UK Law · Consent · Border-Ready Documents
Taking a Child Abroad With One Parent
Taking a child abroad with one parent is legal, but under the Children Act 1989 you generally need the consent of everyone with parental responsibility — travelling without it can be child abduction. Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers, regulated by the Faculty Office, notarises the consent letter that keeps you safe at the border, same-day in London.
Need a notarised consent letter? £125 + VAT (£150)
Many countries require the non-travelling parent’s consent to be notarised. Get it done same-day at our Central London office — or from anywhere with our online notary service by video call.
Who Needs to Give Consent?
Under UK law, if more than one person has parental responsibility for a child, you generally need the written consent of every person with parental responsibility before taking the child abroad. This applies to married parents, unmarried mothers, and fathers named on the child’s birth certificate or who have a parental responsibility agreement or order.
If you do not have a Child Arrangements Order but share parental responsibility, you need the other parent’s consent for any international travel. Taking the child without it is a criminal offence under the Child Abduction Act 1984, regardless of your relationship with the child. Our child travel consent form requirements guide sets out the wider picture.
What Happens if the Other Parent Refuses Consent?
If the other parent will not grant permission for your travel plans, your first step is to try to reach agreement. Many separated parents find that mediation services resolve disputes about holidays without going to court, and family solicitors can advise whether mediation is appropriate.
If mediation fails, you can apply to the family court for a Specific Issue Order authorising the trip. The court considers the child’s best interests and welfare, and will want details of the trip — destination country, date of departure, itinerary and the child’s return date — along with any risk of the child not being returned. Where holidays are approaching, urgent applications can be heard quickly.
In extreme cases involving a risk of child abduction, the court can make a Prohibited Steps Order preventing the other parent from removing the child from the jurisdiction (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), or issue a port alert through the High Court asking border officials to stop the child leaving.
Which Documents Should You Carry?
Even where you have the legal right to travel, carrying the right documents prevents problems at border control and passport control. We recommend:
- A signed travel consent letter from the non-travelling parent, with the child’s full name, date of birth, passport details, the trip details and travel dates, and the non-travelling parent’s contact details and emergency contact information.
- The child’s passport (valid for the destination country) and the child’s birth certificate. Where the child has a different surname, carry a marriage certificate, adoption certificate or other evidence of your relationship.
- A certified copy of any court order — a Child Arrangements Order, Specific Issue Order or Special Guardianship Order. If you are the only person with parental responsibility, carry the birth certificate showing this, or a death certificate if the other parent is deceased.
Build the consent letter itself with our free child travel consent form template.
Country-Specific Requirements
Different countries have their own requirements for children entering with one parent. South Africa requires a notarised consent letter, an unabridged birth certificate and the absent parent’s contact details. The United States and Canada routinely ask for consent letters, and many European countries check at passport control during school holidays.
Always check the destination country’s requirements before departure — the UK government’s travel advice pages give country-specific detail. Where a notarised letter is needed, or an apostille is required for it to be accepted abroad, see when and why you need a notarised child travel consent and our apostille service.
What If You’re Stopped at the Border?
Border officials may ask questions when you travel with a child, particularly where the child has a different surname. With proper documentation — a travel consent letter, the child’s birth certificate, a court order if applicable, and evidence of your relationship — this is a straightforward conversation.
If you cannot produce a consent letter or court order at a foreign border, the authorities may refuse entry or contact the non-travelling parent directly, causing significant delays. In the worst case the child may not be permitted to enter. A notarised letter, prepared in advance, avoids the stressful phone call from the border entirely.
Notarise Your Consent Letter
Tell us your travel dates and destination and we’ll prepare and notarise a border-ready consent letter — same-day where possible, in person or online.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 020 7499 2605
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Taking a Child Abroad — FAQs
Can I take my child abroad without the other parent’s permission?
Only in limited circumstances. With a Child Arrangements Order stating the child lives with you, you can travel for up to 28 days without the other parent’s consent. Otherwise, if more than one person has parental responsibility, you need the written consent of every person with parental responsibility.
Is taking a child abroad without consent illegal?
It can be. Under the Child Abduction Act 1984, removing a child from the UK without the appropriate consent of everyone with parental responsibility can be a criminal offence known as child abduction.
What if the other parent won’t agree to the trip?
Try to reach agreement, often through mediation. If that fails, apply to the family court for a Specific Issue Order. The court decides on the child’s best interests and can hear urgent applications where holidays are approaching.
What documents should I carry?
A signed travel consent letter from the non-travelling parent, the child’s passport and birth certificate, a certified copy of any court order, and — where the child has a different surname — a marriage or adoption certificate. For many countries the letter should be notarised.
Does the consent letter need to be notarised?
For many destinations, yes — South Africa, the United States and Canada frequently require it. Notarisation adds an official seal that border authorities accept worldwide. We notarise consent letters same-day in London or online by video call.
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers
19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH · 020 7499 2605 · notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk · Contact us
Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury · Member of The Notaries Society · STEP-qualified · ACSP-registered
Same-day notary appointments Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:30. In person or online by video call.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your circumstances, consult a family law solicitor.
Travelling Soon With Your Child?
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