Traveling with children

What is it?

Your child must have a valid passport or identity card. Even if your child is under 14 years old.

Are you traveling abroad with your children and they have a different last name? Then this can cause problems at passport control at the airport. The parents, guardians or persons who have authority over the child must give you that permission. 

When a parent traveling alone needs permission

There are several possible situations in which a parent travels alone with a minor child. For example:

What to do?

  • Check on the website of Rijksoverheid Whether you need permission from the other parent, for example.
  • If you need permission, complete the "permission to travel abroad with minor" form . 
  • Sign the form with the other parent.
  • If you are traveling with more than one child, complete a consent form for each child.
  • If necessary: an extract from the register of custody. 

Your child is traveling with another adult

If your child is under the age of 18 and is traveling abroad with another adult, permission is required from the custodial parent(s). For example, a vacation with a grandfather, grandmother or the parents of a friend. You can arrange this with the form "permission to travel abroad with a minor".

Possible situations:

I have sole parental authority

I have sole parental authority 

Do you have sole parental authority? Then you do not need permission from the other parent to travel abroad with your child. However, you must be able to prove that you may travel with your child without permission.

Proof

You bring for this purpose:

  • Recent (recommended: not older than 3 months) international extract from the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) of the child with parental and custody information. You can request this document from the municipality where you live.

Sometimes you cannot get this extract. Then you can bring these 3 replacement documents:

  • (international) birth certificate or (international) extract BRP of the child with parental information;
  • Recent (recommended: no older than 3 months) extract from BRP of the parent with custody showing his or her marital status;
  • Recent (recommended: not older than 3 months) extract from the register of custody. This states that the child does not appear in the register of custody.

Parental authority through court

Did you receive parental authority through a court order? If so, please include:

  • recent (recommended: no older than 3 months) extract from the register of custody.

Deceased parent

Are you unable to request a recent (recommended: no older than 3 months) international extract BRP of the child with parent and custody information? Then bring with you:

  • International birth certificate of your child with a copy of the other parent's death certificate.

 

I have joint parental authority

Do you want to travel abroad with your child without the other parent? And do you have joint parental authority? Then you need permission from the other parent with custody.

Proof

You bring for this purpose:

  • consent form signed by the parent not traveling with you;
  • copy of passport or identity card of the parent not traveling with you;
  • Recent (recommended: not older than 3 months) international extract from the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) of the child with parental and custody information. You can request this document from the municipality where you live.

No consent of other parent

Does the other parent with custody refuse to give consent? Then you can ask the court for substitute permission. A lawyer is required for this.

I have no authority

I have no authority

Do you want to travel abroad with a child? And you do not have parental authority? Then you need permission from both parents who are not traveling with you.

Proof

You bring for this purpose:

  • consent form signed by both parents;
  • copy of passport or identity card of both parents;
  • Recent (recommended: not older than 3 months) international extract from the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) of the child with parental and custody information. You can request this document from the municipality where you live.

Instead of a BRP extract, you can also bring a (international) birth certificate of the child.

No consent from other parents

Don't get parental consent? Then you can ask the court for substitute permission. A lawyer is required for this.

Personal advice

Is your situation not in the options above? Then contact with the Center for International Child Abduction for personalized advice.

International child abduction

Do you suspect that the other parent wants to take your child abroad? You can take steps to reduce the likelihood of international child abduction. Contact the Center for International Child Abduction by phone to discuss your situation. They will give you advice and information on what steps are appropriate in your situation.

What do I need?

  • Your child needs his or her own passport or identity card.
  • If necessary: the completed and signed consent form.
  • If necessary: an extract from the register of custody. 

How does it work?

Please be aware of additional rules and extensive checks by the Royal Military Police at the borders. The Royal Military Police checks parents traveling alone with a child into or out of the Schengen area. This is done to prevent international child abduction.

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