Notarized Child Travel Consent Letter + Template

Notarized Child Travel Consent Letter: What to Include (Free Template)

If your child is traveling abroad alone, with only one parent, or with another adult, bring a signed consent letter from the parent or parents who aren't going. U.S. agencies recommend having it notarized and in English (USA.gov, CBP). Below is what to put in it, who signs, and a fill-in sample you can bring to a Texas notary.

This is practical orientation, not legal advice. If there's a custody order or a dispute, talk to a family-law attorney before you travel.

When a child needs a consent letter

USA.gov explains that ports of entry in many countries screen for international child abduction, so a child traveling alone or with only one parent or legal guardian may need a letter of consent. Its guidance:

• Traveling with one custodial parent: the letter should be from the other parent.
• Traveling with a guardian or alone: both parents should sign.
• Language and notarization: it's preferred that the letter is in English and notarized.
• Sole custody: a parent with sole custody who travels with the child should carry a copy of the custody document.
• Frequent land crossings: a parent who often crosses the border by land with a child should always carry a letter from the other parent.

CBP's traveler checklist says the same: have notarized travel permission letters for minors traveling without their parents, if possible, and if the child is with one parent, a notarized note from the other parent (CBP, Welcome to the United States).

Both agencies frame this as a recommendation. The country you're visiting can have stricter rules, so USA.gov advises contacting that country's embassy or consulate about consent letters and entry and exit requirements.

Which document do you actually need?

Form DS-3053 is for the passport, not the trip

If a parent can't go to the passport appointment for a child under 16, the State Department says that parent must go to a certified notary public and sign and date Form DS-3053, and provide a photocopy of the photo ID shown to the notary. The form must be submitted within 90 days of being signed or notarized. The State Department accepts electronically notarized statements of consent if state law allows it (travel.state.gov).

Texas Authorization Agreement is a different tool

The Texas Family Code lets a parent sign an Authorization Agreement so another adult can handle medical care, school enrollment and activities for a child. It must be signed and sworn to before a notary by the parent and the caregiver, and it has strict rules: it can't be used without a court order if there's a custody case or court order, and the other parent must be mailed a copy within 10 days (Fam. Code §§34.002–34.005). The statute's list of powers doesn't mention international travel, so don't treat it as a travel consent letter. Ask an attorney whether you need one.

What to include in the letter

USA.gov suggests this sentence: "I acknowledge that my child is traveling outside the country with the name of the adult with my permission." Beyond that, airlines and border officers find it easier to check a letter that includes:

• The child's full name, date of birth and passport number
• The name of each consenting parent, with address, phone and email
• The traveling adult's name, relationship to the child and passport number
• Destination countries, travel dates and flight or route details
• Where the child will stay
• Contact details to verify the consent
• A copy of each signer's photo ID attached (optional, but often helpful)

Only the parent's statement of permission comes from the government sources above. The other fields are practical suggestions, so check whether the airline or destination country asks for anything specific.

Free template (sample, edit before use)

SAMPLE ONLY. This template is for convenience and is not legal advice. Edit it to fit your trip, follow any form the airline or destination country requires, and talk to an attorney if custody is disputed. Sign it in front of the notary, not before.

CONSENT FOR MINOR CHILD TO TRAVEL

Date: ____________________

I/We, the undersigned parent(s) or legal guardian(s), give permission for my/our child:

Child's full name: ______________________________________
Date of birth: ____________  Passport no.: ______________

to travel outside the United States with:

Accompanying adult's full name: _________________________
Relationship to child: ____________  Passport no.: ______
(or: traveling alone as an unaccompanied minor on airline ________)

Destination(s): _________________________________________
Departure date: ____________  Return date: ______________
Flight/route details: ___________________________________
Address during the trip: ________________________________

I acknowledge that my child is traveling outside the country
with [name of accompanying adult] with my permission.

Parent/Guardian 1
Name: ________________________  Phone: __________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Email: __________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________

Parent/Guardian 2 (if signing)
Name: ________________________  Phone: __________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Email: __________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________

-------------------------------------------------------------
NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT (Texas short form, CPRC §121.008)

State of Texas
County of ____________________

This instrument was acknowledged before me on ______________ (date)
by ______________________________________________ (name(s) of signer(s)).

______________________________   (Notary's signature)
Notary Public, State of Texas
My commission expires: __________          [SEAL]

About the certificate. The sample uses the Texas statutory short form of acknowledgment for a person acting in their own right (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §121.008). You may choose a different certificate, such as a jurat. A Texas notary who isn't an attorney can't choose the certificate for you, but you may pick from the sample certificates the notary has (Texas SOS).

Getting it notarized in Texas

1. Fill in everything except the signatures before the appointment.
2. Each signing parent appears in person before the notary, or by video with a Texas online notary. A Texas notary can't notarize over the phone (Texas SOS).
3. Bring a current government photo ID. Texas law lets the notary accept a current federal or state ID with photo and signature, or the oath of a credible witness (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §121.005). See also what ID a Texas notary accepts.
4. Sign in front of the notary. The notary completes the certificate and applies their seal.
5. Parents in different places? Each parent can sign a separate copy before their own notary, or use a remote online notary. Ask the airline or destination whether they accept an electronically notarized letter.
6. Make copies. Keep the original with the child's passport and give copies to the traveling adult.

If the destination country asks for an apostille on top of the notarization, that comes from the Texas Secretary of State, not from the notary. See what an apostille means.

What it costs

Under Texas Government Code §406.024, a notary may charge up to $10 for the first signature on an acknowledgment and $1 for each additional signature, or $10 for an oath with certificate and seal. A mobile notary may add a travel charge. Ask for the total before you book.

Checklist

• Checked the destination country's embassy or consulate rules
• Checked the airline's minor travel rules and forms
• Letter filled in, except signatures
• Every signing parent has a current photo ID
• Custody order copy, if one parent has sole custody
• Passport (and DS-3053 if you're still applying for one)
• Notarized original plus copies packed with the child's documents

Get it notarized before the trip

Travel deadlines don't move. Post a free request on NotaryHub with "child travel consent letter", how many parents are signing, and your city. Local notaries respond, a mobile notary can come to you, and nothing is booked until you both agree.

FAQ

Is a notarized travel consent letter required by law?

U.S. agencies describe it as a recommendation, not a universal rule. USA.gov says a child traveling alone or with one parent or guardian may need a letter of consent and that a notarized letter in English is preferred. The destination country and the airline can have their own requirements.

Who should sign the letter?

USA.gov says that if the child travels with one custodial parent, the letter should come from the other parent. If the child travels with a guardian or alone, both parents should sign.

Is a travel consent letter the same as Form DS-3053?

No. Form DS-3053 is the State Department's Statement of Consent for a child's passport application when a parent can't appear in person. It must be signed before a notary and submitted within 90 days. A travel consent letter is shown when the child travels.

Can a Texas notary write the letter for me?

No. A Texas notary who isn't an attorney can't draft legal documents or choose the notarial certificate for you (Texas SOS). You prepare and fill in the letter, and the notary verifies identity and completes the certificate.

How much does it cost to notarize the letter?

Texas caps the fee for an acknowledgment at $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional signature (Gov't Code §406.024). A mobile notary may add a travel charge, so ask for the total first.

Sources (last checked 2026-10-20)

• USA.gov, International travel documents for children
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Welcome to the United States (traveler checklist, PDF)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Before Your Trip: Traveling with Children
• U.S. Department of State, Apply for a Child's Passport Under 16 (Form DS-3053)
• Texas Family Code ch. 34, Authorization Agreement for Nonparent Adult Caregiver
• Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code ch. 121, Acknowledgments
• Texas Secretary of State, Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public
• Texas Secretary of State, Notary Public Educational Information
• Texas Government Code ch. 406 (notary fees, §406.024)

Last updated: October 20, 2026 · Not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the airline, the destination country's embassy or consulate, and an attorney if custody is disputed.