It’s not easy to know how to draft a letter giving your permission as a parent for your child to travel alone with his or her other parent. You must follow a specific format and include particular information.You may not know how to draft your permission letter so that it’s effective and doesn’t cause problems with travel plans. It can also be confusing to understand who to direct the letter to and how to structure it. If you don’t include all of the pertinent and required data for a permission letter, authorities may prevent your child from boarding an airplane with just one parent.Despite the possible difficulties in drafting this type of letter, our permission letter for a child to travel alone templates can help you get off to the right start.
Permission Letter for a Child To Travel Alone Template
In the letter below, Helen Smith writes to give her consent for her child, Jason, to travel alone with his father, Ken Moore. Helen and Ken divorced last year and must provide a consent letter when Jason, who is five years old, travels with only one and not both parents. In this situation, Ken and Jason are taking a flight to visit Ken’s parents. Helen signs the letter because she is the one granting permission.
To Whom It May Concern:
I, Helen Jane Smith, am the legal custodial parent of my son, Jason Christopher Moore, together with his father, Ken Douglas Moore. Mr. Moore and I share joint legal custody of our son.
I am aware that Mr. Moore will be traveling with Jason on October 21, 2017, on American Airlines Flight #549 from Denver, Colorado, to Miami, Florida, to visit Jason’s grandparents. I give my permission for Jason to travel with Mr. Moore on this flight, as well as the return flight on November 5, 2017, American Airlines Flight #550 from Miami, Florida, to Denver, Colorado.
The destination address where Mr. Moore and Jason will be staying is: 4529 Palm Grove Dr., Miami, FL 33018.
Jason’s date of birth is June 5, 2012, and he will be traveling on U.S. passport #545847232, issued on September 5, 2013, with expiration date September 5, 2018.
You can reach me by phone at (555) 555-2941 or by email at helen.smith@email.com. You can reach our emergency contact, Janet Moore (Jason’s grandmother), by phone at (555) 555-1947 and by email at jmoore@email.com as well as at the above address.
Sincerely,
Helen J. Smith
How To Write a Permission Letter for a Child To Travel Alone
This letter is highly recommended when a child will be traveling with just one of his or her custodial parents or legal guardians, or when a child is traveling without any accompanying parents. Although not required by law, it can be helpful in cases where divorced parents share joint custody or where one parent has sole custody of the child due to divorce or the death of the other parent.
The first paragraph of your letter should clearly state the name of the non-traveling parent (the one who is giving permission) as well as the name of the traveling parent and the child. You may also include the child’s date of birth and travel document information here, or place it further down in the letter in its own paragraph. It’s not necessary to include the second parent. Both parents’ permission is necessary when they are authorizing their child to travel with a third party.
Secondly, an essential piece of information in your permission letter is to include the exact dates of travel as well as flight numbers and destination as well as return trip information. State the reason for travel and the destination address. Don’t forget to include a specific sentence indicating that you authorize the travel.
Conclude your letter with your contact information and the information of an emergency contact person, perhaps someone at the destination. If you didn’t include it earlier in the letter, now is also the time to list your child’s birth date and I.D. (such as passport) number as well as expiration date, as shown in the permission letter for a child to travel alone template.
What To Avoid in Your Permission Letter for a Child To Travel Alone
One of the biggest mistakes in writing a permission letter is leaving out essential information. It’s better to err on the side of caution if you’re unsure whether to include a particular detail. For example, you should include all flights for the duration of the trip, even intermediate flights that may occur between the initial departure date and return date.
It’s important to specifically state that you authorize all the travel that you indicate in your letter and to include the full name of the parent who will be traveling with your child or children. Avoid the mistake of writing the entire letter with all the pertinent information but leaving out the crucial statement that you give your permission.
This type of letter includes a lot of number data, such as flight numbers, I.D. numbers, and dates. Make sure you double-check all the contact information and travel information to ensure accuracy.
How To Follow Up After Sending Your Request for Appointment Letter
In most cases, there’s no reason to follow up your permission letter after you draft it and sign it. Usually the parent traveling with the child will keep your permission letter in his or her possession throughout the duration of travel. That way he or she can present the letter to authorities if and when they request it.
It can be a good idea to keep a copy of the letter, especially if the traveling parent loses or misplaces the letter. In some cases, it can be useful to have the letter notarized, which can give it additional weight and authority.
Top 5 Permission Letter for a Child To Travel Alone Writing Takeaways
1. Include necessary information
Authorities use this letter to verify details about yourself, your child, and the person (usually the other parent) traveling with your child. That being the case, make sure you include everything that’s required. If something is missing, authorities may delay or prevent the travel.
2. Double-check for accuracy
Given the information-heavy nature of this type of letter, it’s important to double-check all the numerical and other data in the letter. This includes birth dates, travel dates, flight numbers, departure and destination cities, as well as addresses and contact telephone numbers.
3. Remember to specifically give your permission
Although the letter itself serves as a permission authorizing your child to travel alone or with one parent only, you may easily overlook the actual statement authorizing the travel. Don’t forget to actually write that you authorize the trip.
4. Sign the letter
This is another important detail that you may overlook. It serves as a legal necessity given the letter’s formal nature granting permission. Once you’ve drafted and double-checked your letter, don’t forget to sign it.
5. Include your contact information and an emergency contact
Provide your telephone number and email address in case authorities need to contact you in the course of the travel. It’s also a good idea to list the name, phone number, email, and address of an emergency contact person who won’t be traveling with the child.
