If your child is travelling abroad without both parents, whether that’s with one parent, a grandparent, a school group, or alone, you may be asked to produce a parental consent letter at check-in or at the border.
Requirements vary significantly by destination, and producing the wrong document, or a simple signed note where notarisation was expected, is one of the most common reasons families are delayed or questioned at departure.
This guide explains what a parental consent letter is, when you need one, and how to get it notarised correctly before you travel.
What is a Parental Consent Letter?
A parental consent letter is a signed statement from everyone with parental responsibility for a child, confirming that the child has permission to travel without them, or with only one of them. It typically names the child, the accompanying adult, and the details of the trip, and it exists to reassure airlines and border officials that the child’s travel has been authorised by their legal guardians.
You may see the same document called a child travel consent letter, a letter of permission, or a travel consent form, all of which refer to the same document.
Under GOV.UK guidance on taking a child abroad, anyone with parental responsibility for a child must give permission before that child is taken out of the UK. Taking a child abroad without that permission can be treated as child abduction, which is why the letter matters even when nobody at the airport ends up asking for it.
When Is a Parental Consent Letter Needed?
You are most likely to need a consent letter if any of the following apply:
- One parent is travelling with the child while the other parent is not
- The child is travelling with a grandparent, other relative, or family friend
- The child is travelling as part of a school or sports trip
- The child is travelling alone as an unaccompanied minor
- The child’s surname differs from that of the travelling adult
UK law does not set out a single mandatory form of words for this letter. What it does require is that everyone with parental responsibility has actually given permission. In practice, it is airlines, border officials, and the immigration authorities of your destination country who decide whether they want to see that permission in writing, and whether they expect it notarised.
That expectation varies considerably by destination. Travel to the USA or Canada, for example, comes with a strong practical recommendation for a notarised consent letter, particularly where only one parent is travelling or where surnames don’t match.
Some EU destinations are more relaxed, and a signed letter alone is generally accepted without formal notarisation. India frequently expects a notarised letter too, especially when a child is visiting extended family without both parents present.
These examples are not exhaustive, and requirements can change. Always check the current entry requirements for your specific destination, and your airline’s policy on children travelling without both parents, before you assume either a plain letter or a notarised one will be enough.
How to Get a Parental Consent Letter Notarised
Once you’ve confirmed you need one, getting the letter prepared and notarised follows a straightforward sequence.
1) Confirm destination and airline requirements
Check the entry requirements for the country you’re travelling to, along with your airline’s policy on unaccompanied minors or single-parent travel, before drafting anything. This determines whether a signed letter will be enough or whether notarisation is expected.
2) Draft the letter
Include the child’s full name and date of birth, passport number, the dates and itinerary of the trip, the accompanying adult’s name and relationship to the child, and contact details for the consenting parent or guardian throughout the travel dates.
3) Gather supporting documents
Bring the child’s birth certificate, and if the consenting parent’s surname differs from the child’s, a marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or deed poll showing the connection between the names.
4) Decide whether notarisation is required
A notary does more than witness a signature. When we notarise a consent letter, we verify the identity of the consenting parent or guardian using valid photo ID, confirm they understand what they are signing and are doing so voluntarily, and apply our official seal and signature. This is what many destinations and airlines are specifically asking for when they say the letter must be “notarised,” rather than simply signed in front of any witness.
5) Check whether an apostille or further legalisation is needed
Some destinations require the notarised letter to carry an FCDO apostille as well, confirming that the notary’s own signature and seal are genuine. Countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention may instead require consular legalisation through their embassy in London. We can advise on this once we know your destination.
6) Book your notary appointment
Bring valid photo ID and proof of address for each parent or guardian signing the letter, the drafted consent letter itself, and your supporting documents. We offer appointments at our Central London and Harrow offices, and a mobile notary service if you’d rather we came to you.
Getting Your Consent Letter Notarised with MSC Notaries
We can draft, review, notarise, and apostille your child’s consent letter in a single appointment where needed, rather than sending you between different providers. Find out more about who we are or get in touch to discuss your travel dates and destination.
Call us on 0208 907 2699 or email info@mscnotaries.com, or contact us here to book an appointment at our Central London or Harrow offices.
