Minors travelling: documents by country
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
Which documents a child needs to cross a border, and whether parental consent is needed. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | Child needs own passport or ID card | Consent when travelling with one parent | Consent when travelling without parents | Official consent form or declaration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Own passport or ID card | Letter recommended, not required | Letter recommended, not required | No official form; informal letter |
| Netherlands | Own passport or ID card, any age | Other parent's consent; form as proof | Parental consent needed; form as proof | Official consent form |
| United Kingdom | ⚠ Not yet verified | Permission needed; letter as evidence | Permission needed; letter as evidence | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| France | Own ID card or passport, any age | No AST needed with one parent | AST form required, even within the EU | Official AST form |
| Spain | Own passport, or DNI where accepted | No permit needed with one parent | Signed travel permit required | Official travel permit form |
| Italy | Own passport or ID card valid for travel | No declaration needed with a parent | Declaration required under age 14 | Police-issued accompaniment declaration |
| United States | Passport; birth certificate at land/sea if under 16 | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Canada | Yes, own Canadian passport | Letter recommended, not required | Letter recommended, not required | No official form; template letter |
| Mexico | ⚠ Not yet verified | No SAM permit with a parent | SAM exit permit required | Official SAM form (INM) |
| Ireland | Child travelling across a border, Entering Ireland: ⚠ Not yet verified | Child travelling across a border, Entering Ireland: Advisable; other parent's consent may be asked | Child travelling across a border, Entering Ireland: Advisable: letter, ID copy, proof of relationship | Child travelling across a border, Entering Ireland: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Australia | Own passport, any age | Consent or court order needed | Consent or court order needed | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Poland | Own ID card or passport, any age | No mandatory form; consent may be checked | No mandatory form; destination rules may apply | No official consent form |
| Sweden | Own document outside Schengen | Certificate recommended, not required | Certificate recommended, not required | No standard form |
Before you rely on it
This comparison covers national rules. Regional or local rules can apply on top of them, and rules change. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details before you act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.