Consent Letter to Travel to Spain With a Child
The short answer: We found no consent letter rule for a visiting US child with one parent, but carry one anyway. If the child travels with a grandparent, relative or friend, the State Department says parents should prepare a notarized, written permission. Spanish authorities have sometimes stopped US citizen children from leaving without a parent or guardian.
At a glance: with one parent, carry one anyway. With a grandparent, relative or friend, carry one anyway.
Traveling to Spain with one parent
We found no consent letter rule for a visiting US child with one parent. Spain's travel permission is for Spanish children traveling with neither parent. Schengen border guards may still check that you have parental care.
The State Department says Spanish minors, including dual US citizens, must have parental permission to travel without a parent or guardian.
Traveling to Spain with a grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend
The State Department says parents should prepare a notarized, written permission for a child traveling to or from Spain alone or with someone else, and that Spanish authorities have sometimes stopped US citizen children from leaving without a parent or guardian. Spain's travel declaration is for Spanish children traveling with neither parent, and the State Department says it applies to dual US-Spanish children too.
Does it need to be notarized?
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.
What to carry to Spain
- 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: Spanish Ministry of the Interior: minors traveling abroad · US State Department: Spain
Common questions
- Do I need a consent letter to take my child to Spain?
- We found no consent letter rule for a visiting US child with one parent. Spain's travel permission is for Spanish children traveling with neither parent. Schengen border guards may still check that you have parental care.
- What does a grandparent or aunt need to travel to Spain with a child?
- The State Department says parents should prepare a notarized, written permission for a child traveling to or from Spain alone or with someone else, and that Spanish authorities have sometimes stopped US citizen children from leaving without a parent or guardian. Spain's travel declaration is for Spanish children traveling with neither parent, and the State Department says it applies to dual US-Spanish children too.
- Does the letter for Spain need to be notarized?
- 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.
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
- Do You Need a Consent Letter to Travel With a Child?
- Does a Child Travel Consent Letter Need to Be Notarized?
- Traveling Abroad With Your Grandchildren: The Letter You Need
- Consent Letter to Travel to Portugal With a Child
- Consent Letter to Travel to France With a Child
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.