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.

Where can I get a letter notarized?

Many banks, shipping stores and some public libraries have a notary on staff. Call ahead to confirm one is working that day and ask about any fee. Fill in the free template first and sign only in front of the notary.

Is an online notary OK?

No official source we found says whether a remotely notarized consent letter is accepted, so use an in-person notary and carry the original.

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Does a Child Travel Consent Letter Need to Be Notarized?

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

TL;DR

It depends on the destination and on who is traveling, but notarizing is quick and is the safe choice. USA.gov says it is preferred that the letter is in English and notarized.
The State Department says Jamaica requires it when one parent travels, and Portugal (per the State Department) and the Bahamas require it when the child travels with someone who is not a parent.
Canada does not require it but strongly recommends that a notary public witness the signing.
Fill in our free consent letter template first, then sign it only in front of the notary. Bring the original, not a copy.

Where it is required or recommended

Destination	Notarization
Canada	Canada does not require it but strongly recommends it when one parent travels, and Canada's border agency recommends notarizing a non-parent's letter to avoid delays. Bring the original, since border officials may not accept copies.
Mexico	The State Department warns that US children leaving Mexico without a parent have sometimes been stopped without a notarized authorization. If the child is a Mexican citizen, including a dual US citizen, the State Department says the permission to travel without a parent must be notarized.
United Kingdom	The UK does not require it. The State Department recommends a notarized letter from the absent parent when one parent travels.
France	We found no French requirement for a visiting US child. Canada notes that a notarized letter is less likely to be questioned by border officials, and the same logic applies here.
Spain	Yes when the child travels without a parent: the State Department says the written permission should be notarized, and Spanish authorities have sometimes stopped US citizen children from leaving without it.
Portugal	Yes when the child travels with someone who is not a parent: the State Department says the signatures must be certified by a notary. We found no rule when one parent travels.
Jamaica	Yes when one parent travels: the State Department says a notarized letter from the absent parent is required. We found no rule for non-parents, so notarize theirs too.
The Bahamas	Bahamas Immigration says a notarized letter may be required when one parent travels and is required when the child travels with a non-parent.
Dominican Republic	We found no requirement for a US child on a short visit. For stays of more than 6 months, or for Dominican children who are not exempt, both parents authorize the departure through a notarized power legalized by the Attorney General's Office; a parent living abroad needs a consular power, apostilled and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Costa Rica	We found no requirement for a US-only tourist child. Costa Rican children, including dual nationals, need an exit permit from Costa Rican immigration, which requires a notarized special power of attorney when a parent cannot appear in person.

USA.gov says it is preferred that the letter of consent is in English and notarized. The rule is the same whether the child is with one parent, a grandparent or an aunt or uncle.

How notarization works

A notary confirms that the person signing is who they say they are. In Georgia, for example, the notary's certificate records that the signer was personally known to the notary or produced government-issued photo identification, and that the document was signed in the notary's presence. So fill in the letter first, then sign it only in front of the notary.

The person traveling with the child does not need to be there, only the signers. On a letter signed by both parents, each can sign at a different notary on a different day.

Online notarization

We found no official border or immigration source that says whether a remotely notarized consent letter is accepted. Canada says originals are best and that border officials may not accept photocopies or digital versions, so an in-person notary with a wet-ink original is the safer choice.

Do you need an apostille?

An apostille certifies a notary's signature for use in another country; it does not certify what the document says. All ten destinations we cover belong to the Apostille Convention, but we found no official source requiring an apostille on a consent letter for a US child traveling as a tourist. Apostilles do come up in specific cases: the Dominican Republic requires a consular power from a parent living abroad to be apostilled, and Mexico requires a notarized travel authorization issued abroad to be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.

Sources: Georgia notary certificate wording · GSCCCA apostille information · HCCH Apostille Convention members · USA.gov: travel documents for children · US State Department: Mexico · US State Department: Spain · Embassy of Mexico: minors traveling

Common questions

Does a child travel consent letter need to be notarized?: Not everywhere, but it is the safe choice. The State Department says Jamaica requires a notarized letter when one parent travels, and Portugal and the Bahamas require one when the child travels with a non-parent. Canada and the UK do not require it, but Canada strongly recommends a notary and USA.gov says a notarized letter in English is preferred.
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.
Where can I get a letter notarized?: Many banks, shipping stores and some public libraries have a notary on staff. Call ahead to confirm one is working that day and ask about any fee. Fill in the free template first and sign only in front of the notary.
Is an online notary OK?: No official source we found says whether a remotely notarized consent letter is accepted, so use an in-person notary and carry the original.

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.