If a child is leaving the country over the holidays without both parents, start on the consent letter well before the trip. The parent who stays home usually needs to sign it in front of a notary, and holiday schedules can make that harder than it sounds.
Our page on the travel consent letter explains what the letter says and who signs. This post is about the timing, which is where holiday trips tend to go wrong.
Start with the destination
Rules differ a lot by country, and the U.S. State Department’s page for each country is the place to begin. Recent advisories show the range:
- Czechia’s page says a notarized consent letter from the absent parent is required when one parent travels with a child, unless the traveling parent can show proof of sole custody.
- Qatar’s page says a letter may be required.
- Argentina’s page says a letter prepared in the United States also needs an apostille and an official translation.
These pages change, so read the current version for your destination at travel.state.gov. Then check with the airline and the country’s consulate. They can tell you whether they want a particular form, which is much easier to learn now than at the check-in counter.
Work backward from the departure date
- Write the letter. A notary can’t draft it or tell you what it should say. Have the flight details and passport numbers ready, since most letters include them.
- Line up every signer. If a child is flying with grandparents, both parents may be signing. They can sign separately, on different days, and in different places.
- Get it notarized. Each signer appears in person with acceptable ID. Leave the signature line blank until the appointment if you aren’t sure which notary wording applies.
- Allow time for anything extra. If the destination wants an apostille or a certified translation, those steps come after the notarization. Government offices close on holidays, so don’t count on the last few days before you leave.
The holiday problems to plan around
The signer leaves first
The parent who needs to sign may be traveling too, just somewhere else. California notaries can’t notarize remotely, so the signature has to happen while that parent is physically with a notary. If they’ll already be away, they’ll need a notary where they are.
The plans change
Letters often name specific dates, flights and travel companions. If the trip changes after the letter is signed, ask the airline or consulate whether the old letter still works. It may be simpler to sign a new one, so keep the file where you can edit it.
The appointment falls on a holiday
We’re open 24 hours, including holidays, but our standard rates apply from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays, excluding major holidays. Travel fees are higher outside those hours. See our policies for how pricing works. Booking before the rush gives you more choices.
What to carry on the trip
Keep the original signed letter with the child’s passport, and keep a scanned copy on your phone. If a parent has sole custody, carry the custody order too. Whether a border officer or airline accepts the paperwork is up to them, so bring what the destination asks for and check again shortly before you fly.
If the child still needs a passport, that’s a separate process with its own consent form, DS-3053.
Need a notary? We come to you anywhere in Los Angeles County, 24/7 by appointment. Book online or call (424) 484-9268.