The holiday travel season is upon us and recently a client who is scheduled to travel abroad with a friend’s child inquired about minor travel consent forms and if they are necessary. Minor Travel Consent Forms have become necessary due to the increased instances of child abductions in custody cases and the growing number of children who are victims of human trafficking. If you are traveling with a minor, an immigration officer or airline representative may ask for a letter of consent. This may occur for domestic or international travel, so it’s best to be prepared.
What Is A “Minor Travel Consent Form?”
A minor travel consent form allows minors to travel without their parents or legal guardians being present. This form can be used when a minor will either be traveling alone or with another adult who is not their legal guardian. Currently, there is no “official” minor travel consent form, but we’ve included three free resources where you can complete a fillable form online, then choose the option to download or print. Once completed, we highly recommend having the document notarized to make it legal.
The websites below offer fillable forms that you can complete and print. Click on the links below for direct access.
For more information from the U.S Customs and Border Protection, read the section under “Traveling With Children” here.
