Child Travel Abroad: Parental Consent and Documents

When a child under the age of 14 travels abroad without a parent or guardian, a travel permit issued by the Ministry of Interior is mandatory. The permit is issued upon request and with the written consent of the parents or the guardian. The child's passport does not replace this permit.

Before the trip, the child's age, the accompanying person, the destination, the transit countries and the carrier's conditions must all be established. The assumption that a valid passport alone is enough can cause a problem at the border.

When is the Ministry of Interior permit mandatory?

Article 7 of the Law on Travel Documents of the Citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia regulates the travel of a person under 14 years of age with another person, without the presence of a parent or guardian. In that case the child must hold a permit for travel abroad.

The rule applies when the child travels with a grandparent, another relative, a teacher, a coach, a sports club, an organized group or any third party. In addition to the permit, the child must hold a valid travel document accepted by the country in question.

Procedure and required documents

The request is filed with the competent regional unit for administrative affairs of the Ministry of Interior. To issue the permit, a birth certificate of the child and valid identity cards of the parents or the guardian are enclosed. The consent is given before the competent official.

Presence and consent: the parents or the guardian give the required written consent before the Ministry of Interior.
Identification of the child: a birth certificate is enclosed.
Identification of the parents: valid identity cards are enclosed.
Travel details: the destination and the person accompanying the child are stated.
Administrative fee: the Ministry of Interior lists a fee of 50 denars; the instruction is verified at the time of filing.

When both parents are present and the documentation is in order, the permit is usually issued immediately. The procedure should be completed before the day of travel.

Situation	What to check before travel
Child under 14 travels without a parent or guardian	Ministry of Interior permit, written consent and a valid travel document
Child travels with one parent	Rules of the destination, the transit countries and the carrier, as well as any written consent
The parents are divorced	The court decision, the manner of exercising parental rights and whether a travel restriction exists
Child and parent have different surnames	Birth certificate and a document confirming the parental relationship

Is consent required when the child travels with one parent?

The permit under Article 7 does not apply to travel in the presence of one of the parents. That, however, does not mean that a written consent from the other parent will never be requested. Such a requirement may arise from the rules of the destination country, the transit country or the carrier.

Before departure, the conditions should be checked with the diplomatic or consular mission of the country of destination and with the airline or other carrier. When a consent is required, it should clearly cover the details of the child, the accompanying person, the destination and the period of travel. If the parent and the child have different surnames, it is advisable to carry a birth certificate as well.

How to proceed when the parents are divorced?

The dissolution of the marriage does not automatically deprive the parent with whom the child does not live of parental rights. Before the trip, the final court decision must be checked: to whom the child was entrusted, how personal relations are arranged and whether there is a specific prohibition, interim measure or other restriction.

If one parent refuses to give consent, is unavailable or disputes the travel, the legal solution depends on the content of the court decision and the reasons for the refusal. A generic statement or template should not be used without prior analysis. Particular care is needed if there is a risk that the child will not be returned to the country after the agreed period expires.

Legal check before booking

Check whether the travel document will remain valid for the entire period required by the destination country.
Establish whether the child travels with a parent, with a guardian or with a third party.
For a child under 14 travelling with a third party, obtain the Ministry of Interior permit.
Check the conditions of the destination, the transit countries and the carrier.
For divorced parents, analyse the final court decision before taking any action.
The consent should contain the exact destination, the period and the details of the accompanying person.

Frequently asked questions

Does the consent always have to be notarized?

For the Ministry of Interior permit, the consent is given within the procedure before the competent regional unit. For travel with one parent, any notarization depends on the requirements of the foreign country or the carrier. The form must be established for the specific trip.

What if the child travels on a school excursion?

For a child under 14 travelling with a teacher or another accompanying person, a Ministry of Interior permit is required. The school or the organizer may additionally request a travel consent, health information and other documents needed for the organized group.

Planning a trip and the consent is disputed?

A timely check can prevent a cancelled trip and an additional family dispute. We analyse the court decision, the parental rights and the required documents, and then give you clear steps for your specific situation.

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Related content: Family and Inheritance Law · Divorce in Macedonia

Legal basis and official sources

This text is general legal information and does not constitute legal advice for a specific case. The rules of countries and carriers may change. Before travelling, check the applicable conditions with the competent authorities and seek legal advice in the event of a dispute between the parents.