Child Travel Consent Notarization in Sacramento
Minor child travel consent letters notarized quickly and professionally. Ideal for international travel with one parent, a guardian, or a school group. Same-day available.
What you need to know
What Is a Child Travel Consent Letter?
A child travel consent letter is a notarized document from a parent or legal guardian giving permission for a minor child to travel without both parents present. Many countries require this when a child travels with only one parent, grandparents, another adult, or a school group.
Because a minor cannot legally authorize their own travel, border officials, airlines, and foreign governments rely on this letter to confirm that the child's parents or guardians know about and approve the trip. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends that a child traveling internationally without both parents carry a signed, notarized consent letter, and many destination countries require one before they will admit a minor. Notarizing the signature is the part we handle: it confirms to officials that the signer's identity was checked and that the signature is genuine.
What a notarization does not do is decide anything about the trip. A notary does not rule on whether a child is allowed to travel, and a notarized letter is not a guarantee that a border officer or an airline will accept it. Those decisions belong to the destination country and the carrier, and what they ask for varies.
How the Appointment Works
The call we get most often: one parent is traveling with the child, and the other parent is staying home and needs their signature on the consent letter notarized.
The parent giving consent fills the travel consent letter in completely and leaves it unsigned.
Home, the office, a coffee shop, or wherever you'd like to meet. Evenings and weekends included.
We check the signer's photo ID, they sign in front of the notary, and we notarize the signature the way the document calls for.
The finished letter goes with the parent who is traveling with the child.
If the letter you have calls for a second parent or a guardian to sign as well, say so when you call and we'll work the timing out with you.
What to include
What a Travel Consent Letter Should Include
You (or your attorney) prepare the letter and we notarize the signature, but consent letters are generally expected to cover the same core details. Officials look for enough information to connect the child to the trip and to the consenting parent:
- The child's full legal name, date of birth, and passport number
- The full name of each consenting parent or legal guardian, and their relationship to the child
- The name of the adult the child is traveling with, and that adult's relationship to the child
- The travel dates, destination, and return details
- A clear statement of consent for the trip
- A parent or guardian contact number in case officials need to verify
- Space for the signature and the notary's acknowledgment
Good to Know
Some countries and airlines have their own required wording or their own form. Confirm the exact requirements with the destination country's embassy or consulate, and with your airline, before your appointment, so the letter is right the first time.
Where they're going
International vs. Domestic Travel
International Trips
International travel is where consent letters matter most. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends that minors leaving the country without both parents carry a notarized consent letter, and many foreign governments require one to admit an unaccompanied or single-parent-accompanied minor. Some countries go a step further and require an apostille on the notarized letter so it is recognized under the Hague Convention: see our apostille page if your destination requires one.
Domestic Trips
For travel within the United States, a consent letter usually isn't legally required, and the TSA does not ask minors for ID on domestic flights. Even so, many parents choose to send a signed, notarized letter when a child flies with one parent, a relative, or a group, because it can help if a question ever comes up at the airport, at a hospital, or with a caregiver during the trip.
Need an Apostille Too?
Traveling abroad and not sure whether you'll also need an apostille? We notarize the consent letter; the apostille itself is issued by the California Secretary of State. Call (916) 222-2251 and we'll point you in the right direction.
When you need it
Common Situations
- Child traveling internationally with one parent when both share custody
- Child traveling with grandparents or other relatives
- Child traveling with a school group or sports team
- Child traveling with a guardian while parents are overseas
Tip
Requirements vary by country. Check with the destination country's embassy or consulate to confirm what is required before your travel date.
Real-world situations
How These Appointments Usually Go
A parent taking the kids to visit family abroad. A Sacramento mom is flying to Mexico with her two children for the summer while dad stays home for work. The airline and Mexican authorities want a consent letter signed by the father. We meet him at his Natomas office on his lunch break, verify his ID, and notarize the letter the same day: the family makes their flight without a last-minute scramble.
Grandparents traveling with the grandchildren. A couple in Elk Grove is taking their grandkids to the Philippines while both parents keep working. Both parents need to sign a letter authorizing the grandparents to travel with the children. We come to the family's home in the evening, both parents sign in front of the notary, and because the destination requires it, we also walk them through what the Secretary of State needs for the apostille.
Before we arrive
What to Have Ready
Before your notary appointment, make sure you have the following:
Have ready
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the signing parent(s) or guardian(s)
- The completed, unsigned consent letter
- Fill in every section of the letter completely before the appointment: a notary cannot notarize a document with blank spaces
- Child's name, date of birth, and passport number included in the document
- Travel dates and destination listed in the document
- Everyone whose signature is being notarized needs to be there in person
Travel consent questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a child travel consent letter need to be notarized?
Many countries require the letter to be notarized. Even where not strictly required, a notarized letter is far more likely to be accepted without issue by border officials and airlines.
What if both parents need to sign?
That depends on the document and on where the child is going, and not every trip calls for it. Most travel consent appointments we do have one signer: the parent staying home. If your letter does need a second signature, both parents can sign at the same appointment, and if that isn't workable, tell us when you call and we'll work the timing out with you.
How quickly can you notarize a travel consent letter?
Same-day appointments are often available. Call us as early as possible if you have an upcoming trip.
What if my destination country requires an apostille?
Some countries require an apostille on the notarized consent letter. We notarize the letter, which is the step that has to come first. The apostille itself is issued by the California Secretary of State, and you submit the notarized letter to them. See our Apostille Services page for details.
How much does it cost to notarize a travel consent letter?
Our travel fee is $50 for standard locations, plus $15 per notarized signature, the California state-regulated maximum. So a single consent letter with one signer is typically $65 total. Call (916) 222-2251 and we'll come to you. No hidden fees. We take cash, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App.
What should a travel consent letter say?
It should identify the child (name, date of birth, passport number), the consenting parent or guardian, the adult the child is traveling with, the travel dates and destination, and a clear statement of consent, plus a parent contact number. You prepare the wording, and we notarize the signature.
Do I need a notarized letter for domestic U.S. flights?
It is usually not required for travel within the United States, and the TSA does not ask minors for ID on domestic flights. Many parents still send one when a child flies with one parent or another adult, because it can help if any question comes up.
Related services
Ready when you are
Need a Travel Consent Letter Notarized?
We come to you quickly, wherever you are in Sacramento. Same-day appointments are often available for travel emergencies. Call or text and we'll talk through exactly what you need.
Call or Text(916) 222-2251