Title
Apostille Korea handles translation and legalisation of minors' travel documents Without a Family Relationship Certificate and a parental travel consent, a minor can be refused entry or departure.
Content
Apostille Korea said it handles the translation, notarisation and legalisation of the documents minors need for overseas travel. Which documents are required depends on who is travelling with the child, so the composition of the party must be checked in advance.
- To prevent international crimes against minors, countries now require a Family Relationship Certificate and a parental travel consent at the border.
- Embassy websites state that entry or departure may be refused if the documents are not carried.
- When both parents travel with the child a Family Relationship Certificate is needed; in every other case a notarised copy plus a parental travel consent is required.
- The Family Relationship Certificate is issued only in Korean, so it must be translated into the destination country's language and notarised.
The paperwork depends on who is travelling
For families heading abroad with a minor, the first thing to check is who is travelling in the party. When a minor departs together with both legal guardians, a Family Relationship Certificate is required. Because that certificate is issued only in Korean, using it at the border means translating it into the language of the destination country and then having the translation notarised. In every other situation, whether the child travels with one parent or with a third-party guide who is not a parent, a notarised copy of the Family Relationship Certificate must be accompanied by a parental travel consent. The parental travel consent confirms that the person holding parental authority has agreed to the trip. Checking the requirements for your particular party before departure is the safest way to avoid trouble at the airport.
Why requirements tightened and what preparation involves
To prevent international crimes such as human trafficking and abduction targeting minors, countries around the world now demand travel-guarantee documents when a minor crosses a border. The requirement applies to popular destinations such as Hawaii, Guam and Boracay as well as to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and beyond. Embassy websites state plainly that entry or departure may be refused if a minor does not carry the relevant documents. Because these papers were not required in the past, some travellers head to the airport without them and are turned away. Translation, notarisation, consular legalisation and apostille certification also differ by destination country, so travel agencies, notary offices and embassies sometimes give conflicting explanations. In peak seasons, when international ticket and package sales rise sharply, it is better to allow generous lead time.
Frequently asked questions
What is needed when both parents travel with the child?
A Family Relationship Certificate, translated into the destination country's language and notarised.
Do the requirements change if only one parent travels?
Yes. A notarised copy of the Family Relationship Certificate and a parental travel consent are both required.
What happens if the documents are not prepared?
Embassies advise that entry or departure may be refused when the relevant documents are not carried.
Source: DATANET · 2017-07-03