Can I take my niece out of the country?

Yes. No US rule stops an aunt or uncle from taking a niece or nephew abroad, but the State Department says some countries require a notarized, written permission letter from the parents when a child travels with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian. Carry that letter, the child's passport and a copy of the birth certificate, and you can answer any question an officer asks in seconds.

Do both parents need to sign?

If the child travels with a grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend, yes. USA.gov says both parents should sign when a child travels with a guardian or alone, and Canada asks every parent with custody or decision-making responsibility who is not traveling to sign. If only one parent is on the trip, the parent staying home signs. If one parent has sole custody, that parent signs and you carry a copy of the custody order.

Does the letter need to be notarized?

Portugal (per the State Department) and the Bahamas require notarization when a child travels with a non-parent. Canada says the letter does not need to be certified but its border agency recommends a notary to avoid delays. USA.gov says it is preferred that the letter is in English and notarized, so notarize it wherever you are going.

What do I bring to the airport?

The child's passport and a copy of their birth certificate, which the State Department says to always bring. The original signed letter, notarized if you can, with a photocopy of each signing parent's signed passport or ID attached, which Canada asks for. Your own passport, with your name spelled the same way as on the letter. Save the parents' phone numbers in your phone.

My last name is different from my niece's. Is that a problem?

Not with the parents' letter. No official source we found says which papers prove you are an aunt or uncle, so the signed, notarized letter is what does the work. See different last name than the child.

Home › Guides › Aunts and uncles

Can I Take My Niece or Nephew Out of the Country? What Aunts and Uncles Need

By Tanika Hall · Rules checked against official sources on 29 October 2026

TL;DR

Yes, an aunt or uncle can take a niece or nephew abroad. The same rules apply to you as to any adult who is not the child's parent.
Carry a consent letter signed by both parents, notarized, with their contact details and copies of their signed IDs. Start with our free consent letter template.
Bring the child's passport and a copy of their birth certificate, plus your own passport with your name spelled the same way as on the letter.
Portugal (per the State Department) and the Bahamas require the notarized letter. Canada checks children with non-parents more closely and can refuse entry without proof of permission.
Grandparents follow the same steps. See our grandparents guide.

Why it matters more for aunts and uncles

You often have a different last name from the child, and nothing in your passport connects you to them. Officers are allowed to ask: UK Border Force says it may ask an adult who is not the parent questions to establish the relationship, and Canada says children traveling with adults other than their parents will be checked more closely and may be refused entry if the officer is not convinced the parents authorized the trip.

The letter

Copy the free template on our main guide, then fill it in. Both parents sign, in front of a notary if they can. Canada says the parents can sign one letter together or separate ones. The letter should name you, say you are the child's aunt or uncle, give your contact details, the destination, the dates and the reason for the trip, and give you permission to seek medical attention for the child if necessary. That last line is required in the Bahamas.

Attach copies of both parents' signed passports or ID cards, which Canada asks for, and keep the parents' phone numbers in your phone.

What to carry

the child's passport and a copy of their birth certificate, which the State Department says to always bring
the original notarized letter and a spare (does it need a notary?)
your own passport, with your name spelled exactly as it is on the letter

Countries to watch

Portugal requires a notarized parental consent letter for children traveling with adults other than their parents, according to the State Department. The Bahamas requires a notarized letter from the legal guardians. Canada checks these children more closely and says the child may be refused entry if the officer is not convinced the parents authorized the trip. See the destination table for all ten countries.

Sources: US State Department: travel with minors · Government of Canada: consent letter for children travelling abroad · GOV.UK: children travelling to the UK · USA.gov: travel documents for children · US State Department: Portugal · Bahamas Department of Immigration: guidelines for minors

Common questions

Can I take my niece out of the country?: Yes. No US rule stops an aunt or uncle from taking a niece or nephew abroad, but the State Department says some countries require a notarized, written permission letter from the parents when a child travels with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian. Carry that letter, the child's passport and a copy of the birth certificate, and you can answer any question an officer asks in seconds.
Do both parents need to sign?: If the child travels with a grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend, yes. USA.gov says both parents should sign when a child travels with a guardian or alone, and Canada asks every parent with custody or decision-making responsibility who is not traveling to sign. If only one parent is on the trip, the parent staying home signs. If one parent has sole custody, that parent signs and you carry a copy of the custody order.
Does the letter need to be notarized?: Portugal (per the State Department) and the Bahamas require notarization when a child travels with a non-parent. Canada says the letter does not need to be certified but its border agency recommends a notary to avoid delays. USA.gov says it is preferred that the letter is in English and notarized, so notarize it wherever you are going.
What do I bring to the airport?: The child's passport and a copy of their birth certificate, which the State Department says to always bring. The original signed letter, notarized if you can, with a photocopy of each signing parent's signed passport or ID attached, which Canada asks for. Your own passport, with your name spelled the same way as on the letter. Save the parents' phone numbers in your phone.
My last name is different from my niece's. Is that a problem?: Not with the parents' letter. No official source we found says which papers prove you are an aunt or uncle, so the signed, notarized letter is what does the work. See different last name than the child.

Want the letters ready to fill in? The Child Travel Consent Kit has Letter A for one parent traveling, Letter B for a grandparent, relative or friend, a notarization checklist and notes for ten destinations. Get the kit for $14.

Related guides

This guide explains what official sources say. It is not legal advice, and border officers apply the rules on the day. Check the linked source and your airline's own rules before you fly, and talk to a family law attorney if there is a custody order or a dispute.