A Travel Consent Form is used when a child is traveling alone, with only one parent/legal guardian, or with an authorised group. This document notifies authorities or other interested parties that a parent or legal guardian has given their consent for the child to travel without them. This document can be used both for domestic travel inside Australia or international travel across country borders. Because of increasing instances of child abduction in custody cases, and a growing number of children who are the victims of trafficking or other abduction, an immigration officer, airline, or travel company may ask parents to provide some form of letter of consent if a minor child is traveling internationally with only one parent or with another adult, such as a teacher, group trip leader, or grandparent. Show
How to use this document Using this document, a parent can name the children, provide information about their passport if the travel is happening internationally, describe the circumstances of their travel and the people who will be accompanying them, and outline the travel itinerary. This document also includes the option to describe the child's allergies or special medical needs. Finally, this letter form contains contact information for adult chaperones, if applicable, and parents or legal guardians in case someone needs to be contacted in the event of an emergency. During the signing of this letter, a witness should also sign the letter. Parents should also strongly consider having the document notarised which can mean that customs or border protection officers (particularly in other countries) are more likely to accept it. Traveling children should carry a copy of this letter with them and any adult chaperones should be given a copy of this letter to show to authority figures as needed. Applicable law Although not required by law, immigration officers, law enforcement officers, or customs and border protection agents may detain a child if they suspect an abduction or kidnapping has taken place. By traveling with a Travel Consent Form, these officers will have necessary contact information and further assurance that no abduction or kidnapping has taken place. In circumstances where parenting orders have been made by a Family Court, parents or guardians will need to make sure they comply with those parenting orders. The Family Law Act 1975 may be relevant in these circumstances. Further information is available from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. In the case of international travel, when there are concerns that a child may have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside their country of habitual residence, the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abductionmay apply. For international travel, parents and guardians will also need to be mindful of the entry requirements of any relevant foreign countries. This information can be obtained by contacting the embassy, high commission, or consulate of those foreign countries. How to modify the template You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions. At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it. A child travel consent form is strongly recommended if a child travels alone, with only one parent or an authorized adult. It notifies others that the child has written permission or legal authority to travel without their parent(s). Travel can occur either across state lines or across country borders.
What is a Child Travel Consent Form?A child travel consent form is a legal document used to grant written permission for a minor to travel domestically or internationally without a parent or legal guardian. The form is primarily for when a child travels with a group, school, or an adult who is not a legal guardian. But the form is also essential when a child is traveling alone. As a reference, people call this form by other names:
How To Write a Child Travel Consent FormStep 1 – Provide Basic Child InformationThe first step in writing a Child Travel Consent Form is including information about the child in question. You should write down the child’s name, date of birth, and the address where they were born. In addition to these details, you should also provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate. U.S Customs and Border Control highly recommends children traveling without their parents or legal guardians carry a copy of their birth certificate to help ease travel through customs. If you aren’t able to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, you can attach the following:
If more than one child is traveling, you must create separate forms for each child. Step 2 – Provide Legal Guardian InformationThe parent or legal guardian is the person who is giving consent for their child to travel when they are not present. Include their contact details such as their full name, address, phone number, and even email address. You can optionally include a copy of the parent/legal guardian’s passport or driver’s license. One parent/legal guardian should sign this document if the child is traveling with the other parent/legal guardian. Both parents should sign the document if the child is traveling with another relative, friends, or group. If one parent has sole custody of the child, it’s highly recommended that you attach a copy of a court document or death certificate showing that you have sole custody of your child. Step 3 – Include Emergency Contact DetailsInclude the contact information for an emergency contact person who someone can contact if a parent or legal guardian cannot be reached when the child is under care. Provide their name, address, phone number, and email address. You can also add an alternative emergency contact if the first contact cannot be reached. Step 4 – Provide Trip DetailsThe next step is describing the purpose of the travel. This serves to explain why the child is on the trip. Example reasons include:
In case the child is questioned, having the purpose of the travel on the Travel Consent Form will make it clear why the child is traveling. In addition to the above, you must provide:
Step 5 – Add Medical Consent InformationIn the event something happens to your child where they require medical attention, you can specify whether you give the accompanying adult medical consent. If you do give them consent, provide the following details:
Step 6 – Fill in the Final DetailsIn this last section of the form, you sign the document. You can also include the signatures of witnesses or a notary acknowledgment from a notary public. Finally, write in the date of consent. What Should be Included in a Child Travel Consent Form?A simple child travel consent form will identify the following basic elements:
When providing consent for a minor to travel, there are a few details you need to ensure it contains all the necessary information for the relevant travel authorities: Who is traveling?Children under 18 should either travel with an authorized adult or have special permission documented in the form. Otherwise, law enforcement officers will consider such children as “unaccompanied minors.” Who is giving permission?The parent or legal guardian who has custody of the child must give permission for the child to travel alone or with another parent, family member, or adult. If the child is traveling alone, the Child Travel Consent form should be signed by both parents or legal guardians who have custody of the child. What are the details of the trip?The Child Travel Consent form should also spell out the following details:
What other details should be included?This form may also cover any food allergies or special needs of the child. You may also need a Child Medical Consent Form if you want another responsible adult to make medical decisions and authorize certain medical treatments for the child. Tips for Writing a Child Travel Consent FormParent SignaturesWhile there are cases where only one parental signature is required to provide travel consent (such as one parent having sole legal custody), there are some situations where the signature of both parents is necessary:
A Valid Passport Is Required When Returning from AbroadWhen writing your child’s travel consent form, remember that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires a passport for any U.S. citizen re-entering the country by air or crossing a border. [1] Children of any age are required to have a passport, and it would be beneficial to keep the passport together with your written consent form. Documents to IncludeDepending on your circumstances, it may be helpful to add certain documents alongside the consent, especially in cases involving divorce, separation, or custody issues. Be sure to include any court orders, the Separation Agreement itself, or other legal custody documents to prove the custody arrangement. Below is a sample of a child travel consent form. Child Travel ConsentChild Travel Consent Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to write in a child’s travel consent form?Include dates, addresses, method of travel, and names of adults who will be responsible for your child. Explain any food allergies or medical concerns they may have, and include your phone number(s) for immediate contact if necessary.
Can I write my own permission to travel letter for my child?Yes, include all identifying information related to your child and the trip they are taking. A school trip consent form often has these already listed. Alternatively, you can use our form builder, which allows you to create a permission to travel letter using easy-to-follow prompts.
Do permission to travel letters need a to and from date?Yes, permission to travel letter for a minor must include specific dates to help other adults recognize the document as legitimate and provide consent for a minor to travel without one or both of their parents.
How do you write a permission letter for a school trip?To write a permission slip for travel for your child, incorporate all the details needed to provide proper travel consent, but add details related to the school trip. For example, you should include the names of the responsible adults who will be taking care of your child, the trip destination, method of travel, and the length of the trip. How do you write a letter of consent for a child to travel with one parent UK?The letter should include the other person's contact details and details about the trip. It also helps if you've: evidence of your relationship with the child, eg a birth or adoption certificate. a divorce or marriage certificate, if you are a single parent but your family name is different from the child's.
Can a minor travel to Mexico with one parent?Foreign minors (under 18 years of age) travelling to Mexico alone or with a third party of legal age as tourists or with a short stay for study purposes (up to 180 days), DO REQUIRE authorization or a letter of consent from their parents or guardians.
How do I write a consent letter?The consent letter must contain original signature(s), and cannot contain any restrictions, conditions, or stipulations. Any restrictions or conditions must be kept separately between the parties involved. The consent letter must simply state that consent is given to a person to use the similar name.
Can one parent travel with child to us?United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requests written consent from both parents or the parent who is not accompanying the minor for minors (those less than 18 years of age) traveling to the U.S. alone or accompanied by only one parent. This written consent must be in English.
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