Child travel consent letter for any trip, signed by one parent

When a letter helps, and when it does not

For international travel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that a child carry a letter authorizing the trip when traveling alone or with an adult such as the other parent, a single parent, an adult sibling or relative, a legal guardian or a non-relative adult. ^[1]

CBP says the letter should give the child’s name and birth date, the names and contact details of the custody adults, who is accompanying the child and how they are related, the purpose, and the dates and places of travel. It adds that no regulation requires notarization, but CBP highly advises it. ^[1] Every one of those items is a field in this letter.

For domestic flights the picture is simpler. TSA says it does not require children under 18 to show identification when traveling within the United States, and it tells travelers to ask their airline about its own ID rules. ^[2] We found no federal rule that requires a consent letter for a child on a trip within the United States, so for domestic trips this letter is a courtesy to whoever asks, such as an airline, a camp or a hotel.

If your destination is Canada, the Government of Canada publishes a free sample consent letter and explains who should sign. It is not legally required in Canada, may be requested by foreign immigration officials, airline agents and Canadian officials, and nothing ensures it will be recognized. ^[3] You are welcome to use that sample instead of paying for this one.

Other countries set their own entry and exit rules for children, and a letter may not satisfy them. ^[3] For Mexico, use our Mexico pages, which carry Mexico’s rules and an English-Spanish layout. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy and with your airline.

What the letter includes

• A consent statement from the parent who is not traveling, naming the adult who goes with the child
• The child’s name, date of birth and, for international trips, passport number (up to six children)
• The consenting parent’s relationship, ID details, address and phone, with an optional email
• The traveling adult’s name, relationship to the child and phone number for the trip
• Trip details: domestic or international, purpose, departure city, destination, dates and how the child travels
• A statement that the consent covers this trip only and does not transfer custody or parental authority
• A signature block and a blank area for the notary public’s acknowledgment
• One column of plain English on U.S. Letter paper

How it works

1. Choose domestic or international and fill in the parent, the traveling adult, the children and the trip.
2. Look over the free, watermarked preview. Nothing is stored to make it.
3. Pay once ($9, no subscription) and download the PDF.
4. Print it. The parent who stays home signs in front of a notary public with photo ID.
5. Give the original to the traveling adult with the child’s passport and keep a copy. CBP also suggests that a single parent bring proof such as a birth certificate or custody order. ^[1]

Is there a free official form?

The United States does not publish a model letter. CBP lists what to include, so you can write one yourself. ^[1]

Canada does publish a free sample. ^[3] If Canada is where you are going, start there.

Frequently asked questions