Documentation For Children Traveling Internationally
Children traveling internationally require the same documentation as adults, that means that even the youngest babies need to get a passport or other accepted ID
International Child Abduction laws mean that you'll need a little more advance preparation and documentation if you are a parent traveling without your spouse, a grandparent, or if your last name is different from your child's last name.
- You will need a notarized letter from the absent parent giving their permission for you to travel with the child. The letter must include the absent parents address, phone number, authorization to travel, the destination and the length of stay.
- If you are a single parent by divorce, you will need the notarized letter plus your legal papers outlining custody.
- If your spouse has died, you will need the death certificate
- If a child traveling has a different last name from one of the parents, be prepared to show documentation that shows that both are parents (e.g. a birth certificate or adoption decree).
- If the child had only one parent at birth, be prepared to show a birth certificate
Note: Unfortunately I am unable to give advice about specific destinations or situations. Check with your country’s state department, and the embassy of each country you will be visiting regarding the latest regulations and requirements. Try to get written instructions that you can carry with you in case any questions arise at immigration. For US Citizens, the state department website is travel.state.gov
Comments
Michelle
June 3, 2008 at 7:02 p.m.We are planning to take our 18 months old baby to his grandparents in Romania, Europe and leave him there for few months so his nana and papa will enjoy him.
What documents do we need so when we come back without him we will not have any problems when we re-enter USA.
I want to mention that we will stay in Europe for 3 weeks and one of us will have to go back to bring him back after 3 or 4 months.
Thank you for your help,
Michelle
Debbie
June 7, 2008 at 9:53 a.m.In addition to the documents listed above, you should contact your local passport office and speak to an officer about any special requirements regarding your situation.
An
December 23, 2008 at 7:23 a.m.I'm traveling with my husband and his 2 kids to Colombia next February. We are getting their pasports next week. Their mother doesn't have a problem with them traveling with us and I share the same last name. What other documentation we may need for them?
Thank you for your help.
Debbie
December 23, 2008 at 7:54 a.m.In addition to the documents listed above, you should contact the Columbian Embassy (or review their website) to find out exactly what documentation they require.
Barry Jetko
March 26, 2009 at 6:35 p.m.My fiancee is from and lives in Bucharest, Romania. We are planning to meet in Paris, France this August. She is a single parent with a 3 year old daughter. The Father left her shortly after the child was born. She has not heard from him since and does not know where he is. 1) Will she need special documentation to travel out of the country with her daughter? 2) Will she also need a passport for her and her daughter?
Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Barry
Debbie
March 26, 2009 at 11:23 p.m.Barry,
This sounds like a complex situation. She should contact immigration services in both Bucharest and in Paris to understand exactly what documentation they require. In addition, she should get those requirements in writing and carry the correspondence with her documents.
Good luck!
Akiko Clifford
September 8, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.My nephew is coming from Paris to visit us in the US in December. He will be travelling with his grandparents who will have an authorization to travel with their grandson. On their trip back to France, would American authorities require a similar document in English?
Debbie
September 8, 2009 at 3:57 p.m.@akiko That would be the safe thing to do. You should check with American Immigration to find out exactly what you will need.
Karen J
February 22, 2010 at 9:02 a.m.I knew that my daughter's father would be hard to keep track of, since we seperated early in the pregnancy, I did list him on her birth certificate, but when we went for our custody papers, I had a travel claus put into the agreement. This way I do not need to track him down every time we wish to travel. Something to think about. It is also a blessing when applying for our passports, as I do not currently know where he is
jane billedo
November 21, 2010 at 9:03 p.m.im a single parent travelled in thailand bangkok with my son.i got a nanny who worked w/us and im planning to give her an authorization to bring back home my child to the philippines,because i cannot go back home yet.i still need to settle some problem here about my boyfriend.is it possible for my son's nanny to take him home with my authorization alone and some documents proving that im allowing her to take my child?
Debbie
November 22, 2010 at 9:45 a.m.Jane, With a very specific question like that, you should contact the immigration department in both Thailand and the Philippines and ask what documentation they would need. Ask them to put their requirements in writing, and have the nanny bring the letters and all the appropriate documentation with her to the airport. Good luck!
Karen
December 8, 2010 at 9:53 p.m.We are US citizens living in Shanghai. We are relocating to the US and I will take my youngest son with me a couple of days ahead of my husband, who will bring my oldest son. So we will each be entering the US with a child, but we will all return to China as a family. Do we each still need the letter to enter the US? Or does the letter only apply when you are leaving the US?
Debbie
December 8, 2010 at 11:18 p.m.Karen,
You should ask the immigration department in both the US and China exactly what requirements you will need to fulfill for your trip. Ask them to put their requirements in writing, and have the nanny bring the letters and all the appropriate documentation with her to the airport. Good luck!
Laura
July 19, 2011 at 3:36 p.m.I am travelling with my 10 month old daughter next week to Scotland. Due to work commitments my husband cannot travel with us. However, my passport is still in my maiden name (UK passport) and my daughter's passport is in my married name (NZ passport). I am planning to travel with my marriage licence and daughter's birth anyway as I plan to apply for her British passport when we are in Scotland. What other documetation do I need to allow us to travel seamlessly? Do I need a letter from my husband stamped by a Justice of the Peace?
Thanks!
Kristine B.
September 17, 2011 at 2:12 p.m.I am travelling with my daughter without her father, we do not share last names, do i need any other proof aside from her birth certificate? Also on the same trip, my younger brother from my mom's second marriage is going with me, we do not share last names as well, what documentations do i need for him? Do i need to establish sibling relationship between the two of us?
brittany
December 8, 2011 at 10:56 p.m.hi im traveling to guatemala by myself with my 1 year old daughter, i was wondering besides the us passport and birth certificate will i need any other documents?, her fathers not on her birth certificate but she has his last name not mine.
Debbie
December 9, 2011 at 9:43 a.m.Unfortunately immigration / passport law is so tricky that I can't give specific advice on every circumstance. The best thing to do is to contact the destination you are visting and find out what paperwork they would require. If there's anything that seems like it could cause questions to be raised (for example, your child has a different last name) bring along the paperwork to show why that's ok (i.e. a birth certificate or notarized letter)
George
December 13, 2011 at 5:35 p.m.check with the airline also as they have rules requirements for such travel.
Jess Jones
January 27, 2012 at 8:28 a.m.I am going aboard to my brother's wedding. My son is coming with me. His dad and I are not together anymore, and we were never married. My son has his dad's surname. What do I need to do to make sure there are no problems? My son's dad and I are no longer on speaking terms!!
Debbie
January 27, 2012 at 2:24 p.m.@Jess Do you have any documentation showing that you have full custody of your child? I would double check with immigration and find out if that would be what you need.
Kitty
January 29, 2012 at 8:09 p.m.I recently got divorced. My exhusband refused to pay child support, alimony, etc, etc. I finally got him to pay by contacting my lawyer and his parents asking them to encourage following the court order or I will take him back to court for failure to pay.
After all this, he wrote me stating he doesn't care what my daughter and I do. If I die, then he'll have to take care of our child, until then, any contact will be considered harassment.
I have primary custody and he has only visitation. How am I suppose to go on a vacation with my daughter if he acts like this? I've offered to have open visitation so he can bond with them, but it's like a talking to a wall.
Debbie
January 29, 2012 at 8:31 p.m.Kitty,
I am very, very sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, I'm not an expert in immigration law, so this might be a place where you could ask your lawyer to help you draft up the necessarily paperwork to clear immigration - and to help get him to sign if that's necessary.
Good luck.
Debbie
maryann
January 31, 2012 at 4:56 a.m.im planning to travel with my 13month old daughter in singapore then we're different family name in passport, im separated for my first husband then im using his family name in my passport..then i have a daughter now for my boyfriend malaysian chinese, he's working in singapore, then my daughter registered her name under her father's family name..do i bring some document's to show in immigration?thank's
Debbie
January 31, 2012 at 11:45 p.m.Maryann
Yes, I would bring documentation to show that you have the authority to bring her across international borders.
Good luck on your trip
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