How to Notarize a Child Travel Consent Letter
A notarized child travel consent letter is required when a minor travels internationally without both parents. Get yours notarized online in 15 minutes.
Traveling soon with your child? Get your travel consent letter notarized today — before the airport.
Get Notarized Online — 15 MinutesRemote Online Notarization. Video-based. Legally valid in all 50 states.
At a glance
- Notarization required: Yes
- Witnesses required: No (most states)
What Is a Child Travel Consent Letter?
A child travel consent letter is a notarized document signed by one or both parents (or legal guardians) that authorizes a minor to travel with only one parent, a grandparent, another relative, or a non-parent adult.
Most countries — and US Customs and Border Protection — recommend or require this letter when a child under 18 travels without both parents present.
When You Need One
You should have a notarized consent letter if your child is:
- Traveling internationally with only one parent
- Traveling with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives
- Going on a school trip abroad with teachers or chaperones
- Traveling with a non-parent legal guardian
Even when not explicitly required, border officers may question a child traveling with only one adult. A notarized letter prevents delays at customs.
What the Letter Should Include
A well-drafted consent letter covers:
- Child's information: Full legal name, date of birth, passport number
- Traveling adult: Full name, relationship to child, passport or ID number, contact phone number
- Non-traveling parent or guardian: Full name, contact information, and explicit consent statement
- Trip details: Destination country/countries, departure date, return date
- Both parent signatures (if possible) — notarized separately if parents are in different locations
Getting the Letter Notarized Online
Both parents do not need to be in the same location. Each parent can use an online notarization platform independently, signing and notarizing their portion of the consent letter via separate video sessions.
The digitally sealed PDFs are then combined into one document packet for travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is a notarized child travel consent letter required?
- A notarized consent letter is required — or strongly recommended — when a minor travels internationally without one or both parents. Countries including Canada, Mexico, and most of Europe commonly request this at border crossings.
- What information goes in a child travel consent letter?
- The letter should include the child's full name and date of birth, the traveling parent or guardian's name, the non-traveling parent's name and contact information, the destination country, and the travel dates. Both parents should ideally sign.
- Does the US government require a notarized travel consent letter?
- The US does not mandate a consent letter for US citizens traveling domestically. However, US Customs and Border Protection recommends a notarized consent letter for children traveling internationally with only one parent or with non-parent adults.
- Can I use an online notary for a child travel consent letter?
- Yes. Remote Online Notarization is legally valid in all 50 states and widely accepted by border control agencies. Bring both a digital and printed copy when you travel.
- What if the other parent is unavailable or deceased?
- If one parent is deceased, bring a copy of the death certificate. If the other parent's whereabouts are unknown or they are unwilling to sign, consult with an attorney about obtaining a court order.
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