Child travel consent letters notarised in Thailand
Short answer
A child travel consent letter is signed by the non-travelling parent or parents in front of a Notarial Services Attorney, who certifies the signature and identity and confirms the identification documents presented. Bring the child's birth certificate and, where relevant, custody or guardianship records. Certification usually takes 1–2 business days.
Airlines, immigration officers, and schools abroad ask for written parental consent when a child travels without both parents. The letter names the child, the accompanying adult, the destination, and the travel dates, and is signed by the parent or parents who hold custody in front of a Notarial Services Attorney.
When this is needed
- • A child travelling abroad with one parent while the other stays in Thailand
- • A child travelling with a grandparent, relative, or school group
- • A child travelling to attend a study programme or exchange overseas
- • A child relocating to live with a parent overseas under a family visa
- • A child travelling after a divorce where custody arrangements must be evidenced
What to prepare
- • Draft consent letter naming the child, the accompanying adult, destination, and travel dates
- • Child's birth certificate showing both parents' names
- • Original passport or ID card of each consenting parent, and the child's passport
- • Custody order, divorce registration, or guardianship record where one parent signs alone
- • Contact details of the consenting parent so the receiving authority can verify if needed
Step-by-step process
1. Check the airline and destination requirements
Requirements differ. Some airlines publish their own consent form and some destinations require both parents to sign even when one is travelling with the child.
2. Prepare custody evidence
If only one parent signs, bring the document that shows why: sole custody order, divorce registration with custody terms, or a death certificate. Without it, border officials often question the letter.
3. Sign in front of the attorney
Each consenting parent attends with original identification and signs during the appointment. The attorney certifies each signature and records the identification details.
4. Translate for the destination
For Australia the letter and certificate are usually translated by a NAATI-certified translator. Other destinations may also require consular legalisation.
Common reasons documents are rejected
- • Travel dates that do not cover the whole trip, including any extension or transit stay
- • The child's name spelled differently in the letter and in the passport
- • Only one parent signing without any custody evidence attached
- • No contact number for the consenting parent, so officials cannot verify
- • Signing the letter far in advance so it no longer matches the final itinerary
Frequently asked questions
Do both parents have to sign?
Where both parents hold parental authority, both signatures are safest. If only one signs, attach documentation showing sole custody or the other parent's absence, because border officials commonly ask for it.
Does the child need to attend the appointment?
No. Only the consenting parents sign. Bring the child's passport and birth certificate so the details in the letter can be checked against them.
How far in advance should the letter be signed?
Close to the travel date, once the itinerary is confirmed. A letter that predates the final booking often shows dates that no longer match the tickets.
Can one letter cover several trips?
Some authorities accept a period-based consent, but many prefer one letter per trip with specific dates. Check with the airline and the destination's immigration guidance.
Is a notarised consent letter always required?
It is not universally mandatory, but it is widely requested and easy to prepare, and having it avoids being turned away at check-in or at the border.
What if one parent cannot be located?
A statutory declaration explaining the circumstances, together with any court record, is normally submitted with the consent letter. The receiving authority decides whether that is sufficient.
Related documents
- Affidavit / statutory declarationHow to have an affidavit or statutory declaration signed and certified by a Notarial Services Attorney in Thailand for use with overseas authorities, courts, and universities.
- Single status documentsHow a Thai single status record or a declaration of marital status is certified for a marriage registration abroad, including the documents to bring and typical rejection reasons.
- Certified true copyHow a Notarial Services Attorney certifies that a copy matches the original Thai document, which originals must be presented, and how the copy fits into the overseas legalisation chain.
Related services
Reviewed August 2026. General procedural information only, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Department of Consular Affairs.