Summary: Parents often wonder whether they need a written authorization to travel with a child of their own or with one of their children's friends when traveling overseas. Well, the simple answer is, more often then you might think.

Parents and relatives of children often wonder whether they need a written authorization to travel with a child of their own or with one of their children's friends when traveling overseas. Well, the simple answer is, more often then you might think. Today's world is much different then when we were growing up, and concerns about our children's safety are paramount. For instance, if one parent is traveling internationally with her or his children, and the other parent is either staying behind or traveled ahead, a written authorization is required by the non-traveling parent (i.e., the one who slept peacefully on an earlier flight or is staying home and sleeping in tomorrow). This is the case, whether you are a family friend, grandparent or relative of a child as well. While you may have traveled in the past without such written authorization, times have changed and a request for such authorization can trigger an emergency run to the airport by parent #1 and/or parent #2 (unless they are abroad and out of reach causing a major delay). Since travel is increasingly stressful, it makes sense to have this critical piece of paper in hand, even if you never have to present it.

Travel into the United States is getting a little more complicated for U.S. citizens as well. If you are a U.S. citizen and traveling by air into the U.S., a passport or other valid travel document is required, whether you are an adult or child. Land or sea travel has its own set of requirements. As of January 31, 2008, the practice of accepting verbal statements of citizenship at U.S. borders, for land or sea travel, will no longer be in effect. Children with U.S. citizenship who are eighteen years and younger will only need to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate (certified copies are the best way to go), naturalization certificate or a U.

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About the Author Linda Kagan is the founder of Forms4Parents.com, an innovative new site that provides parents and their children with travel, medical, custodial and doctor/emergency online legal authorization forms customized to the specific needs of each child and family.

First Published: May 03, 2008