Holiday travel with kids
Child travel consent letters: who signs, and when you need one
If a child flies abroad with one parent, a grandparent, a school group or alone, airlines and border officers may ask for a signed letter from the parent who isn't there. Here's what goes in it and how to get it notarized before you leave.
✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. See the credentials
When to bring one
- One parent traveling: the parent staying home signs.
- Neither parent traveling (grandparent, relative, school or team trip, or a child flying alone): both parents or every legal guardian sign.
- A parent has sole custody: bring the custody order. If a parent has died, bring the death certificate.
USA.gov says a child traveling alone or with one parent may need a letter of consent, and that it's preferred in English and notarized. (USA.gov)
What the letter says
- The child's full name, date of birth and passport number
- Who the child is traveling with, and their relationship
- Where, when and how: destination, dates, flights, where they'll stay
- That the trip has the signing parent's permission, with their contact details
Get it notarized online today
Online notary: closed now · opens 7 AM ET · sessions by appointment · times confirmed by email
A New Jersey notary can notarize this with you on a video call, wherever you are in the U.S. $50 for the session, $10 for each extra signer. Any other fee shows in the booking form before you confirm. Open 7 am to 9 pm ET, every day, by appointment.
What you need
- A valid government photo ID
- A computer or phone with a camera
- The unsigned document
Our certificate states the act was performed using communication technology, as New Jersey law requires. What it must say
Most U.S. recipients accept a remotely notarized document; check with whoever will receive it. What to ask them · Several signers
Country rules worth knowing
| Where | What the official page says |
|---|---|
| Canada | Not legally required, but officers and airlines may ask, and a notary public witness is strongly recommended. Bring the original. (travel.gc.ca) |
| Mexico | Foreign children visiting as tourists don't need a permit to leave. A child who is a Mexican citizen or resident leaving without a parent needs a notarized permission or Mexico's own form. Ask the consulate whether a US letter needs an apostille and a Spanish translation. (Consulate of Mexico) |
| Anywhere else | Check the destination's embassy site and your airline. Rules change. |
Getting it notarized before the trip
The parent who signs needs a photo ID and has to sign in front of the notary. If that parent lives elsewhere in the US, an online notarization by video works for most letters. If the parent is outside the US, New Jersey allows a video notarization only when the document has a US connection (a US court, agency or other US entity, US property, or a transaction connected with the US) and signing isn't prohibited where they are, so tell us what the letter is for and we check before booking. We also come to your home, evenings and weekends.
Mobile notary · Online notarization · Apostilles
Printable kit
Child Travel Consent Kit
A one-parent letter, a both-parents letter, a medical consent for the trip, a what-to-carry checklist with Canada and Mexico notes, and a Spanish letter.
See what's inside ($12) Free sample14-day full refund
General information, checked November 2026. Not legal advice. MCC Solutions is not a law firm.
Questions
Does a child travel consent letter have to be notarized?
US rules don't require it, but USA.gov says notarized is preferred and Canada strongly recommends a notary. A notarized letter is much harder to question at the counter.
Who signs if the parents are divorced?
The parent who isn't traveling signs. If one parent has sole custody, they bring the custody order instead or as well. Check your custody order for travel terms, and ask your attorney if it's unclear.
Can the other parent sign from another state or country?
Yes. They can sign in front of a notary where they are, or online by video with a US notary.
How far ahead should we get it done?
A week or two before the trip, once the flights are booked, so the dates and flight numbers are right.