Parental Consent to Fly

Traveling with children can be a challenge, especially if it’s an international flight. Just ask the poor mom whose baby won’t stop crying or the father whose son won’t stop kicking the seat in front of him. It’s even more difficult when only one parent is there for the ride.

One thing you can do to prepare is to make sure you have written permission from the child’s other parent. To prevent abductions, many governments now require documentation from the non-traveling parent acknowledging and authorizing the trip. 

For visits to the United States, US Customs and Border Protection recommends getting a letter (preferably notarized) from the child’s other parent. It should say something like, “I acknowledge that my wife is traveling out of the country with my son Jimmy Johnson and I give my permission for such travel.”

The National Justice Council (Conselho Nacional de Justiça) suggests something similar in Brazil. Two copies of this form in Portuguese must be presented when leaving the country. A version of the English letter that’s been translated into Portuguese and apostilled might also do the trick though. And make sure the date of the letter is recent.

The same goes for trips where a minor is traveling with another family member or friend. In some cases, they’ll need to carry their birth certificate with them. And, in the case of unaccompanied minors, you’ll want to make sure you comply with the particular airline’s policy.

When it comes to international travel, you’ll want to come prepared. Otherwise, that 6 hour flight might just turn into a 10 hour ordeal.