If your child is about to travel without both parents, chances are you have been told to bring a child travel consent form. Also called a permission to travel form or a consent to travel form, it is a short document in which a parent or legal guardian gives written permission for a minor to travel with one parent, a grandparent, a relative, or another trusted adult. Airlines and border officials ask for it often, and a notarized copy carries the most weight.
This guide covers when you need one, what to put in it, how to handle single-parent situations, and how to get it notarized online from any state.
When do you need a child travel consent form?
You should have a permission to travel form any time a minor travels without both parents present. The most common situations are:
- Your child is traveling with only one parent
- Your child is traveling with a grandparent, relative, or family friend
- A single parent is sending the child on a trip
- The child is crossing an international border, where customs officers commonly request written consent
- The child is flying as an unaccompanied minor
Even for domestic trips, having a signed consent to travel form on hand can prevent delays and questions at the airport.
Does a travel consent form need to be notarized?
In most cases a travel consent form is not strictly required by law to be notarized. However, it is strongly recommended, and it is frequently expected at international borders, by customs officials, and by airlines. Notarization simply proves that the parent or guardian truly signed the form, which is exactly what officials are checking for. An un-notarized letter can lead to delays or a child being denied boarding, so notarizing is the safer choice, especially for international travel.
What to include in a permission to travel form
A complete travel consent form for a minor should include:
- The child’s full legal name, date of birth, and passport or ID details
- The consenting parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and their contact information
- The accompanying adult and their relationship to the child
- The travel details: destination, departure date, and return date
- A clear statement of consent, plus an emergency contact and any medical authorization
- Signature lines and a notary acknowledgment block
Using a complete travel consent form for minor PDF makes sure you do not leave out anything officials look for.
Sample letter of consent to travel with one parent
One of the most common versions is the sample letter of consent to travel with one parent, used when a child travels with just their mother or father. In that situation, the parent who is not traveling signs the form to authorize the trip. When parents share custody, it is best to have both signatures, or a clear explanation of why only one parent is signing, to avoid questions at the border. A notarized one-parent consent letter is especially useful for international travel, where officials want assurance that the absent parent approves.
How to notarize your child travel consent form online
You do not need to find a notary in person, and you do not need a notary in your own state. A travel consent form can be notarized online, from anywhere in the U.S., in just a few minutes over secure video. You sign, a commissioned notary verifies your identity and signature, and you receive your notarized document. It is the fastest way to get a travel-ready form, whether you are in New York or anywhere else in the country.
Get your child travel consent form ready today.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write my own child travel consent form?
Yes. There is no special government form required; a clear, signed statement of consent is what matters. Using a complete template and notarizing it adds credibility.
Do both parents need to sign the permission to travel form?
Not always, but when parents share custody, both signatures (or a note explaining why only one is signing) help avoid problems at the airport or border.
Can I notarize it if I am not in New York?
Yes. Online notarization lets a commissioned notary verify your signature over secure video, so you can complete it from any state.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Travel document requirements vary by airline, destination, and custody situation; confirm requirements with your airline and the relevant authorities before you travel. Some links on this page are referral links, and NotarEase NYC may earn a small credit at no extra cost to you.
What officers are watching for
The reason the recommendation exists is uncomfortable but worth stating: international child abduction is most often committed by a parent, not a stranger.
So an adult crossing a border with a child, without the other parent, and with nothing explaining it, is a pattern officers are trained to notice. Most of the time a few questions settle it. Occasionally they do not, and the outcome is secondary inspection, a missed connection, or a child who does not board.
The letter exists to make that conversation short.
What belongs in it
- The child’s full legal name and date of birth exactly as printed on the passport
- The accompanying adult’s full name and relationship to the child
- The destination and the travel dates, including the return
- Clear consent from every parent or guardian with legal custody who is not traveling
- Their signatures, printed names, and a phone number and email that will be answered
- Authority for the accompanying adult to consent to medical treatment
- The notarial block
Carry the child’s birth certificate alongside it. The letter asserts a parental relationship. The birth certificate proves it.
The mistake that wastes the appointment
Do not sign it in advance. The notary has to witness the signature, so fill everything in and leave the signature line blank until you are with them.
The other parent does not need to be in the same city or the same country. A New York notary can swear them in over secure video, which is usually the fastest way to get a letter signed by two parents who are not in the same place.
Situations that need more than a letter
Separated or divorced parents. The custody order controls, and some orders require written consent for travel or restrict it entirely. Carry a certified copy of the order alongside the letter. See travel consent for divorced parents.
A parent who has died. Carry a certified copy of the death certificate rather than leaving an unexplained gap.
A child traveling with a non parent. Grandparents, aunts, coaches and family friends should carry more, not less, because being family is obvious to you and invisible to an officer.
A child flying alone. The airline’s unaccompanied minor form does not replace parental consent for the border.
Does it need to be notarized
Federal guidance does not require it. In practice, notarize it.
An unnotarized letter is a page anybody could have typed. A notarized letter has been signed in front of a commissioned officer who verified the signer’s identity, which is exactly the doubt the letter exists to remove. Many airlines and foreign authorities require notarization specifically, and where they do, an unnotarized letter is worth nothing at the counter.
And note that TSA does not approve consent letters. TSA screens for security. Any form advertised as TSA approved is misdescribed.
See also: medical consent for a minor · designating a caregiver in New York