Title
Apostille Korea flags parental travel consent and driving permits for the holiday season A minor leaving the country without both parents can be refused departure or entry at the airport without a parental travel consent document.
- Related countries
- 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it is running a promotion on parental travel consent and international driving permits through 6 September for the summer holiday season. As the number of people travelling abroad rises, demand for both documents is climbing with it. Applications are taken through a dedicated page on the company website.
- Parental travel consent confirms that a parent has agreed to a minor travelling abroad alone or with a third party.
- With rules protecting minors applied strictly, cases of travellers refused at immigration for lacking the document are rising sharply.
- The international driving permit is issued under the Geneva Convention on road traffic and is valid for one year from the date of issue.
- Figures from the Korea Tourism Organization put outbound travellers at 12,512,051 as of May 2019.
Two documents in heavy demand over the holidays
July and August, the traditional summer holiday period, bring a rise in outbound travel and with it a rise in demand for travel documents. Figures from the Korea Tourism Organization put the number of travellers who left the country at 12,512,051 as of May 2019. That is a faster pace than last year, when a record 28,695,983 people travelled abroad, and some forecasts see this year passing 30 million. The two documents most sought at this time of year are parental travel consent and the international driving permit. Apostille Korea said it is running a promotion covering both through 6 September, with applications taken on a dedicated page of its website.
When each document is needed
Parental travel consent is the document by which a parent confirms agreement to a child travelling abroad, whether the minor goes alone without either parent or travels with a third party. As countries apply rules protecting minors more strictly to prevent international crimes such as trafficking and abduction, cases of travellers being refused at airport immigration for want of the document have risen sharply. The international driving permit is issued under the Geneva Convention on road traffic so that a driver can drive temporarily in another country. For the one year of validity from the date of issue, it must be carried together with a passport and the driving licence of the holder own country. Starting the paperwork only once departure is close can leave the schedule tight, so it is safer to check both documents while the trip is still being planned.
Frequently asked questions
Does a minor travelling alone really need parental travel consent?
It is required when a minor departs without both parents or travels with a third party. Without it, the traveller can be refused at airport immigration.
Is the international driving permit alone enough to drive abroad?
No. Throughout its one year of validity it must be carried together with a passport and the driving licence of your own country.
When should the documents be prepared?
Applications cluster during the holiday season, so it is safer to check and prepare while the trip is still in the planning stage.
Source: 내외뉴스통신 · 2019-07-19