Consent for a child to travel abroad in 2021: permission from the second parent

Rules for traveling on an airplane in Russia without parents

Certain rules must apply to children in the Russian Federation. The age of young travelers is unlimited, but doctors strongly do not recommend flying with children under 3 years old, as they may not tolerate heights well. Otherwise, you should remember these rules:

Children under 2 years old can fly free of charge when accompanied by their parents, but without the provision of a child seat. Some airlines may provide a baby bassinet free of charge. Please notify the airline in advance that you will be traveling with an infant.
If you are flying with two or more children, then only one can fly for free, and the rest are entitled to separate seats. One adult can take with him only one baby for free, that is, both mom and dad can carry one baby in their arms.
From 2 years old, a child needs to buy a separate seat. Most airlines provide it at a big discount.
You can bring a stroller, car seat and cradle with you free of charge - they are not included in the baggage allowance.
On board, most airlines provide baby food, a bib, and for older children, games and coloring books.
Airlines typically seat members of the same family in adjacent seats, but if you arrive at the airport too late to check in, there may not be any seats available. Plan your trip in advance.
Citizens under 12 years of age cannot travel alone - they must have an accompanying person. You can always order an escort service from airline employees if your teenager has no one to fly with.

Consent for a child to leave the country: what is important not to miss

Some parents have the misconception that consent from one of them is a pure formality; it will be enough to indicate a list of countries to visit, obtain notarized confirmation of the authenticity of the document and use it as much as you like. However, after receiving legal advice, parents will develop a completely different vision of this procedure:

The other party can obtain consent from one of the parents for only one trip. It may indicate one country or several if visiting them is planned during one trip abroad. The period of validity of consent is strictly regulated; Particular attention should be paid to the list of countries. These must be internationally accepted wordings, since unofficial names are not quoted. Each country must be named separately; the generalization “and other Baltic countries” or “European countries” does not work.” Indicating the validity period does not mean that “3 years” or “until adulthood” will be stated. The validity period of the consent must be indicated in the format “from date, month, year to date, month, year”; If there are circumstances when the mother cannot physically obtain the consent of her husband to leave (he died, he could not be found, the spouses are divorced or the father is deprived of parental rights), the mother must do the following in such cases: obtain a notarized confirmation of the reason for the lack of consent of the second parents. Such a document may be a photocopy of the death certificate, confirmation of the status of a single mother, confirmation from the police that the father is wanted, a copy of the court decision that the father has been deprived of parental rights.

Conclusion: in order for the consent to have legal force, those leaving the country will not have problems when passing through border control of other countries, it is necessary:

Notarize the consent; Translate the permit into the language of the country chosen for travel; Clearly state the period of time for which the consent applies; A sample consent form will be provided by a lawyer; If consent cannot be obtained for physical reasons, documentary evidence certified by a notary must be provided; The originality of the submitted documents is confirmed by an apostille.

Accompanying documents

If the baby travels with his parents, no problems arise. But if he is flying alone or accompanied by other people, he needs the appropriate documents: an adult’s passport, a birth certificate or a child’s passport, as well as a power of attorney for the person accompanying him. If the escort is provided by airline employees, you must enter into an agreement with the company in advance by filling out the appropriate form.

Do I need to draw up a power of attorney and have it certified by a notary?

To transport a child in Russia without parents, you need a notarized power of attorney, but with one caveat: according to the law, it is not mandatory, however, airlines often ask to present it. A power of attorney is required only if a small traveler is making an international flight.

However, it is strongly recommended to make a power of attorney, because if it is in place, none of the airport employees will begin to doubt who exactly is traveling with the minor and whether he has the right to do so.

It is worth noting that since a power of attorney is not a mandatory document, it can be certified by a notary or at the place of residence or study. This is not only easier, but also more profitable, because the cost of notary services can be up to 500 rubles, and in some regions even higher.

How to write an application from parents to accompany a child in Russia

If the child is traveling alone or accompanied by other people, parents can write an application for permission in any form. There is no legally certified official form, so the application may be written by hand. The application must include the following information:

who wrote the statement;
who do you entrust your child to?
for how long the trip is made;
where the minor is flying;
powers of the accompanying person;
passport details of accompanying persons.

The Cabinet of Ministers abolished the requirement for notarial consent when checking children into hotels

The requirement for notarized consent when checking children into hotels has been canceled; a decree on this was approved by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, according to the government website on April 2.

The publication notes that short trips for children (weekend tours, out-of-town excursions) are often comparable in cost to notary services. In addition, such a condition turned into a hindrance if the child traveled not with his parents, but, for example, with close relatives.

Now, when moving in, a minor will only be required to have the written consent of one of their legal representatives, drawn up in free form. If desired, you can also obtain a notarized consent.

“The decision made will simplify the organization of tours for children and save parents from unreasonable time and financial expenses,” the statement says.

Previously, Rospotrebnadzor lifted some of the restrictions on children's recreation: the occupancy of camps is allowed to increase from 50% to 75%, travel outside their regions is allowed, and tent camps can open by decision of regional authorities.

In addition, the issue of launching a tourist cashback program for students and schoolchildren this summer is now being considered, as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin previously stated. “We are now working together with payment systems on a mechanism so that the recipient and beneficiary of the trip is a child,” said Deputy Head of Rostourism Elena Lysenkova at a conference on children’s tourism, which took place as part of the business program of the Intourmarket exhibition on April 1.

Lysenkova also recalled that the government has been asked more than once to extend the cashback promotion to children’s camps. “Thank you again to Rospotrebnadzor for making it possible to send children on trips; this is an extremely important story in children’s education. <...> At the same time, we want Rospotrebnadzor to think again about some restrictions, because it is a pity to miss the opportunities for cultural and educational routes of the camps, holding some events, because intra-camp life is an integral part of recreation. <…> We really hope that we will work out everything related to children’s cashback together with the industry and launch the promotion before the start of the summer season,” she noted.

“We really hope that this summer will be more positive for all of us and for the children who will be able to travel,” summed up the deputy head of Rostourism.

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Some nuances

We will answer frequently asked questions from people planning to send a minor on a trip:

Is it possible to download a ready-made application form? Some sites, usually legal ones, offer to download a ready-made application form and simply fill it out. There are no prohibitions in the law on this matter, so this can be done.
Can only one parent sign the application? If the flight is international, the signatures of both parents are required. But for domestic flights, one signature is enough.
In what other situations is a power of attorney needed? In addition to the moments when an airline employee may ask for permission to ensure the safety of a minor, it may also be needed during the child’s stay in another city. For example, if hospitalization is required, there is a need for a search, or permission needs to be confirmed when checking into a hotel.

Thus, a statement can become a “lifeline” in solving problems that have arisen, so it is better to take care of it in advance.

How to write an application from parents to accompany a child in Russia?

Russian legislation does not stipulate the obligation to have a power of attorney from parents when a minor child travels around the country.
However, acting in the best interests of the child and for the safety of the child, any law enforcement officer or official may ask the accompanying person to provide parental permission for the child to travel with that person.

This can happen if something happened and hospitalization is required, or information about the child is needed to search/identify him, or it is necessary to confirm the relationship of the child and the adult accompanying him when checking into a hotel or boarding house, when registering for a flight or boarding a train.

Moreover, a power of attorney (permission) may be in demand due to the specifics of regional legislation. In some areas of our country, a curfew has been introduced, during which minors can only be on the street if accompanied by an adult. If a child is detained, then only the one who is responsible for him at the moment can pick him up.

Please note that children under 2 years old can only be accompanied by adults. Children over 12 years of age are allowed to travel independently, although in reality this is extremely rare.

If a child 12 years of age or older uses intercity transport, in this case he becomes under the responsibility of the carrier, which is stipulated by the internal regulations of the companies on the conditions for the provision of services. For independent travel by intercity buses, an age limit of 10 years is introduced.

Children from 2 to 12 years old travel accompanied by an adult.

To avoid misunderstandings and quickly resolve controversial situations, parents should issue a permit (power of attorney) in the name of the person who travels with the child and is responsible for him.

A power of attorney can be drawn up in any form on behalf of two parents and written by hand.

There are no requirements for the application form, since there is no legal requirement to have one.

The text of the power of attorney must meet the requirements of Art. 185 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, that is, it must contain information about who trusts, whom he trusts, who he trusts, for how long, in what direction the child should go (list of cities and towns visited). Information about all citizens indicated in the power of attorney and their passport details must be recorded. The power of attorney is signed by both parents.

The application must list all the actions that the accompanying person is authorized to perform while traveling with the child. It would not be superfluous to mention in the application that crossing the border by a child, as well as staying at a vacation spot beyond the specified period, are not allowed.

A few words about handwritten text. Writing the text by hand or printing is a personal matter for everyone in this situation, since there are no restrictions or reservations in civil law.

The only requirement is that the handwriting must be legible. Refusal of manuscripts is justified only by inconvenience; there are no legal reasons for refusal.

○ Vadim Kalyuzhny, specialist consultant at TopYurist.ru, answers user questions:

✔ Does a school or kindergarten have the right to require a power of attorney from the child’s uncle when the parents are out of town?

Federal legislation does not oblige parents to issue a power of attorney to the child’s uncle so that he can pick up the child from kindergarten or school. Such a requirement may be established by an agreement concluded with an educational institution, or by the rules for visiting a kindergarten or school.

In this case, the teacher has the right to ask for a power of attorney for the child. It is drawn up in simple written form, indicating the persons who can pick up the minor and accompany him home.

✔ Is it possible for one of the parents to sign a power of attorney?

Both parents are equal legal representatives who protect the interests of their children. Therefore, a power of attorney for a child can be signed by one of them.

✔ Is there any point in doing an examination?

If the power of attorney is issued by a notary, then an examination will not be required. He establishes the identities of the applicants, certifies the document, and enters information about this into the register of notarial actions. Therefore, if a dispute arises, you will need to request information from the notary office indicated in the document.

Often a child is transported under a simple written power of attorney. It can be faked. The authenticity of the document is confirmed by examination.

✔ Can a child be detained if the representative does not have a power of attorney with him and what do the authorities do if they are not sure that the person has the right to the child?

To travel within Russia, you do not need a power of attorney for a child. However, in the interests of the child, law enforcement agencies and employees of organizations have the right, within the framework of their powers, to ask for parental permission and confirmation of relationship. For example, when traveling on an airplane, by train, or when checking into a hotel.

Some regions have adopted curfew laws. Children are prohibited from being on the street, in stores, or traveling in public transport at night without parental accompaniment. If a police officer has doubts that the accompanying person has rights to the child, the detainees may be taken to the department to search for the parents.

Published by: Vadim Kalyuzhny , specialist of the TopYurist.RU portal

Procedure for obtaining parental consent

How to obtain parental consent for a child to travel abroad in 2021? The procedure for obtaining consent to leave is as follows:

Preparation of documents for a notary

The consent, which will be certified by a notary, must indicate:

last name, first name and patronymic of the parent who gives consent to the child’s departure, as well as the passport details of this parent;
last name, first name and patronymic of the person who will accompany the child during departure, as well as passport details of such person;
full details of the child, and all data available on his birth certificate;
an indication of which country the child is going to and for what specific period of time. If a child intends to visit the countries of the Schengen zone, then you can indicate one state and make a link that other Schengen countries can also be visited. Countries should include the official names of the countries.

The legislator does not limit the period of departure, and it can be determined by a specific date, the expiration of a certain time period, and an indication of an event that will occur (for example, coming of age or expiration of a visa).

When going to a notary you need to have with you:

passport of the parent, which gives written permission to leave;
original birth certificate of the child;
the text of the consent itself in writing;
information about the person who will go abroad with the child;
travel information (departure date, return date, countries visited)

Notarized consent

The parent who gives the child’s consent to leave must appear before the notary himself and provide the above documents. The notary will certify the signature on the consent, after which it will acquire the corresponding status of an official document.

A fee must be paid for notarial acts.

To learn how a child can travel abroad without the father’s permission and some other difficult issues that may arise when obtaining consent, watch the video:

Compiling a translation

It is advisable to translate the written consent of the parent into the language of the country that your child intends to visit. This is done in the relevant organization that deals with the translation. The translation must also be notarized.

Some countries require an apostille. This can be done in the bodies of the Russian Ministry of Justice.

When is registration required?

A citizen of our country who has not reached the age of majority has the right to travel abroad:

with two parents, father and mother;
with one parent, either father or mother;
independently without parents, or accompanied by another person (Article 20 of the Law of August 15, 1996 No. 114-FZ).

When a child goes abroad with one of the parents, mother or father, then the notarized consent of the second parent for the child’s departure according to the laws of the Russian Federation is not required.
An exception is if the second parent has received a duly completed statement that he does not agree with such a departure. However, the need for notarial consent, or a document that confirms the impossibility of obtaining it, may be provided for by the laws of the country to which the minor is traveling. In addition, such documents are usually required when obtaining a visa.

If a person under the age of 18 leaves the Russian Federation without parents at all, then he must have with him a notarized consent for the child to leave unaccompanied by parents. This permit must indicate the period for which the departure is expected, as well as the countries that the child will visit.

It should be borne in mind that the member states of the Schengen Agreement in any case require permission from both parents. The same practice exists in the USA, Canada and Great Britain.

The originals of such an agreement must be provided to the Embassy, so you need to prepare several copies at once.

Do I need to draw up a power of attorney and have it certified by a notary?

If you follow the letter of the law, then permission to move a child around Russia without parental accompaniment does not require any certification at all.

Still, it is recommended to do so. Due to the fact that this issue is not regulated by law, permission for a child can be certified both by a notary and at the place of residence, study or work, or treatment.

A statement from the child’s parents, certified by the seal and signature of the witness, may be needed not during the trip itself, but during a stay at a rest point in the event of an emergency, when it is necessary to quickly make a decision regarding the child and identify the identity of the person responsible for him. For this reason, official certification of parental permission is advisory, but not legislative.

Since permission for a child to travel around Russia without parents does not appear in the laws, it does not imply the use of a special form and does not have a standard form. You can draw up an application for your child’s departure independently and in any form. If you have any difficulties, you can use any “cheat sheet” from the Internet.

In a couple of minutes, you can download and fill out a parental application form from any legal or travel website. Is it allowed to use this? Of course, you have the right to draw up a power of attorney for the child’s departure in any form convenient for you.

Just make sure that it contains all the information that is necessary. You can also use the help of a notary who will draw up the text for you, and all you have to do is read and sign. Of course, such a service will not be free.

It is preferable to issue a power of attorney from both parents at the same time, signed by both. If this is not possible, permission from one parent is allowed.

In this case, the person accompanying the minor citizen will act on behalf of one applicant, and not two.

Power of attorney for transporting a child in Russia - sample

Power of attorney to accompany a minor child in Russia

So, what should a power of attorney to accompany a child in Russia look like (for the grandmother and other persons)?

If you decide to draw up a permit document yourself, you can use the following text as a basis:

“We, (full name and passport data of both parents), trust (full name of the accompanying person and passport data), to accompany our child (full name, date of birth, birth certificate/passport data) throughout the territory of Russia, to represent our interests and our child in all organizations and Russian official bodies, resolve legal and medical issues and bear responsibility for his life and health for the period from... to... Our son/daughter (full name) is sent to..."

Indicate where the child is going and how long he will stay there. If you plan to visit several cities and towns, list them. Finally, please note that his leaving the country abroad and delaying his return due to any circumstances is not permitted/intended. Do not forget to put the date of writing the application and two signatures (father and mother).

If during the trip a minor is planned to travel without parents and without an accompanying adult by train or plane, then a special application from the parents is drawn up in accordance with the requirements of the carrier. You can obtain a sample application and learn about the rules for the provision of services in the company’s information center.