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Traveling with children

Permission for travelling abroad

Minors need permission to travel abroad. The parents, guardians or persons with parental authority need to give their consent. At the Dutch border control, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNLM) may ask for documents that demonstrate who has the parental authority over the child and if there is permission from the parent(s) with parental authority.

Be well prepared and bring all the necessary documents when you are traveling with a child. Find out below which documents are needed in your situation.

Consent form

The permission of the parent(s) with parental authority can be demonstrated by using the 'authorisation form for travelling abroad with a minor'. Do you have questions about the form or other documents? You may find the answer in our FAQ. Is your question not listed here? Then please contact us.

Consent form for travelling abroad with a minor

Questions?

 

Go to our FAQ

Contact us

 

 

Which documents are needed?

Find out here which documents are needed in the most common situation. Is your situation not listed here? Please contact us.

Do one or both parents have parental authority over the child?

Yes

No

Parental authority (gezag) may also be referred to as 'custody' or 'parental responsibility'. If none of the parents have parental authority, a legal guardian (voogd) will be appointed for the child. For example, this can be a foster parent or an institution. More information about parental authority

Does the child have a legal guardian?

Yes

No

If none of the parents have parental authority, a legal guardian (voogd) will be appointed for the child. For example, this can be a foster parent or an institution. A legal guardian will be appointed after one or both parents have passed away. Or when the parents (temporarily) cannot exercise their parental authority.

Advice

Are one or both foster parents the legal guardian(s) of the child? Then permission is needed from the foster parent(s). We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the foster parent(s);
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the foster parent(s);
  3. recent extract of the custody register (gezagsregister).

Is an institution the legal guardian of the child? Then permission is needed from the institution. The institution can draw up a letter stating that there is permission for traveling abroad.

Advice

Children under the age of 18 are always under the parental authority of one or both parents or under the guardianship of someone other than the parents. Is the child under the age of 18? Fill in this scheme again or contact us. When the child turns 18, the parental authority or guardianship automatically ends. For children aged 18 years or older, permission is no longer needed.

Do both parents have parental authority over the child?

Yes

No

If both parents have parental authority, this is called joint parental authority. If only one parent has parental authority, this is called sole parental authority. More information about parental authority

Do both parents with parental authority travel with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

If both parents with parental authority travel with the child, the authorisation form is not needed. At the Dutch border control, parents might be asked to demonstrate that they are the actual parents of the child. Parents can use an (international) birth certificate or an (international) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP) of the child.

Does one of the parents with parental authority travel alone with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does one of the parents with parental authority travel alone with the child? And is there joint parental authority? Then permission is needed from the parent who is staying behind. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent who is staying behind;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent who is staying behind;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

Instead of the extract BRP, it is also possible to bring an (international) birth certificate.

Advice

Does the child travel alone or with friends or family? And is there joint parental authority? Then permission is needed from both parents who are staying behind. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by both parents;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of both parents;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

Instead of the extract BRP, it is also possible to bring an (international) birth certificate.

Does only one parent have parental authority over the child?

Yes

No

If only one parent has parental authority over the child, this is called sole parental authority. More information about parental authority

Advice

Children under the age of 18 are always under the parental authority of one or both parents or under the guardianship of someone other than the parents. Is the child under the age of 18? Fill in this scheme again or contact us. When the child turns 18, the parental authority or guardianship automatically ends. For children aged 18 years or older, permission is no longer needed.

Did the parent obtain sole parental authority by a court ruling?

Yes

No

More information about parental authority

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel with the child? And did the parent obtain sole parental authority by a court ruling? The authorisation form is not needed. However, at the Dutch border control, the parent may be asked to demonstrate that he or she has sole parental authority. We recommend bringing a recent extract of the custody register (gezagsregister).

Does the parent without parental authority travel with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does the parent without parental authority travel with the child? Then permission is needed from the parent with parental authority who is staying behind. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

Instead of the extract BRP, it is also possible to bring an (international) birth certificate.

Advice

Does the child travel alone or with friends or family? And has the parent obtained sole parental authority by a court ruling? Then permission is needed from the parent with parental authority who is staying behind. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

Instead of the extract BRP, it is also possible to bring an (international) birth certificate.

Does the parent have sole parental authority due to the fact that the other parent has passed away?

Yes

No

More information about parental authority

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

The authorisation form is not needed. However, at the Dutch border control, the parent may be asked to demonstrate that he or she has sole parental authority. We recommend bringing a (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority. If this is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing a (digital) copy of the death certificate.

Advice

Does the child travel alone or with friends or family? And has the parent sole parental authority due to the fact that the other parent has passed away? Then permission is needed from the parent with parental authority. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

If the extract BRP including details about the parental authority is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing a (digital) copy of the death certificate.

Does the parent automatically have sole parental authority over the child?

Yes

No

According to Dutch law, the mother who gave birth to the child automatically has parental authority. This is not the same for the other parent. If the parents are not married or are not registered partners, the other parent has to recognize the child and apply for joint parental authority. If this has not happened, the mother automatically has sole parental authority. More information about parental authority

Advice

Is your situation not listed her, or is it not clear? Then please contact us.

Has the other parent recognized the child, but does he or she not have parental authority?

Yes

No

If the other parent recognizes the child, he or she becomes the legal parent of the child. A legal parent is mentioned on the birth certificate. A parent who recognizes the child, does not automatically obtain parental authority according to Dutch law. He or she needs to apply for this at the district court, digitally or in writing. The mother who gave birth to the child is automatically the legal parent and automatically has parental authority. A legal parent without parental authority cannot decide, for example, where the child lives, or if the child is allowed to move abroad.

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel together with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel together with the child? And has the other parent recognized the child? Then the authorisation form is not needed. However, at the Dutch border control, the parent may be asked to demonstrate that he or she has sole parental authority. We recommend bringing a (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child’s parents and the parental authority.

If the extract BRP including details about the parental authority is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing these three documents instead:

  1. (international) birth certificate or (international) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents;
  2. recent extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP) relating to the parent with his or her marital status;
  3. recent extract of custody register (gezagsregister).

Does the parent without parental authority travel together with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does the parent without parental authority travel together with the child? Then permission is needed from the parent with sole parental authority. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

Instead of the extract BRP, it is also possible to bring an (international) birth certificate.

Advice

Does the child travel alone or with friends or family? Does the parent have sole parental authority? And has the other parent recognized the child? Then permission is needed from the parent with sole parental authority who is staying behind. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

If the extract BRP including details about the parental authority is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing these three documents instead:

  • (international) birth certificate or (international) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents;
  • recent extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP) relating to the parent with his or her marital status;
  • recent extract of custody register (gezagsregister).

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel together with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does the parent with sole parental authority travel together with the child? And has the other parent not recognized the child? Then the authorisaton form is not needed. However, at the Dutch border control, the parent may be asked to demonstrate that he or she has sole parental authority. We recommend bringing a (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

If the extract BRP including details about the parental authority is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing these two documents instead:

  • (international) birth certificate or (international) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents;
  • recent extract of custody register (gezagsregister).

Does the parent without parental authority travel together with the child?

Yes

No

Advice

Does the parent without parental authority travel together with the child? And has this parent not recognized the child? Then permission is needed from the parent with sole parental authority who is staying behind. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

If the extract BRP including details about the parental authority is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing these two documents instead:

  • (international) birth certificate or (international) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents;
  • recent extract of custody register (gezagsregister).

Advice

Does the child travel alone or with friends or family? Does the parent have sole parental authority? And has the other parent not recognized the child? Then permission is needed from the parent with sole parental authority. We recommend bringing these documents:

  1. authorisation form, signed by the parent with parental authority;
  2. copy of the passport, ID card or driver's license of the parent with parental authority;
  3. (recent) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents and the parental authority.

If the extract BRP including details about the parental authority is not possible at the municipality, we recommend bringing these two documents instead:

  • (international) birth certificate or (international) extract from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen - BRP), including details about the child's parents;
  • recent extract of custody register (gezagsregister).

Other advice

In some countries, such as South Africa, additional requirements apply for traveling with children. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country you are traveling to if there are additional requirements for traveling with children.

If you travel by plane, make sure to get to the airport in time. If extra time is needed to look at your documents at the Dutch border control, you have time to do so without risking to miss your flight.

Ask if the parent who gives permission wants to make sure that he/she can be reached by phone during the trip. If the RNLM has questions, they can contact the parent by phone. This applies to both traveling in and out of the country, since foreign authorities may also ask if there is permission.

Do you have questions? Go to our FAQ or contact us.

The Center IKO wishes you a pleasant trip!

 

Mediation Bureau

The Mediation Bureau organizes and coordinates cross-border mediations in international child abduction cases, international contact cases and requests for relocation.

Center IKO

The Mediation Bureau is an independent department of the International Child Abduction Center. 

More about the Center IKO

Contact

Mediation Bureau
P.O. Box 2006
1200 CA Hilversum
The Netherlands

Contact us

About Center IKO

The International Child Abduction Center (Center IKO) in the Netherlands is the legal expertise center on (the prevention of) international child abduction.

More information

Contact

International Child Abduction Center
P.O. Box 2006
1200 CA Hilversum
The Netherlands

Contact us

National partners

Ministry of Justice and Safety • Central Authority International Children's Issues • Ministry of Foreign Affairs • District Court The Hague • Court of Appeal The Hague • Liaison Judge International Child Protection • National Police • Public Prosecution Service • Royal Netherlands Marechaussee • National Expertise Center for Honor-related Violence • Legal Aid Board • Association of Family Law Attorneys and Divorce Mediators (vFAS) • Dutch Association of International Child Abduction Lawyers (D.I.A.L.) • Hague Conference on Private International Law

International partners

Child Focus, Belgium • Missing Children Europe (MCE) and partner organizations • Network of Lawyers in Europe on Parental Child Abduction (LEPCA) • Cross-Border Family Mediators (CBFM) • Asociación de profesionales contra la Sustracción Internacional de Menores en España (ASIME), Spain • International Child Abduction Lawyers Italy (CALI), Italy • Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA), United Kingdom