Title
Winter holiday travel: check the parental travel consent for minor children It is the legal supporting document required when a child under 18 leaves the country with one parent, a grandparent, a relative or an acquaintance.
- Связанные страны
- 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said that families planning overseas travel over the winter holidays should check the parental travel consent for their minor children in advance. As countries tighten rules protecting minors against international child crime, the document is being asked for more often. Where preparation falls short, problems can arise as early as boarding.
- A parental travel consent is required when a minor under 18 travels abroad with one parent, a grandparent, a relative or an acquaintance.
- Countries are strengthening rules that protect minors against international child crime such as trafficking and abduction.
- The document is currently a recommendation rather than a mandatory requirement, but the form each country checks differs.
- To be used abroad it must go through English translation as well as notarisation and legalisation.
When a parental travel consent is needed
As the winter holidays approach, more families each year plan trips abroad with their children or short overseas language camps. Growing interest in month-long stays abroad is often explained by the chance to experience the local language and culture together. Among destinations, demand for nearby Japan and Hong Kong has fallen sharply while travel is concentrating on Southeast Asia and resort areas such as Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Guam and Saipan. For parents of minor children, the document to check at this point is the parental travel consent. It is a legal supporting document required when a minor under 18 goes abroad with one parent, a grandparent or another relative or acquaintance. It has gained weight as countries strengthen protection rules for minors to prevent international child crime such as trafficking and abduction.
A recommendation that should not be treated lightly
The parental travel consent is currently a recommendation, not a document that must be submitted for every trip. Travel industry officials nonetheless say it is not a matter to pass over lightly. The form each country checks differs, so incomplete preparation can make boarding difficult and can even lead to refusal of entry. It is therefore safer to confirm before departure what form of consent the destination country expects. A document prepared in Korea also needs English translation along with notarisation and legalisation before it can be used abroad. Apostille Korea handles domestic and overseas civil documents and processes the translation, notarisation and legalisation of parental travel consents.
Frequently asked questions
When is a parental travel consent needed?
When a minor under 18 travels abroad with one parent, a grandparent or another relative or acquaintance.
Is it a mandatory document?
At present it is a recommendation rather than a requirement. Because the form checked differs by country, however, poor preparation can cause problems at boarding or entry.
What should be watched when preparing it?
First confirm the form of consent the destination country expects. To use it abroad, English translation plus notarisation and legalisation are also needed.
Source: 디지틀조선일보 · 2019-12-06