Taking a child abroad
Each country has legislative levers to limit travelling abroad for its citizens. The state is especially attentive to travelling of children. In Ukraine, a minor child can travel abroad only accompanied by adults. Although there are some limitations. Without additional documents, children can leave Ukraine only with both parents.
The situation is different when one parent or accompanying person goes abroad with a girl or a boy. In this case, a statement is drawn up authorizing the departure of the minor.
What is a permission for taking a child abroad?
For a child to freely travel outside the country, it is necessary to apply for a permission for a child to travel abroad. This document presents a statement from one or two parents, depending on who the children are traveling with. According to the law, if a mother travels with her daughter or son alone, the father gives his consent to this trip. The consent should be written by a parent and certified by a notary.
If a schoolchild goes to a children's camp, on a sightseeing trip or to academic or sports competitions with a teacher, coach, travel agency representative, except for his/her foreign passport, consent to take the child abroad shall be prepared by both parents. In this consent, mom and dad agree that the son or daughter will go abroad for a specified period, accompanied by another person.
A similar document should be executed for relatives. With the consent, a child can travel with his/her grandmother, aunt, adult brother or sister. Any degree of kinship, except the first, does not give a child the right to go abroad freely.
This is common in many countries of the world and is considered natural. It prevents the illicit transfer of children, against their will. The procedure protects parents’ rights and also makes travel safe for a child.
How to execute a consent to take children abroad from Ukraine?
A consent is prepared by one or two parents, depending on the situation. If it’s a mother who goes abroad, a father draws up the document and vice versa. If a schoolchild goes on a trip with a third party, 2 parents make a joint consent. One permission for taking a child abroad is valid for one trip. For the next trip you’ll have to issue a new one. In individual cases, consents may give permission for several trips.
2 parents write a common consent. If mom and dad are in different cities or cannot prepare a consent together for some reason, each of them prepare two documents. The paper is presented at the border control service. Sometimes such permission is requested for a visa. If this is the reason, we recommend making two copies of the consent. Consulates often do not return certificates and other documents.
Consent to take a child abroad from Ukraine is only necessary for children with Ukrainian citizenship. If the minor is another state national, the document does not have to be executed. The laws of his/her country are applied to the child.
How can I get a notarial consent to take a child abroad?
The consent is valid if drawn up by a notary. The stamp and signature of a notary are put on the paper. This is how notary authenticates that parents’ signatures are the same as the signatures in their documents. Such a permission for a child to leave Ukraine is effective from the date specified in this application.
To draw up a document for two or one parent, depending on who the child is traveling abroad with, you should turn to a notary public. Legislation does not limit the choice of a notary office. Mom and dad can use the services of both a public or private specialist, turn to a notary whose office is closer to their work or home. The choice does not affect the procedure execution.
The consent indicates the destination, countries, dates of travel. The procedure takes a minimum of time. If all the documents are available and subject to transparency of execution, the service will take no more than 30 minutes.
You can ask questions about documents when visiting a notary or by phone in order to clearly understand the essence and rules for the procedure. Please note that the notary is not responsible for your choice of an accompanying person and the data specified in your consent. A notary is responsible for authenticity of signatures. Only parents are responsible for the consent.
The notarial document becomes valid for state authorities; it gives a child the right to travel with relatives or accompanying persons. If a mother and a father prepare separate statements, the price increases 2 times.
When is consent to take a child abroad not required ?
The laws provide for cases when it is possible to do without the execution of documents by a notary. Consent is not needed if:
- 2 parents are traveling with a child;
- a minor is a citizen of another country;
- there is a court decision: on deprivation of parental rights, recognition of a person as missing or incapacitated.
Parents should understand that filling out an application is an important procedure that protects the rights of a child, a mother and a father. Until the age of 16, children only go abroad accompanied by adults.
The validity of the consent to take a child abroad (Ukraine) is determined individually. In most cases, this period is determined by the end date of the trip. This is a reminder that to leave the country, a minor needs his/her own international passport. The consent does not entitle you to travel to other states without official documents.
