International travel with children can mean extra paperwork, particularly when a child is traveling with just one parent or with another adult. Start with the passport. Then check whether the country you're visiting wants a consent letter, custody paperwork, or other proof of your relationship to the child.
The U.S. Department of State says the United States does not generally require proof of both parents' permission for a child to travel abroad. Some other countries do. Their rules may apply when you enter or leave, so check both.
Travel consent and who is accompanying the child
- Free minor travel consent form — Download the fillable or printable PDF and see when notarization may be needed.
- Traveling with one parent — Find out when the other parent's permission or proof of custody may be needed.
- Grandparents traveling with grandchildren — What to bring when the parents aren't on the trip.
- Traveling with a child who has a different last name — Records that can help explain your relationship.
Passports and other travel documents
- International travel checklist for families with children — Passports, permission letters, relationship records, entry rules, and a printable list.
- Child passport applications — The steps and required documents for children under 16.
- Infant passports — How to apply for a baby's first passport.
- Child passports for divorced parents — Consent needed to obtain a child's passport.
- Form DS-3053 — This form concerns passport issuance, not permission to take a trip.
Before departure
- Children flying alone — Airline rules for unaccompanied minors.
- Foreign entry requirements — Find destination guides, then verify current rules with the country's embassy.
A U.S. consent-letter template may not meet another country's requirements. Children with dual citizenship may be subject to additional exit rules, and a consent letter cannot override a custody order. Check both before booking travel.
