Title
Children travelling abroad without their parents can be refused entry without a parental travel consent When the accompanying adult is neither a parent nor a legal guardian, they must carry proof that the legal guardian has authorised the trip.
- Связанные страны
- 필리핀, 베트남
Content
Apostille Korea says families planning a holiday trip on which children travel without their parents should prepare a parental travel consent in advance. As protection rules for minors tighten, missing paperwork can mean refusal of entry on arrival.
- Countries are applying protection rules strictly to prevent trafficking, abduction and other crimes against minors.
- If the accompanying adult is not a parent or legal guardian, a parental travel consent must be carried.
- Embassies of the Philippines, Vietnam, Guam, Saipan, the United Kingdom, Canada and countries in South America publish the tightened rules.
- As a legal document used internationally, it must go through translation, notarisation and legalisation.
What goes wrong when the custodial parent stays home
Ahead of the May holidays, more parents are planning trips abroad to give their children new experiences. Focusing only on the itinerary, however, and failing to assemble the administrative documents required for entry and exit can lead to refusal at the border. In one case, a parent in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, arranged a backpacking trip abroad for children accompanied by their English conversation teacher, together with neighbours from the same apartment complex. Rental car and hotel bookings were completed and the group was seen off at the airport, only to be refused entry to the destination country because none of the supporting documents required for a trip on which minors are not accompanied by a custodial parent had been prepared. As countries worldwide apply protection rules for minors strictly to prevent trafficking, abduction and other international crimes, the rules on travel guarantee documents required for minors crossing borders are tightening as well.
Preparing the consent means translation, notarisation and legalisation
Embassies of the Philippines, Vietnam, Guam, Saipan, the United Kingdom, Canada and countries in South America publish rules on minors under tightened immigration law. Under those rules, an accompanying adult who is a joint custodian of the minor must carry the related legal documents, while an accompanying adult who is neither a parent nor a legal guardian must carry a parental travel consent, the document proving that authority was granted by the legal guardian. Embassy notices state clearly that entry or departure may be refused if the required documents are incomplete, yet the changes have not been publicised sufficiently and cases of travellers affected keep occurring. Apostille Korea explains that a legal document used internationally has to go through translation into the relevant language, notarisation and legalisation, which is why professional assistance is needed. Anyone planning a holiday trip for children travelling on their own is safer preparing the key entry documents in advance.
Frequently asked questions
What document is needed when a child travels without their parents?
If the accompanying adult is neither a parent nor a legal guardian, they must carry a parental travel consent proving that the legal guardian granted authority for the trip.
Are documents needed even when a joint custodian accompanies the child?
Yes. Under the rules, an accompanying joint custodian must also carry the related legal documents.
Is it enough simply to write out the consent?
No. As a legal document used internationally, it must be translated into the language of the destination country and then notarised and legalised.
Source: 국제뉴스 · 2017-03-24