January 25, 2026
25 January 2026
Travelling overseas with a child when one or both parents are not accompanying them can raise unexpected documentation issues. Airlines, embassies, and foreign border authorities often require a child travel consent document, and in many cases that document must be notarised by an Australian Notary Public.
Many parents only discover this requirement shortly before departure, leading to unnecessary stress and delays.
When Is a Child Travel Consent Document Required?
A child travel consent document is commonly requested where:
- one parent is travelling alone with the child
- a child is travelling with grandparents or other relatives
- a child is travelling as part of a school or sporting group
- parents are separated or divorced
- the child has a different surname to the accompanying adult
The purpose of the document is to confirm that the child is travelling with the knowledge and consent of both parents or legal guardians.
Is There an Official Child Travel Consent Form in Australia?
There is no standard or government-issued child travel consent form in Australia. Requirements vary between airlines, embassies, and destination countries.
As a result, parents are often uncertain about what wording is required, who must sign the document, and whether notarisation is necessary.
Does the Document Need to Be Notarised?
There is no Australian law requiring child travel consent documents to be notarised. However, for international travel, notarisation is frequently required by foreign authorities.
In practice, a notary is commonly required where the document will be used overseas, an embassy or consulate has requested notarisation, only one parent is signing, or border officials must rely on the document. Notarisation provides internationally recognised confirmation of the signer’s identity and the authenticity of the signature.
How an Australian Notary Public Can Assist
Our Notary Public regularly assists Australian families with child travel documentation. We can:
- draft a child travel consent document on your behalf as an additional service
- verify the identity of the signing parent or parents
- witness execution of the document
- complete a Notarial Certificate of Acknowledgement
- affix the notary’s official seal and signature
- ensure the document is suitable for international use
We also notarise copies of commonly required supporting documents, including birth certificates, passports, court orders, and name change documents.
Common Issues We Help Avoid
We are often contacted after documents have been rejected due to common errors, including using a Justice of the Peace instead of a Notary Public, signing documents before they are witnessed, relying on informal letters, missing supporting documents, or name discrepancies between passports and birth certificates.
Our Experience
Our Notary Public has extensive experience assisting families with urgent and time-sensitive travel documentation. We are regularly instructed after airlines, travel agents, or overseas authorities advise that notarisation is required before departure. Wherever possible, we recommend arranging notarisation well in advance of travel.
Contact Us
If you require assistance with drafting or notarising a child travel consent document, or wish to utilise our affordable and efficient notarial or legalisation services, please contact us to make an appointment with our Notary Public. You may email eva@solicitor.sydney, submit an online enquiry, or telephone +61 422 058 165, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Disclaimer
This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements for child travel documentation vary between airlines, embassies, and destination countries. You should confirm specific requirements with the relevant airline, embassy, or foreign authority before travel.
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