A child travel consent letter in the UAE is a signed statement in which a parent or legal guardian allows a minor to travel abroad with a named adult, on set dates, to a set destination. Airlines and border officers may ask for it whenever a child is not flying with both parents. Wordcraft drafts the letter in Arabic and English and arranges notarization in person or by video.
Trips Where a Consent Letter Is Expected
People also call it a minor travel NOC or parental consent to travel. It is most often requested in these situations:
- One parent traveling alone with the child: the other parent confirms consent, especially when surnames differ or the parents live apart
- Relatives or friends in charge: grandparents, an aunt or uncle, a family friend or a nanny
- School trips and sports tours: groups abroad with teachers or coaches
- Separated or divorced parents: often required by the custody arrangement or a court order
- Strict destinations: some countries want a notarized, even legalized, consent for any minor not traveling with both parents
Who Signs and Where
| Situation | Who signs | Notary route | MOFA attestation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both parents in the UAE | The parent who is not traveling, or both parents if the child travels with another adult | UAE notary, in person or by video | Only if the letter is used outside the UAE |
| One parent abroad | The parent who is abroad | UAE notary by video where eligible; or a notary in their country, then legalization and Arabic legal translation | Only if the letter is used outside the UAE; a letter signed abroad follows its own legalization route |
| Legal guardian | The guardian, with the court order or guardianship document attached | UAE notary, in person or by video | Only if the letter is used outside the UAE |
| School or group trip | Each child's parent or guardian, naming the teacher or group leader | UAE notary, in person or by video | Only if the letter is used outside the UAE |
This is a general guide. Airlines, immigration officers and some destination countries have their own forms or rules for minors, and we check them for your trip before drafting.
Guardian vs Custodian Consent Under UAE Law
UAE personal status rules can give different roles to a child's guardian (usually responsible for legal affairs and documents) and custodian (who has day-to-day care), and which rules apply depends on the family's circumstances. Whether one parent needs the other's written consent before the child travels, and what happens if it is refused, is decided under the law that applies to your family and any court order in place. We do not give legal advice. We draft the letter around your real situation, and where there is a dispute or a court order we suggest seeing a family lawyer first. Other family NOCs are covered on our no objection certificate page.
What to Put in a Child Travel Consent Letter
- Full names, passport numbers and Emirates ID numbers of the consenting parent or parents
- The child's full name, date of birth and passport number
- Name and passport number of the accompanying adult, and their relationship to the child
- Destination and transit countries, travel dates and flight details if known
- Whether the accompanying adult may consent to emergency medical treatment
- How to reach the consenting parent during the trip
- The signature before a notary, with the notary's seal, plus legalization if the destination asks for it
Some parents add a sworn declaration of their custody arrangement; we prepare both through our sworn affidavit service.
When One Parent Lives Abroad
A parent overseas has two ways to sign. The quicker is usually a video session on a UAE e-notary platform, where the document and the parent's ID qualify; see online notarization. The alternative is a notary in the parent's country, followed by that country's authentication and the UAE embassy (which now completes MOFA digitally), after which we produce the Arabic legal translation. If a UAE-notarized letter will be shown to a foreign authority, it can go through MOFA and the destination embassy; see notarization for use abroad.
Papers to Send With Your Request
- Passport copies for the child, both parents and the accompanying adult
- The signing parent's Emirates ID or passport, in original on the day
- The child's birth certificate, with a birth certificate translation if it is not in Arabic or English
- Destination, dates and flight numbers
- Any custody order or divorce judgment
Timing It Before the Flight
Start as soon as the tickets are booked. Send the passports and travel dates on WhatsApp and you receive a written quote within 10–30 minutes, including whether the destination wants the letter legalized. We send a bilingual draft so you can check every name and date, the parent signs before the notary, and the notarized letter arrives by email, with the original delivered before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need a consent letter to travel from the UAE with one parent?
It is strongly recommended and sometimes required, by the airline, the destination country or the family's custody arrangement. A notarized letter heads off questions at check-in and at the border.
Does the consent letter have to be notarized?
A plain signed letter is sometimes accepted, but many airlines and countries want it notarized, and some want it legalized as well. We check the rules for your destination.
Can a parent abroad sign the consent?
Yes. The usual options are a video session with a UAE e-notary where the case qualifies, or a notary in the parent's country followed by legalization and an Arabic translation.
What if the other parent refuses to consent?
Then the matter may need to go to the competent court. Please consult a family lawyer; we can translate the court documents you need.
Can one letter cover several trips?
It can cover a defined period and set destinations, but many authorities prefer one letter per trip. We draft it to match how it will be checked.
Does the airline have its own consent form?
Some airlines and some destination countries publish their own form for minors traveling without both parents. If yours does, we complete that form and have it notarized, with or without our own letter.
Last updated: September 2026
