Guidance For Minors Travelling Without A Legal Guardian/Parent(s)
Country
Austria
Croatia
Non-National Minors Entering/Exiting
National Minors Entering/Exiting
Other than their own valid travel document, no particular official authorisation is
required for minors of any EU country to enter Croatia.
Cyprus
Minors who are nationals of another EU country do not need an official document
authorising them to enter or leave Cyprus.
Czech Republic
Only their own valid travel document (ID card or passport) is required authorising
minors to enter or leave the Czech Republic. No other special document is needed.
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular
extra official document is required authorising minors of any EU country to enter or
leave Denmark.
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular
official document is required authorising minors who are nationals of any other EU
country to enter or leave France.
In addition to their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), although not
obligatory by law, all minors entering or leaving Germany are advised to carry an
authorisation (where possible in the languages of both the home country and the
destination country) signed by their parents/legal guardian. The document should
show:
• that the minor has their permission to travel alone
• the contact details of the parents/legal guardian
No Specialist Requirements
In addition to their own valid travel document (ID card or passport), minors travelling
out of Croatia without their parents or other legal guardian(s) must have the
authorisation of the parents (or legal guardians) signed and certified by the public
notary, diplomatic mission or consular office. This will probably be closely checked to
establish whether the minors are leaving their country of their own free will or against
the will of their parents/legal guardians.
Other than their own valid travel document, Cypriot minors do not require an official
document authorising them to leave Cyprus unless they have been placed on the Stop
List by one of the parents. In this case, they will need written permission from that
parent before they can leave the country. No specific authorisation is required for
Cypriot minors to (re)enter Cyprus.
Only their own valid travel document (ID card or passport) is required authorising
minors to enter or leave the Czech Republic. No other special document is needed.
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular extra
official document is required authorising minors of any EU country to enter or leave
Denmark.
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular official
document is required authorizing minors of French nationality to enter or leave
France.
In addition to their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), although not
obligatory by law, all minors entering or leaving Germany are advised to carry an
authorisation (where possible in the languages of both the home country and the
destination country) signed by their parents/legal guardian. The document should
show:
• that the minor has their permission to travel alone
• the contact details of the parents/legal guardian
No Specialist Requirements
No Specialist Requirements
No Specialist Requirements
Minors with EU citizenship must have a valid passport or identity card. If they
travel:
• on their own or:
• with adults who are not their legal guardian(s); or
• with only one parent
They may need an extra (official) document signed by their parents, second parent
Italian minors can travel within and outside the EU with a valid individual travel
document:
identity
card
or
passport
(for
non-EU
countries).
Until they reach 14 years old, Italian minors can leave the country provided that:
• they are accompanied by at least one parent or guardian;
• or by up to a maximum of two accompanying persons, designated by the
parents or guardians in a declaration (dichiarazione di accompagnamento) to
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
No Specialist Requirements
No Specialist Requirements
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Guidance For Minors Travelling Without A Legal Guardian/Parent(s)
or legal guardian(s) authorising them to travel. This document may vary from
the police (questura), who will be indicated on the minor's passport or a
country to country and the traveller must therefore ask for information from the
separate document to be shown at the border.
authorities in their own country before travelling. An EU minor wishing to travel
from Italy needs the same documents required to enter the country.
The same documents needed to travel from Italy are required to travel back.
Malta
Other than a valid national ID card or passport, minors who are nationals of
another EU country do not need any other specific document to enter or leave
Malta if they are travelling between Schengen countries as there are no checks by
Border Guards or immigration officers. If they enter Malta from a country outside
Schengen, it is assumed that their departure has been checked and approved
according to the rules in that country. But, if they notice something untoward or
which may appear suspicious, Border Guards and immigration officers can make
enquiries to ensure they are bona fide travellers. The authorities can also carry out
similar checks for minors leaving Malta for a country outside Schengen.
Minors of Maltese nationality travelling with an identity card are generally permitted
to travel if they are accompanied by both parents or if they are in possession of
written consent from both parents. This written consent by both parents must be
certified as authentic. If the minors travel with a passport, additional written consent
is not required since both parents must give their consent for a passport to be issued.
No additional special document is required for them to (re-)enter Malta. (They will not
be checked by the Border Control authorities if travelling between Schengen
countries.)
Netherlands
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular
extra official authorisation is required for minors of any EU country to enter or
leave the Netherlands. However the Dutch Marechaussee (border police) can check
if children travelling with a parent with a different last name are in fact related to
that person. To avoid problems, it is advisable to carry a consent form.
Poland
In addition to their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), although not
obligatory by law, all minors entering or leaving Poland are strongly advised to
carry a letter of parental consent if travelling alone or with adults other than their
parents. The document should be signed by both parents and certified by a notary
(or validated by a Polish Consul if issued outside Poland) and should show:
• the dates and reason for travel
• the details of an adult who will be responsible for the child
In addition to their own valid travel document (passport or ID card) all minors
under the age of 18 entering or leaving Portugal must be in possession of a letter of
parental consent if travelling with adults other than their parents or legal
guardians. The document should be signed and dated, with the signature(s)
certified by a notary, and give the following information :
• The dates and reason for travel;
• The details of an adult who will be responsible for the child.
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular extra
official authorisation is required for minors of any EU country to enter or leave the
Netherlands. However the Dutch Marechaussee (border police) can check if children
travelling with a parent with a different last name are in fact related to that person.
To avoid problems, it is advisable to carry a consent form. Minors who don’t have a
valid passport or identity card can obtain a special document to make sure they can go
on school trips etc. (only to other EU countries) without being accompanied by their
parents. You can request this document from the Dutch Immigration authorities.
In addition to their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), although not
obligatory by law, all minors entering or leaving Poland are strongly advised to carry a
letter of parental consent if travelling alone or with adults other than their parents.
The document should be signed by both parents and certified by a notary (or validated
by a Polish Consul if issued outside Poland) and should show:
• the dates and reason for travel
• the details of an adult who will be responsible for the child
For minors under the age of 18 of Portuguese nationality entering Portugal, as well
as checking they have a valid travel document, border services officers check if the
person in Portuguese territory who will be responsible for their reception and care is a
parent/legal guardian/authority responsible for the minor. Different forms are
available depending on whether minors are Portuguese nationals or foreign residents.
Portugal
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Guidance For Minors Travelling Without A Legal Guardian/Parent(s)
Minors from an EU country (In this case, the 28 EU member states + Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) Entering Spain with only an ID card (and
not a passport) also requires written parental permission.
Spain
United Kingdom
Children require a valid travel document to leave Spain. In addition, if the children are
travelling with an ID card rather than a passport, they must have written permission,
signed either by both parents or the parent/person who has custody, and certified in
any police station, civil guard station, court, notary or city hall upon presentation of
the family book or birth certificates. You can find an example of this form on the
Guardia Civil website.
Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular Other than their own valid travel document (passport or ID card), no particular extra
extra official authorisation is required for minors of any EU country to enter or official authorisation is required for minors of any EU country to enter or leave the
leave the United Kingdom. However, if a child who is resident in the UK is travelling United Kingdom. However, if a child who is resident in the UK is travelling with an
with an adult who does not have parental responsibility, permission will have to be adult who does not have parental responsibility, permission will have to be obtained
obtained before leaving the country.
before leaving the country.
Information gained from the EU Website (http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen)
Where stated “No Specialist Requirements” the minor must be travelling with their own Passport or National ID Card, although additional documentation
(such as letters authorising the minor to travel unaccompanied) is not specifically required, it is recommended that these are carried to prevent any delays
on Entering or Leaving the destination.
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