Title
Apostille Korea launches legalisation package for minors travelling abroad Without a parental travel consent letter and a Family Relationship Certificate, entry or departure can be refused.
- Связанные страны
- 한국, 필리핀
Content
Apostille Korea said it provides an administrative package that handles the issuance and legalisation of documents required when minors travel abroad. The move follows tightened documentary requirements for the entry and exit of minors under international cooperation against trafficking and abduction.
- International cooperation against crimes involving minors has tightened the documentary requirements for their entry and exit.
- Where the accompanying adult is a joint custodian of the minor, a Family Relationship Certificate must be carried.
- Where the accompanying adult is not a parent or legal guardian, a parental travel consent letter proving delegated authority is mandatory.
- Embassies including those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Guam, Saipan and the United Kingdom state that entry or departure may be refused without these documents.
Missing paperwork stops travellers at the airport
A traveller from Daegu reportedly ran into trouble at immigration on the 12th while departing for the Philippines with a 10-year-old nephew. Asked whether the minor's custodial parents had consented to the trip, the traveller repeatedly answered yes, but entry was refused for lack of supporting documents. After being turned away at the airport, the traveller scrambled to resolve the matter, and by the time entry was finally allowed the entire itinerary had already been pushed back. Countries worldwide have been cooperating to prevent trafficking, abduction and similar crimes involving minors, tightening the documentary requirements for their entry and exit, and travel is being refused where the documents are incomplete. As a result the parental consent letter for a minor's travel, also called a parental travel consent, and the Family Relationship Certificate have become the essential documents for children's trips.
The documents required and how they are legalised
Embassies worldwide, including those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Guam, Saipan and the United Kingdom, publish rules on minors under the tightened immigration provisions. Under those rules, an adult accompanying a minor as a joint custodian must carry a Family Relationship Certificate as the legal document establishing that status. Where the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a parental travel consent proving that the relevant authority was delegated by the legal guardian is mandatory. The embassy notices state clearly that entry or departure may be refused if these documents are not in order. Yet it is noted that the changed requirements have not been publicised sufficiently, leaving travellers affected. Apostille Korea explained that because these are legal documents used internationally, they generally require translation into the relevant language along with notarisation and legalisation, and that it has assembled an administrative package for minors' travel covering destinations worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are needed when a minor travels without a parent?
If the accompanying adult is a joint custodian, a Family Relationship Certificate is required; if the adult is not a parent or legal guardian, a parental travel consent must be carried.
What happens if the documents are missing?
Embassies state that entry or departure may be refused without the relevant documents, and travellers have in fact been turned away at the airport.
Do the documents need to be translated and legalised?
As legal documents used internationally, they often require translation into the relevant language along with notarisation and legalisation.
Source: 아시아뉴스통신 · 2017-04-17