Do children travelling without parents need a consent letter?
- Last reviewed
- 6 min read
- For schools, sports teams, universities, event organisers
The short answer
There is no single rule for every trip, but GOV.UK says you generally need permission from everyone with parental responsibility to take a child abroad, and that you may be asked for a letter at a UK or foreign border. Some destinations go further: GOV.UK advises a consent letter for children travelling to the USA or Canada without both parents, and South Africa asks for a birth certificate and a parental consent affidavit. Check each destination before departure.
Key takeaways
- GOV.UK says permission from everyone with parental responsibility is generally needed before taking a child abroad, and that a letter is usually enough to show it.
- Border officers can ask adults travelling with a child who is not theirs to explain the relationship, and a parent's authorising letter with contact details helps.
- GOV.UK advises a consent letter, preferably notarised and in English, for children travelling to the USA with a non-parent.
- South Africa asks for an unabridged birth certificate or equivalent and a parental consent affidavit when a child travels with someone other than both parents.
- A school or club consent form is not automatically a border document. Check the destination's embassy and carry a signed letter per child where required.
What does UK guidance say about permission to take a child abroad?
GOV.UK's guidance on permission to take a child abroad says you generally need permission from everyone with parental responsibility for the child, or from a court. A letter from the person with parental responsibility is usually enough, and it should include that person's contact details and the trip details. You may be asked for the letter at a UK or foreign border, or if someone disputes the trip. The same page states that taking a child abroad without permission is child abduction.
A school or club trip normally gets permission through the organisation's parental consent form. That form is the organisation's record that parents agreed. It is separate from any document a border officer might want to see. Our guide to what a school trip consent form should include covers the organisational side. This article covers the document a child may need to carry.
What can border officers ask about?
Border Force officers must safeguard children's welfare. The Home Office guidance on children travelling to the UK says that if you are travelling with someone under 18 and you are not their parent, or may appear not to be, officers may ask questions to establish your relationship. It advises an adult who is not the parent to carry a letter from the child's parent or parents authorising the trip, with their contact details. Parents with a different surname from the child may carry a birth or adoption certificate.
Which destinations ask for a letter or other documents?
| Destination | What official sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Children aged 17 and under need a valid ESTA or visa. A letter of consent, preferably notarised and in English, from one or both parents is advised if the child travels alone, with one parent or with a non-parent or non-guardian. | GOV.UK USA entry requirements |
| Canada | A child travelling alone, or with only one parent or guardian, should carry a letter of consent from the parents or guardians who are not travelling. | GOV.UK Canada entry requirements |
| South Africa | Children need a passport. An unabridged birth certificate or equivalent parentage document is required in most cases. A parental consent affidavit is required when a child travels with one parent or with someone other than their parents. | South African government (gov.za) |
| France | GOV.UK's France page does not cover school trip requirements and refers you to the French Embassy. Check each Schengen country with its embassy. | GOV.UK France entry requirements |
What should a good consent letter include?
GOV.UK says a permission letter should include the contact details of the person giving permission and the trip details. In practice, a letter that border staff can act on also names the child and the accompanying adults, so include these:
- The child's full name, date of birth and passport number.
- The name and role of the accompanying adult or adults, such as the trip leader and the school or club.
- The destination, travel dates and how the group is travelling.
- The parent or guardian's full name, relationship to the child, address, phone number and email.
- A statement that the parent or guardian gives permission for the child to travel, signed and dated.
- A contact number for the organisation's home contact, so officers can verify the trip.
Where a country asks for a notarised or sworn document, such as the USA's preferred notarised letter or South Africa's affidavit, a plain letter may not be enough. Start early, because parents may need to visit a solicitor or notary. Keep scans on the trip leader's phone, and store paper copies in the leader's pack.
Who is responsible for collecting letters on a school or club trip?
- Check each destination's entry rules for children when you plan the trip, using GOV.UK foreign travel advice and the destination government's site.
- Decide whether a letter, birth certificate, affidavit or all three are needed, and tell parents at the same time as the consent form.
- Give parents a template and a deadline well before departure, with a longer deadline if notarising is needed.
- Record in your register which child has returned which document, and chase gaps.
- Hold copies securely and delete them after the trip in line with your data protection policy. Our GDPR guide for group trips covers this.
Pupils whose parents are separated, or who live with someone other than a parent, need extra care, because GOV.UK's rule is permission from everyone with parental responsibility. Follow your safeguarding lead and the organisation's policy, and seek legal advice for disputes.
How Roamly can help
Roamly Travel builds destination entry checks, including rules for children, into group trip planning and can supply document timelines to trip leaders. Use our free travel document checklist and travel risk assessment tool, see our consulting service, or contact us about your trip.
Sources
- GOV.UK: get permission to take a child abroad
- GOV.UK: children travelling to the UK
- GOV.UK: USA entry requirements
- GOV.UK: Canada entry requirements
- GOV.UK: South Africa entry requirements
- South African government: requirements for children travelling through ports of entry
General guidance only, checked against the sources above on 30 October 2026. Entry rules, airline policies and official advice change, so confirm the current position with the linked source before you travel.