Travel What a Notarized Travel Consent Letter Needs
Traveling abroad with a child and only one parent? What the consent letter should say and why it should be notarized before you fly.
Notarizations
Notarized Travel Consent Letters for Minors
In short: A travel consent letter is a signed statement from the parent who is not traveling, authorizing a child's trip with the other parent, a relative or a group. US Customs and Border Protection recommends carrying one, and several countries, including Mexico, require it in specific cases. We notarize the parent's signature at home or online, in English or Spanish.
Step 1
What is a travel consent letter for a minor?
A travel consent letter is a document in which one or both parents authorize a child under 18 to travel internationally, naming who the child travels with, the destination and the dates; notarizing it lets officials trust that the signature is genuine.
The letter protects against the situation every parent fears at the gate: an airline agent or an immigration officer asking where the other parent is. In Southwest Florida, with so many families visiting relatives in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Central America every summer and December, it is one of the documents we notarize most.
The content of the letter is the family's. We notarize the signature of the parent who gives consent. Because each country sets its own rules, and they change, the most important step is checking the requirements of the destination's consulate and the airline before you sign, especially whether they want the letter in Spanish or with an apostille.
- Child traveling with one parent
- Child traveling with grandparents, relatives or friends
- School trips, sports teams and church groups
- Letters in English, Spanish or both
- Apostille added when the destination requires it
Step 2
What do we need to notarize a travel consent letter?
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The letter, complete and unsigned
Child's full name and date of birth, passport number, who travels with the child, destination, travel dates and the consenting parent's contact information.
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Photo ID of the consenting parent
Current government ID. The parent signs in front of the notary.
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A copy of the child's passport or birth certificate
Many families attach it to the letter; some countries ask for it.
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Custody papers, if they apply
For separated or divorced parents, a copy of the custody order may be required by the destination.
Step 3
How much does a notarized travel letter cost?
| What | Fee | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Notarizing each parent's signature | Up to $10 | § 117.05(2)(a) |
| Travel to your home or online session | Quoted before booking | Online sessions have no travel |
| Translation or apostille, if required | Quoted before booking | Only when the destination asks for it |
Book at least a few days before the flight if the destination needs an apostille, which goes through the Florida Department of State.
Fees and statutes last reviewed:
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How do we get the letter notarized?
- 1
Check the destination
Look up the consulate and airline requirements: language, apostille, both parents or one.
- 2
Prepare the letter
Complete all the details. If the parent who consents is abroad, online notarization may be the answer.
- 3
Sign before the notary
At home, on a visit, or by video for a parent who lives elsewhere.
- 4
Apostille if needed
We submit the notarized letter to the Department of State when the destination requires it.
- 5
Travel with copies
Carry the original and a copy, together with the child's passport.
Often booked together with Apostille Assistance, Certified Translation, and Remote Online Notarization.
Most requested in Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral, and available online anywhere.
Step 5
Frequently asked questions
Is a notarized travel consent letter required by law?
The United States does not require one to leave the country, but US Customs and Border Protection recommends that children traveling without both parents carry a consent letter. Airlines and destination countries can require it, and some, such as Mexico in certain situations, set specific rules. A notarized letter is the format most likely to be accepted everywhere.
What does Mexico require for minors traveling with one parent?
According to the Mexican consulate guidance, minors who leave Mexico traveling with at least one parent do not need the authorization; when they travel alone or with other adults, a notarized letter from both parents is generally required, stating the means of travel, destination and dates. Documents signed outside Mexico may need an apostille and a Spanish translation. Rules change, so confirm with the Mexican consulate before the trip.
The other parent lives in another country. Can they still sign?
Yes. They can sign before a notary or consular officer where they live, or join a remote online notarization session with a Florida online notary if their ID can be verified. Online sessions are often the fastest option when the trip is soon.
Should the letter be in English or Spanish?
Write it in the language the destination's officials read, or make it bilingual. For Spanish-speaking countries a Spanish version avoids questions at the border, and some require an official translation. We can prepare a certified translation if the destination asks for one.
How far in advance should we notarize the letter?
For a notarized letter alone, a few days is usually enough. If the destination also wants an apostille, plan on more time, because the request goes to the Florida Department of State by mail. Do not leave it for the day of the flight.
Step 6
Where are the official rules for minors traveling?
- Mexico's consular guidance for minors traveling. Embassy of Mexico, consular services
- Notarization of the parent's signature. § 117.05, Florida Statutes
- Apostille for letters going to Hague Convention countries. Florida Department of State
Related services
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Apostille Assistance
View service → -
Certified Translation
View service → -
Remote Online Notarization
View service →
Related guides
- Travel
Step 7
Flying with the kids this summer or for the holidays?
Send us the destination and the travel dates. We notarize the letter at home or online before the trip.