For children, traveling can be a form of adventure, especially when they are traveling with their friends. However, if the child is going to travel alone without their parents or guardians, the child should have proper documentation to ensure safety and as required by law. The consent letter to allow a child to travel with a friend remains among the most important documents any parent in the UAE has to prepare with. This article will guide you through how to create a consent letter, its importance, and how Notary Public Dubai can be of help.
What is a Consent Letter?
A consent letter is usually a legal document that allows a child to travel with someone other than their parents or guardians. The document is relevant in helping the child travel outside the country or within the UAE borders with a friend, relative, or any trusted adult. A consent letter is evidence that the parents or guardians approve the journey, and the accompanying adult has all the rights to make decisions for and on behalf of the child in question during the journey.
Why is a Consent Letter Necessary?
A Consent Letter for a Child to Travel with a Friend in the UAE is considered necessary as a means of protection of the child’s interest and an assurance of authorized travel arrangements through legal guardianship.
The UAE enforces strict laws to ensure that children are safe when traveling outside the country. In instances where the child is either traveling alone or not with the parents — that is, traveling with people who are not their guardians, such as the family of a friend — a consent letter might be necessitated by immigration points or airlines. This will help them curb cases of child trafficking, abduction, and unauthorized travel.
Such a notarized consent letter, if produced, and it is compliant with the requirements both under UAE law and with international norms and standards, is likely to be regarded as more acceptable by immigration officials, airlines, and travel authorities for permitting such travel.
When Do You Need a Consent Letter for Child Travel?
A child travel consent letter is necessary in the following situations:
- The child is traveling with a friend or their family.
- One parent is traveling with the child and another parent is not available.
- It is a minor traveling in a group of entrants, or on a school trip without parents.
It usually indicates that this is a legal document of assurance that the parent or guardian approves of the traveling of the child with the person presenting the letter.
Key Elements of a Consent Letter
While writing the consent letter to let your child travel with a friend in the UAE, one should always consider adding the following elements:
| Section | Details |
| Child’s Information | – Full name – Date of birth – Passport number |
| Accompanying Adult’s Information | – Full name – Relationship to the child – Passport number – Contact information |
| Travel Details | – Destination – Dates of travel – Flight details (if applicable) – Accommodation information |
| Parental/Guardian Information | – Full names of both parents or legal guardians – Contact information – Signatures of both parents or legal guardians |
How to Get the Consent Letter Notarized in UAE
Notarizing the letter adds authenticity to it for its legal validity. One can get their consent letter notarized with the help of Notary Public available in the UAE. Following is the procedure for the same:
- Drafting the Consent Letter: Make sure it contains all the required details.
- Identification Documents: The identification documents of both parents, which may be Emirates IDs or passports.
- Notarization: The letter to be signed by the parents should be either in person or via a remote online notary service.
Notarized letters are recognized within the UAE and internationally; hence it will reduce the possibility of disrupted travel.
Documents Required for Notarization
When preparing for notarization, make sure the following documents are ready:
- Passport and Emirates ID, if available, of the child.
- IDs of Parents/Guardians: Attested passport or Emirates ID.
- Travel Booking Confirmation, if requested.
These documents validate the correctness and legality of the consent letter and, therefore, provide immigration with an easy way to approve the travel of the child.
Additional Tips for Smooth Travel
Following are a few tips that will help the guardian avoid any problems at airports or immigration points:
- Copies of Important Documents: The guardian must ensure they have both hard and soft copies of the child’s passport, visa, and consent letter.
- Inform the Airline in Advance: Some airlines require advance notice in case of travel by minors in the company of non-guardians.
- Destination Country Requirements: Certain countries have specific laws regarding the travel of minors without parents; thus, their requirements must be understood and the consent letter prepared accordingly.
- Consider emergency contact information: Provide the details of a person who should be contacted in case of any emergency.
How Notary Public Dubai Can Assist You
A consent letter for a child traveling with a friend is an important document to comply with UAE and international travel regulations. It serves as legal evidence that the parents or guardians approve of the child’s travel, thus avoiding any unnecessary delay or complication.
Through Notary Public Dubai, parents will be able to get a consent letter properly drafted and notarized, adhering to every minute detail of legality. It is a type of preparation that keeps parents stress-free and the child enjoys the journey fully without causing any disruptions.
Hassan Humaid Al Suwaidi is a UAE Citizen and the founder of the firm HHS Lawyers. He has a vast experience of 20 years of dealing with high-value and complex notary requirements. Hassan has been involved in some of the largest legal settlements in the UAE and is commended for his ability to attain the most favourable outcomes for his clients.
