Do I need a consent letter to take my child to Portugal?

With one parent, we found no rule for a visiting child, but carry a letter anyway since Schengen border guards may check that you have parental care. With a grandparent, relative or friend, the State Department says foreign children entering or leaving Portugal must carry a parental consent letter, signed and dated, with the signatures certified by a notary.

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.

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Consent Letter to Travel to Portugal With a Child

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

TL;DR

With one parent, we found no rule for a visiting child, but carry a letter anyway.
With a grandparent, relative or friend, a parental consent letter is required, and the State Department says the signatures must be certified by a notary. The letter must give the dates and reason for travel and details of the adult responsible for the child.
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, carry one anyway. With a grandparent, relative or friend, required (notarized).

Traveling to Portugal with one parent

For children who live in Portugal, Portugal's government says no authorization is needed when a child travels with one parent who shares parental responsibility, unless the other parent objects. The State Department says the notarized letter rule applies to children traveling with adults who are not their parents. We found no rule for a visiting child entering with one parent. Schengen border guards may still check that you have parental care.

Traveling to Portugal with a grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend

The State Department says foreign children entering or leaving Portugal with adults other than a parent or legal guardian must carry a parental consent letter, signed and dated with the signatures certified by a notary, giving the dates and reason for travel and details of the adult responsible for the child.

Does it need to be notarized?

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.

What to carry to Portugal

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: gov.pt: authorization for a minor to leave Portugal · US State Department: Portugal

Common questions

Do I need a consent letter to take my child to Portugal?: With one parent, we found no rule for a visiting child, but carry a letter anyway since Schengen border guards may check that you have parental care. With a grandparent, relative or friend, the State Department says foreign children entering or leaving Portugal must carry a parental consent letter, signed and dated, with the signatures certified by a notary.
Does the letter for Portugal need to be notarized?: 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, but notarizing is still the safe choice.
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.