
Consent for a specific journey only
Our company policy is that we issue travel consents for specific journeys only.
This means the consent should relate to a particular trip, with identifiable travel dates, destination and accompanying adult. We do not issue general or open-ended travel consents covering long periods of time.
This approach helps ensure that the document is clear, accurate and suitable for use by border authorities, airlines and foreign officials.
What information is needed?
If the travel consent has already been drafted, please provide a copy of the document before the appointment.
If you require KG Notary Public to draft the consent document for you, please confirm the travel details, including:
the travel dates;
the destination country or countries;
who the child will be travelling with;
the purpose of travel, such as holiday, school trip or family visit;
accommodation details, if available;
flight or travel details, if available.
The consent should clearly identify the child, the parent or parents giving consent, the accompanying adult, and the specific journey.
Documents to provide before the appointment
Before your appointment, please provide:
a copy of the travel consent form, if already prepared or if a prescribed form is being used;
scans of the passports or travel documents of both parents;
a scan of the child’s passport or travel document;
proof of address for each parent, such as a bank statement or utility bill dated within the last three months, or a council tax bill issued this year;
a scan of the child’s birth certificate.
In some cases, further documents may be required. This may apply, for example, where one parent is unable to attend, where a parent has sole parental responsibility, where there is a court order, or where the child is travelling with someone other than a parent.
Is the child travelling with a parent or a third party?
Please confirm whether the child will be travelling with one of the parents or with a third party.
If the child is travelling with someone other than a parent, please also confirm whether both parents are able to attend the appointment. If one parent cannot attend, please explain the reason, as further documentation may be required.
Where only one parent is signing the consent, the notary may need to understand the family circumstances and may ask for additional evidence before the document can be notarised.
Do both parents need to sign?
This depends on the circumstances of the trip, who has parental responsibility, and the requirements of the destination country, airline or requesting authority.
Where a child is travelling with one parent, the non-travelling parent may be asked to provide consent. Where a child is travelling with a third party, it is often advisable for both parents to provide consent, unless there is a legal reason why this is not possible.
If there is a court order, sole parental responsibility arrangement, adoption order, or any other relevant legal document, please provide a copy before the appointment.
Notarisation, apostille and legalisation
For some countries, notarisation alone may be sufficient. Other countries may require the notarised consent to be legalised with an apostille or further legalised through an embassy or consulate.
The requirements vary depending on the destination country and the authority requesting the document. You should check in advance with the airline, embassy, consulate, school or relevant foreign authority whether any specific wording, apostille, legalisation or translation is required.
KG Notary Public can advise on the notarial process and assist with the notarisation of the consent document. Where legalisation is required, this can also be discussed.
Fees
If the travel consent has already been drafted, the fee for notarising the signature is £99.
If you require KG Notary Public to draft the consent document, the total fee is £135.
All prices are inclusive of VAT.
Further information regarding fees is available on our Fees page.
Book an appointment
If you require a notarial consent for a minor to travel abroad, please contact KG Notary Public with details of the proposed journey.
To help us prepare for your appointment, please provide the travel details, copies of the relevant passports or travel documents, proof of address for each parent, and the child’s birth certificate.
As travel consent documents are prepared for specific journeys only, please make sure you have the travel dates, destination and accompanying adult’s details available before the appointment.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements may vary depending on the destination country, airline, family circumstances and the authority requesting the document.