Free Child Travel Consent for UK

A Child Travel Consent is a legal document that gives written authorisation for a child under 18 to travel without one or both of their parents or guardians.

It’s usually required when a child travels:

• Alone
• With one parent only
• With a relative, teacher, or family friend
• With a school group or sports team

The document helps border and immigration officials confirm that the child has permission to travel. It can help stop children from being abducted or taken out of the country without consent.

Under UK law, you must get permission from anyone with legal responsibility for the child before you take them abroad. For this reason, it’s a good idea to prepare this document when your child is travelling abroad or without both parents.

The consent form can also include permission for emergency medical care. This is especially useful if the child is staying abroad for an extended period or travelling to a country where medical treatment may be needed during the trip.

Child Travel Consent for parents with shared responsibility

If both parents have parental responsibility but only one is travelling with the child, the non-travelling parent should provide written permission. This can take the form of a letter of consent to travel, signed and dated.

British law does not require this letter in all cases, but border officials or airline staff may request it. Some countries make it mandatory.

A clearly worded Child Travel Consent can help avoid travel disruption and legal issues.

Reviewing a sample Child Travel Consent form can help you understand what information to include. A sample gives a useful reference for tone, formatting, and required details before creating your own version.

To make a comprehensive Child Travel Consent form, you should include the following elements:

Parent(s) and minor information

The form should list the full names of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and their relationship to the child. It must also include the child’s full name, date and place of birth, and passport number.

Authorisation and travel details

State whether the child has permission to travel internationally. Include the full names and passport numbers of any accompanying persons. List the travel dates and destinations. Indicate where the child will be staying, with full address and postcode.

Accompanying person(s)

Mention who the child is travelling with. This could be a parent, guardian, teacher, friend, or school group. Include full names and passport details. This helps confirm that the child is not travelling with an unauthorised person.

Emergency contact information

Provide at least one emergency contact who will be available during the travel period. Include their name, relationship to the child, phone number, and email address. A secondary contact is also recommended.

Declaration and signatures

Both parents or legal guardians (if applicable) should confirm the accuracy of the information and sign the form. Signatures should be dated. This part confirms the agreement and acts as a legal declaration.

Witness or solicitor verification

For international trips, it is advisable to have the form signed in front of a witness or solicitor. This is not always required, but it strengthens the validity of the consent, especially in countries with strict travel regulations.

You can download our free Child Consent Form template to use as a guide when drafting your document.