A minor travel consent form is a signed letter from a child’s parent or parents saying the child has permission to travel with a specific adult, to a specific place, on specific dates. Families use it when a child flies abroad with only one parent, with grandparents, with a school group, or with a friend’s family. It won’t open any doors on its own, but not having one can slow you down at a border or airport counter, sometimes badly. This free template is written as a letter and has room for passport details, the itinerary and emergency contacts.

A child needs one whenever they cross a border without both parents, and it’s useful for some domestic trips too. The typical cases:

  • One parent takes the kids to visit relatives abroad while the other parent stays home.
  • Divorced or separated parents, where one parent travels internationally with the child during their parenting time.
  • A grandparent, aunt or family friend takes a child on vacation.
  • A teenager travels with a school, sports or church group.

The US government’s travel guidance on USA.gov puts the rule simply. If the child is traveling with one custodial parent, the letter should come from the other parent. If the child is traveling with a guardian, another adult, or alone, both parents should sign. It suggests wording along the lines of “I acknowledge that my child is traveling outside the country with [name of adult] with my permission.” Our template builds on that.

This letter is only about permission to travel. If the adult also needs to authorize a doctor to treat the child, use our medical consent form for a minor as well, or, for grandparents, the grandparent medical consent letter. Many families send both.

The child. Full name as it appears on the passport, date of birth, place of birth, and passport number with issue and expiration dates. Border officers compare the letter against the passport, so copy it exactly.

The parents or guardians. Names, addresses, phone numbers and email for each, plus passport or ID numbers if you want the notary and border officers to be able to match them.

The traveling adult. Name, relationship to the child, date of birth and passport number. If a group is traveling (a school trip), name the lead chaperone and the organization.

The trip. Destination countries and cities, departure and return dates, and flight numbers if you have them. Where the child will stay, with an address and phone number.

What’s permitted. A plain statement that the parents consent to this trip, with this adult, on these dates. The template also has an optional line allowing the adult to make routine decisions for the child during the trip.

Contacts. How to reach each parent during the trip, day and night. If anyone needs to confirm the trip, these are the numbers they’ll call, so make sure someone actually answers.

Custody note. If only one parent has legal custody, the template has a box for that, and you should carry a copy of the court order.

For international travel, yes, notarize it. USA.gov says it’s preferred that the letter is in English and notarized. A notarized letter is harder to fake, and it answers the obvious question an officer might have about whether the other parent really agreed. For a short domestic trip with a grandparent, a signed letter is usually plenty.

Also check the destination. USA.gov tells families to contact the embassy or consulate of the country the child will visit and ask about consent letters and entry and exit requirements. Some countries publish their own form, and some want the letter translated or certified in a particular way. Ask your airline too, especially if the child will fly alone.

Hypothetically, say Priya is taking her 9-year-old son to Toronto for a week in July while his father stays in Ohio. Here’s how it would go:

  1. Fill in the child’s and both parents’ details, copying names and passport numbers exactly.
  2. Add the trip: destination, dates, flights and where they’ll stay.
  3. Name Priya as the traveling parent, and have the father sign as the consenting parent in front of a notary. Priya can sign too, confirming the details.
  4. Make copies. Keep the original with the passports, and store a photo of it on a phone.
  5. Give the non-traveling parent’s phone number to the airline if they ask for a contact.

On e-signatures: the federal ESIGN Act excludes adoption, divorce and “other matters of family law” from its general rule, and a notary usually needs to see you sign. An e-signed copy can be handy as a backup, but for crossing a border, bring the notarized paper original. Our article on documents you can’t sign electronically explains why some papers still need ink.

The template is free to download in Word or PDF. (We’re building SignWren for everyday signing; join the waitlist if you want early access.)

This template is general information, not legal advice. For a custody dispute or an unusual trip, talk to a family lawyer licensed where you live.