Do I need a consent letter for a layover?

If you stay airside and never pass through immigration, you may never be asked. If you leave the airport during a layover, you go through that country's passport control, and officers there can ask for it.

Will border officers always ask for the letter?

No. Many trips go by without anyone asking. But officers can ask at any border, and when they do, having the letter is what lets you continue.

What should the letter say?

It should name the child, the adult traveling with them, the destination and dates, and the parents' contact details, signed by the parent or parents who are not on the trip, ideally in front of a notary. Our guide to consent letters covers who signs in each situation.

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The Munich Layover: How a Consent Letter Got Us Out of the Airport

By Tanika Hall · Rules checked against official sources on 20 October 2026

The short answer: Carry a consent letter on every trip, including layovers. If you leave the airport during a connection, you go through that country's passport control, and officers there can ask for it. Bring the original, get it notarized and keep it in your carry-on with the passports.

A story from my own travels, not legal advice.

An adult and child standing in front of the temples at Abu Simbel, Egypt — Abu Simbel, Egypt: where that trip ended up.

We were on our way to Egypt with a long layover in Munich. Rather than spend the whole day at the gate, we wanted to leave the airport, walk around the city and see what we could before our next flight.

To do that, we had to go through German immigration. As soon as I got to the desk, the officer asked for the consent letter.

A lot of times nobody asks for it. You carry it through trip after trip and never take it out. But when they do ask, it becomes a huge deal, because without it you have no quick way to show that you have permission to travel with the child.

I had it. I handed it over, the officer checked it and we were through. We spent the layover on a hop on hop off bus tour of Munich, got back to the airport and flew on to Egypt.

If I had not had that letter, the best case was spending the whole layover inside the airport. The worst case I did not want to think about.

Why they asked in Germany

Leaving the airport on a layover in Germany means entering the Schengen area, so you go through the same passport control as anyone arriving in Europe. EU rules tell border guards to check that the people accompanying a minor have parental care over them, especially when only one adult is traveling and there are serious grounds for suspicion. Officers do not always say why they are asking, so the point is to be ready when they do.

Source: EU Schengen Borders Code, Annex VII

What I tell everyone now

Carry the letter on every trip, including layovers. If you might leave the airport during a connection, you will go through immigration in that country too.
Keep it in your carry-on with the passports, never in a checked bag.
Bring the original. Canada, for one, warns that border officials may not accept photocopies or digital versions.
Get it notarized. It takes a few minutes and makes the letter easier to trust.
Have the child's birth certificate too. The State Department says to always bring a copy of each child's birth certificate or other evidence of your relationship.

Sources: Government of Canada: consent letter · US State Department: travel with minors

Common questions

Do I need a consent letter for a layover?: If you stay airside and never pass through immigration, you may never be asked. If you leave the airport during a layover, you go through that country's passport control, and officers there can ask for it.
Will border officers always ask for the letter?: No. Many trips go by without anyone asking. But officers can ask at any border, and when they do, having the letter is what lets you continue.
What should the letter say?: It should name the child, the adult traveling with them, the destination and dates, and the parents' contact details, signed by the parent or parents who are not on the trip, ideally in front of a notary. Our guide to consent letters covers who signs in each situation.

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.