vallartarent.net - Traveling to and from Mexico with Minor Children

Traveling To Mexico With Children
Instructions for Adults Traveling with Children Under 18

Adults taking children overseas: Some countries, like Mexico, require notarized consent from parent(s) for children under age 18 traveling alone,

with one parent, or in someone else's custody.

In an effort to keep children safe while traveling internationally, many governments have instituted procedures at entry and exit points that require parents to show documentary evidence of their relationship to all accompanying minors (children under age 18).

Additionally, many countries require that children under 18, when traveling without one or both parents/guardians, carry notarized permission of the parents or legal guardian not present for the child's travel.

Here are the documents that are required or recommended for parents/guardians and minor children:

When Both Parents are Accompanying the Child
When both parents are accompanying the minor child, they are not legally required to carry documents that prove their relation to the child.

However, in case there should be any question, we recommend that parents carry one of the following documents as proof of their relation to the child:
An original birth certificate issued by a state, city or county (Hospital birth certificates are not acceptable);

A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a city, county or state and which has a raised seal;

The original or certified copy of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240);

The original or certified copy of the Certification of Birth Abroad ? (DS-1350);

The original or certified copy of the court Adoption decree;

If one or both parents have legal custody of the child, carry the original or a court-certified copy of the court order granting custody or guardianship of the child;

If the child has a foreign birth certificate not in English, take a translation into English and the original or certified copy of the birth certificate
Whatever document is used should show the names of both parents, thus proving their relation to the child.

We recommend parents take the documents even when both parents and the child are carrying currently valid passports because passports are not proof of a child’s relationship to parents or guardians.

Again, parents are not required to prove their relation to the child. We make this recommendation in case a question arises.

Sample Parent Authorization Letter for Adults Traveling with Children Under 18

Parent or Legal Guardian Authorization Letter
(Print a separate letter for each country on child's itinerary)

I (we) authorize the minor child _________________________________________________________

with passport or drivers license number ________________________ issued by ________________

on ____ / ____ / ____ and being born in ______________________________ on ____ / ____ / ____

to travel on any occasion to and within the territory of _____________________________________
as well as to return to the country of residence, unaccompanied or under the responsibility of

____________________________________________________ of ______________________ nationality

and residing at ________________________________________________________________________

with passport or drivers license number _____________________ issued by __________________

on ____ / ____ / ____ and being born in _____________________________ on ____ / ____ / ____

and being the legal or birth ___________________________________________ of the minor child.

Signed ___________________________ on ____ / ____ / ____

Notary Public signature and seal below

When Only One Parent is Accompanying the Child

When only one parent (parent one) or legal guardian is traveling with a minor child, he or she must be prepared to present signed and notarized original permission letter from the other parent/guardian (parent two) named on the birth certificate, adoption papers or court documents authorizing the other parent (parent one) to travel with the child. We recommend that the notarized permission letter also include on it a clear, readable copy of the authorizing parent/guardian’s driver’s license. Click here to see a sample parent permission letter.

We strongly recommend that children traveling with only one parent have a passport, irrespective of the country to which they are traveling.

In addition to the parent permission letter, we recommend that the parent or guardian carry one of the following documents in case there should be any question about his/her relation to the child:

An original birth certificate issued by a state, city or county (Hospital birth certificates are not acceptable);

A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a city, county or state and which has a raised seal;

The original or certified copy of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240);

The original or certified copy of the Certification of Birth Abroad – (DS-1350);

The original or certified copy of the court Adoption decree;

If one or both parents have legal custody of the child, carry the original or a court-certified copy of the court order granting custody or guardianship of the child;

If the child has a foreign birth certificate not in English, take a translation into English and the original or certified copy of the birth certificate
Whatever document is used, it should show the names of all parents/guardians.

We recommend the accompanying parent take the documents even when the parent and the child are carrying valid passports because passports are not proof of the child’s relationship to the parent or guardian.

When minor children travel with only one parent, we also strongly recommend the parent secure a passport for the child before travel.

Sample Parent Authorization Letter When Only One Parent is Accompanying the Child

Parent or Legal Guardian Authorization Letter
(Print a separate letter for each country on child's itinerary)

I (we) authorize the minor child _________________________________________________________

with passport or drivers license number ________________________ issued by ________________

on ____ / ____ / ____ and being born in ______________________________ on ____ / ____ / ____

to travel on any occasion to and within the territory of _____________________________________
as well as to return to the country of residence, unaccompanied or under the responsibility of

____________________________________________________ of ______________________ nationality

and residing at ________________________________________________________________________

with passport or drivers license number _____________________ issued by __________________

on ____ / ____ / ____ and being born in _____________________________ on ____ / ____ / ____

and being the legal or birth ___________________________________________ of the minor child.

Signed ___________________________ on ____ / ____ / ____

Notary Public signature and seal below

When No Parents are Accompanying the Child

When a minor child is traveling without a parent or legal guardian, all parents/guardians named on the birth certificate, adoption papers or court documents must give signed and notarized authorization for the child to travel without them. We suggest that the notarized permission letter also include a clear, readable copy of the authorizing parent/guardian’s driver’s license. Click here to see a sample parent authorization letter. We strongly recommend that children traveling without either parent have a passport, irrespective of the country to which they are traveling.

In addition to the notarized authorization letters from both parents, we recommend the child carry one of the following documents in case there should be any question about the child’s relationship to the parent/guardian:
An original birth certificate issued by a state, city or county (hospital birth certificates are not acceptable);

A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a city, county or state and which has a raised seal;

The original or certified copy of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240);

The original or certified copy of the Certification of Birth Abroad – (DS-1350);

The original or certified copy of the court Adoption decree;

If one or both parents have legal custody of the child, carry the original or a court-certified copy of the court order granting custody or guardianship of the child;

If the child has a foreign birth certificate not in English, take a translation into English and the original or certified copy of the birth certificate
Whatever document is used, it should show the names of both parents/guardians or the name of the parent/guardian who has sole custody, thus proving the parents’ relation to the child.

When a minor child travels outside the U.S., we strongly recommend the child carry a valid passport.

Sample Parent Authorization Letter When No Parents are Accompanying the Child

For more information contact:
Luz del Carmen Peña Wolf
Email address: luz@pvnet.com.mx

Phone ( from USA, dial - ) 011 52 (322) 224 54 06 • Fax 011 52 (322) 224 30 64