A child traveling with one parent, a grandparent, a school group or a sports team may be asked for a notarized consent letter at the border or the airline counter. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends one, and many countries require it on entry. It's a ten-minute online session the night before the flight, every day until midnight.
Other consent letters work the same way: a temporary guardianship or caregiver authorization while you're deployed or hospitalized, consent for a minor's medical treatment while traveling, or permission for a relative to enroll a child in school.
What it is
A consent letter is a signed statement from a parent or legal guardian authorizing a child's travel or care by someone else, with the child's details, the dates, the destination and the adult's contact information. There is no single official form; CBP and many consulates publish templates.
Who signs, and who has to be there
The non-traveling parent or guardian signs in my presence. If both parents are staying home, both sign; they can sign in the same session or separately. Photo ID is required. The child doesn't sign and doesn't need to attend.
The notarial act
Usually a jurat (the parent swears the statements are true) or an acknowledgment, depending on how the letter is worded or what the destination country requires. One parent, one signature, one act. I can't tell you whether this is the right document for your situation or what it does legally; that's for an attorney. I can tell you what the law requires for the notarization itself.
Online or in person?
Yes, and this is the most common online request I get. The sealed PDF prints cleanly for the trip, and the electronic seal is verifiable if an officer checks. A handful of countries insist on a wet-ink original or an apostille for entry; check the consulate's page for your destination.
Pennsylvania notes
- There is no Pennsylvania statute prescribing a consent letter form; the notarization is a standard jurat or acknowledgment under Pennsylvania's notary law.
- If the letter will be used abroad, the destination may require an apostille from the Pennsylvania Department of State in addition to the notarization. I can tell you how to request one.
- Temporary guardianship or caregiver authorizations for school or medical purposes may have their own Pennsylvania forms; the school or provider will tell you which they accept.
Common mistakes
- Signing before the session.
- Leaving dates open-ended when the destination requires specific travel dates.
- Only one parent signing when the child's documents list two and the other isn't traveling.
- Waiting until the airport. Book the night before; online sessions run until midnight.
A notary public is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice, choose your certificate, or complete the document for you. This guide is preparation, not advice; your attorney or the recipient decides what the document must contain.