Child Travel Consent

What to use Child Travel Consent?

When you travel with a child that is not your own, it is best to be ready with a Travel Consent form since Customs and Border Protection Officers have the right to ask you for documentation. If you don’t have a formal document, you and the child may be detained until the situation is clarified. This is particularly necessary when only one parent is traveling with the child and the parents are separated or in a custody battle over the child. The child travel consent is needed under the following situations: • Child is under 18 years old • Traveling by plane, train, or ship • Crossing U.S. borders by plane • Flying domestically in or out of state • Custody of child is disputed • Only one parent has sole custody Alternatively, this form is useful if both parents allow the child to:

• Vacation with family friends

• Go on a church outing with their congregation

• Attend a school trip with teachers or chaperones

• Travel or study abroad for a temporary amount of time

• Travel with a grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sibling, or babysitter

What are included in a Child Travel Consent?

The Child Travel Consent form should also spell out the following details: • WHERE the child is traveling to (final destination) • WHEN the child will be traveling and returning • WHY the child is on a journey with another adult or by themselves • WHO is the responsible adult