Free International Travel Consent Form — Child Travel Authorization for Abroad

An international travel consent form — also called a child international travel authorization, minor travel consent form, or consent form for child traveling abroad — is a notarized parental permission document that authorizes a minor to cross an international border without both parents present. It identifies the child, the accompanying adult, the absent parent(s) granting consent, the travel dates and destinations, and emergency contact information.

The form follows the format recommended by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is designed to satisfy the entry requirements of the most commonly visited countries including Mexico, Canada, the UK, EU Schengen nations, and others. It differs from the travel consent letter (which is a simplified one-page letter format) in that it includes a comprehensive structured form covering all required fields in a way that is more readily accepted by official authorities.

If your child is flying internationally alone under an airline's UM program, you will also need a separate unaccompanied minor form for the airline. The international travel consent form is for border crossing authorities, while the UM form is for the airline — both may be required.

Requirements vary significantly by destination. The table below summarizes known requirements — always verify with the US State Department and destination country's embassy before travel, as these rules change frequently.

Downloading the PDF is just the first step. Follow this process to ensure your international travel consent form is ready before departure:

1. Print two copies of the completed form — one for the traveling adult to carry, one for the absent parent to keep at home.
2. Take to a notary public within 2–4 weeks of travel. Both parents signing in front of the notary is ideal. If parents are in different locations, each can have their signature notarized separately before the form is combined. Banks, UPS Stores, public libraries, and online platforms like Notarize.com offer notary services.
3. Research destination requirements — visit the US State Department's page on minors traveling abroad and the destination country's embassy website for current, country-specific requirements.
4. Consider translation — for Mexico, Spain, and Latin American countries, having the form translated into Spanish by a certified translator is strongly recommended. For Brazil, a Portuguese translation is advised.
5. Keep it accessible — the traveling adult should carry both the original notarized consent form and a digital backup on their phone throughout the entire trip.
6. Pair with medical consent — download a medical consent for minor form to authorize emergency treatment if the child needs medical care and parents cannot be reached abroad.

Depending on your situation, you may need one or more of these additional forms alongside the international travel consent form:

• Child Travel Consent Form — General domestic and international consent for a child traveling with an adult (not both parents). Slightly simpler format for situations where full international documentation isn't needed.
• Travel Consent Letter — A letter-format version of parental consent. More concise and suitable for situations where a formal structured form is not required by the destination country.
• Grandparent Consent Form — Specifically delegates authority to grandparents for travel, medical decisions, and temporary care. Includes a comprehensive notary section and both-parents signature area.
• Unaccompanied Minor Form — Required by airlines when a child flies alone under their supervised UM program. This is a separate document from the border consent form — both are often needed for solo international flights.
• Passport Consent Form — Required by the US Department of State when applying for or renewing a child's passport without both parents present. A distinct form from travel consent.
• Medical Consent for Minor — Authorizes emergency medical treatment for a child when parents cannot be reached. Strongly recommended for any international trip where the child is not with both parents.