Travelling with children

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 7 min read

Crossing an international border with a child is usually straightforward, but the rules for minors travelling without one or both parents are strict in many countries — and the consequences of arriving without the right documents can be severe, including being denied boarding or refused entry. Here is what you need to know about passports, consent letters, and how different border authorities handle travelling children.

Passports for children

Children require their own valid passport for international travel in almost all circumstances. In most countries, a child cannot travel on a parent's passport — the era of "children on a parent's passport" is largely over, with most countries having phased it out. Even infants need their own document.

Passport validity rules for children are the same as for adults in most contexts — many countries require that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. See the passport validity guide for more detail. Children's passports typically have shorter validity periods than adult passports (commonly five years rather than ten), so check the expiry date carefully before travelling.

If a child is a citizen of multiple countries, consider which passport is most practical for each leg of the journey — bearing in mind that some countries require their own citizens to enter and exit on that country's passport, regardless of what other nationality they hold. The dual nationality travel guide covers this in more detail.

Who is a "guardian" at the border

Border officers in many countries are trained to look for signs of child trafficking and abduction. Part of that training involves scrutiny of children travelling with adults who are not their parents — or with only one parent when two are on the birth certificate. This is not a reason to avoid solo-parent travel, but it is a reason to be prepared.

The key principle is this: if you are travelling with a child and you are not their only legal guardian, you may be asked to prove your relationship and, in some countries, to show evidence that the absent parent or guardian has consented to the trip.

What a parental consent letter is

A parental consent letter (also called a travel consent letter or permission letter) is a written document from the absent parent or legal guardian authorising a child to travel with another adult. It is most commonly needed when:

• A child travels with only one parent
• A child travels with a grandparent, other relative, or another non-parent adult
• A child travels alone (unaccompanied minor)

The letter should typically include:

• The full names of the child and both parents/guardians
• The passport numbers and dates of issue/expiry of the child's passport (and optionally the parent's)
• The destination countries and travel dates
• A statement of consent for the specific trip
• Contact details for the absent parent or guardian
• The signature of the absent parent or guardian (and ideally a notarised or authenticated version)

Many authorities prefer the letter to be notarised — witnessed and stamped by a notary public, solicitor or lawyer — which verifies the signature is genuine. Some countries require a notarised letter; others accept an unnotarised one but notarised is better wherever it is practical.

When consent letters are required or strongly recommended

Requirements vary enormously by country. Some examples of destinations with known requirements or strong recommendations:

• Canada: Canada Border Services Agency strongly recommends a consent letter for any child travelling without both parents. The CBSA provides a template on its website.
• South Africa: Has historically required a certified birth certificate plus parental consent in certain cases — requirements have changed over the years, so check the current rules carefully with the South African embassy before travelling.
• Many Latin American countries have rules about minors crossing borders unaccompanied by one or both parents, particularly for their own citizens. If your child holds that country's nationality, the exit rules for that nationality's citizens apply, not just the entry rules as a foreign visitor.
• EU/Schengen countries: No EU-wide requirement for a consent letter, but individual member state border agencies have discretion to request evidence of custody or consent, and airlines can ask too.

Even where a consent letter is not legally required, having one is rarely harmful and can resolve a border officer's query quickly, especially at destinations where child trafficking is a documented concern.

Travelling as a sole legal guardian

If you are the child's only legal guardian — for example, following the death of the other parent, or where no father is named on the birth certificate — carry documentation to prove it: a death certificate, a court order granting sole custody, or the child's birth certificate that confirms sole parenthood. Border officers are not trying to make your life difficult; they need to be able to identify that no abduction or trafficking is occurring, and clear documentation resolves this immediately.

Unaccompanied minors

Children travelling alone are subject to different rules again. Most airlines have dedicated unaccompanied minor (UM) policies with age thresholds — typically available for children aged approximately 5–12 travelling alone, with the airline providing supervision. Above a certain age (often 12 or 15, depending on the airline) children may be permitted to travel as young adults without the formal UM service but airlines' policies vary.

For immigration purposes, a child travelling alone typically needs a consent letter from both parents or all legal guardians, and may be questioned more closely at the border. Some countries require advance notification or special documentation for unaccompanied minors — check with the airline and destination country's immigration authority well in advance.

Documents to carry

When travelling with a child — and especially when travelling as a solo parent or with children who are not your own — a good documentation pack includes:

• The child's valid passport
• A notarised parental consent letter if travelling without one or both parents
• A copy of the child's birth certificate (proving the parent-child relationship)
• Any relevant court orders (custody orders, sole guardianship orders)
• Contact details for the absent parent that a border officer can verify if needed

Carry physical copies as well as digital ones. Border officers may not be set up to view documents on a phone, and some may prefer an original or certified copy over a photocopy.

Airlines and their own checks

Beyond what border authorities require, airlines themselves may have policies about children travelling with non-parents, especially on routes to countries with stricter rules. Some airlines have begun requesting consent letters at check-in for flights to South Africa, Canada and other destinations with known requirements. Check with your specific airline when you book.

Frequently asked questions

Does a parental consent letter need to be notarised?

Not always, but notarisation is strongly recommended. It verifies that the absent parent's signature is genuine and is much harder to dispute. Some countries — and some airlines on specific routes — require a notarised version, so getting it notarised before you travel avoids problems even if it turns out not to have been strictly necessary.

My child has a different surname to me — will that cause problems?

It can prompt questions, but it is not a barrier to travel if you have the right documentation. Carrying the child's birth certificate proving your relationship, and a consent letter if applicable, is particularly important when surnames differ. Some parents also carry a copy of a marriage certificate or deed poll to explain a surname change.

Can a grandparent travel internationally with a grandchild?

Yes, but a grandparent is not a legal guardian in most jurisdictions. This is exactly the situation where a notarised consent letter from both parents (or the surviving parent) is most important. Some destinations have turned back children travelling only with grandparents without proper documentation.

What if I am refused boarding because of a consent letter issue?

Address it before you travel rather than at the airport. If you discover a requirement has changed, contact the destination country's embassy or consulate to clarify the current rules and get any additional documentation in order. Last-minute document production at a check-in desk is extremely stressful and unreliable.