When travelling to the UK with a child under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by any person who has parental responsibility for the child or a person who has a court order to take custody of the child. Travelling without the proper permissions may amount to child abduction. This requirement has been adopted as a preventive measure to ensure the safety and protection of minors and as a result of growing concern and awareness about child abduction and trafficking, which has become a pressing problem in our society.

If a minor under 18 is travelling to the UK without one or both parents, the non-travelling parent may need to give written permission in the form of a parental travel consent form. This is to ensure that the child’s journey is not impeded by legal requirements and is protected from potential harm or risk. The written consent form must include important details such as the child’s name, travel dates, destination and the names of the accompanying adult or adults.

What permissions are needed for a child to travel?

In the UK, you must get permission from those with parental responsibility. Parental responsibility means the legal rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority a parent (or legal guardian) has for a child and the child’s property. 

You automatically have parental responsibility if you’re the child’s mother. Fathers will automatically have parental responsibility in certain circumstances (eg if they are registered as the father on the birth certificate). However, even parents with parental responsibility will need permission from anyone else with parental responsibility before they take the child abroad. 

For example, if a father with parental responsibility wants to take his child abroad, he would need permission from anyone else with parental responsibility (eg the child’s mother) to do so. 

How does consent apply to parents who have shared custody of a child travelling?

If you share custody of your child with the other parent or legal guardian and are travelling abroad with the child, you will generally need the other parent’s (or guardian’s) permission.

A couple, who shares parental responsibility, and takes their child to the UK, will typically not require permission to do so from anyone, provided no one else has parental responsibility for the child.

Where one parent (or legal guardian) with parental responsibility is travelling abroad without the other parent (or legal guardian) with parental responsibility, the travelling parent should typically have the other parent’s permission to take the child to the UK.

What documents are needed for a child to travel to the UK?

You or your child (if they are travelling alone or with an adult who does not have parental responsibility, eg an aunt or other adult chaperone) may be asked to show proof of the child’s permission to travel.

You will generally need to show a travel consent letter from a person with parental responsibility (such as a parent or legal guardian) to the Border Force at a UK airport.

Additional information may be required by border control authorities or airlines, such as:

• evidence to show the relationship with the child (eg a birth certificate, adoption certificate or special guardianship order)
• marriage or divorce certificate if you are a single parent but your surname is different from your child’s surname
• a letter from the child’s parent/s giving authority for the child to travel with you and providing contact details if you are not the parent

The UK Border Force has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. The Border Force takes this duty very seriously and works hard to protect vulnerable children and children who may be potentially being trafficked. If you are travelling with a child (under 18) and are not the child’s parent, or may appear not to be the parent (for example, if you have a different family name), they may ask you a few questions to establish your relationship with the child.

They will be very sensitive to checks carried out where a minor is travelling alone or where an adult travelling with them does not appear to be the parent. Therefore, it may be helpful to carry evidence of your relationship with the child and/or the reason for travelling with the child when travelling with a minor.

With a strong knowledge of UK immigration law, ARIS International Lawyers can help you navigate any complexities of the UK visa application process. Whether it is advice on how to apply for permission to stay or entry clearance to the UK with your child, our team of experts is always ready to provide the assistance you need.

If you need help and assistance, contact us on 0203 865 6219 or leave a message.