Do I need a consent letter to take my child to the Bahamas?

With one parent, the Bahamas Department of Immigration says a child may be required to present a notarized letter of consent from the parent who is not traveling. With a grandparent, relative or friend, a notarized letter from the legal guardians is required, and it must permit the adult to seek medical attention for the child. Required documents must be presented on entry.

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.

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.

Home › Guides › The Bahamas

Consent Letter to Travel to The Bahamas With a Child

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

TL;DR

If your child travels with only one parent, the Bahamas may require a notarized letter of consent from the parent who is not traveling.
If your child travels with a grandparent, relative or friend, a notarized letter from the legal guardians is required, and it must let that adult seek medical attention for the child. Have the letter ready to show on entry.
Copy our free consent letter template, then get it notarized. Grandparents and aunts: see traveling with grandchildren and taking a niece out of the country.
At a glance: with one parent, may be required (notarized). With a grandparent, relative or friend, required (notarized, with medical permission).

Traveling to The Bahamas with one parent

The Bahamas Department of Immigration says a child traveling with only one parent may be required to present a notarized letter of consent from the parent who is not traveling, and that required documents must be presented on entry.

Traveling to The Bahamas with a grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend

The Bahamas Department of Immigration says children traveling with someone who is not their parent must provide a notarized letter from their legal guardians. The letter must authorize the accompanying adult to travel with the child and permit them to seek medical attention for the child if necessary, and it must be shown on entry.

Does it need to be notarized?

Bahamas Immigration says a notarized letter may be required when one parent travels and is required when the child travels with a non-parent.

What to carry to The Bahamas

each child's passport and a copy of their birth certificate
the original consent letter, signed by the parent or parents who are not traveling, and a spare
copies of each signer's signed passport or ID, attached to the letter
the parents' phone numbers saved in your phone

Sources: Bahamas Department of Immigration: guidelines for minors

Common questions

Do I need a consent letter to take my child to the Bahamas?: With one parent, the Bahamas Department of Immigration says a child may be required to present a notarized letter of consent from the parent who is not traveling. With a grandparent, relative or friend, a notarized letter from the legal guardians is required, and it must permit the adult to seek medical attention for the child. Required documents must be presented on entry.
Does the letter for the Bahamas need to be notarized?: Bahamas Immigration says a notarized letter may be required when one parent travels and is required when the child travels with a non-parent. See how notarization works.
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.
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.

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.