When you plan an overseas trip with your child — or a camp your child attends alone — one document matters as much as the flight and hotel: the parental travel consent. As immigration checks tighten worldwide, more families get held up at the airport without it. If the destination is a Hague country like the U.S. (Guam, Hawaii) or Europe, it is handled by apostille; if it is a non-member country like Vietnam, by embassy legalization. Apostille Korea handles every step in one place.
What is a parental travel consent?
A parental travel consent is an authoritative document proving that a parent who is not traveling with the child consents to the trip — used when a minor is not accompanied by both parents. Under international human-rights norms it is strongly recommended to prevent child abduction, trafficking and forced departure, and in practice it can decide whether a child is admitted. Airlines increasingly check for it at check-in.
When do you need one?
- Only one parent travels, or the child departs with a third party such as a grandparent or escort teacher
- A minor boards a flight alone
- Travel to U.S. territory such as Guam, Hawaii or the U.S. mainland
- Travel to non-member countries like Vietnam or the Philippines (embassy legalization required)
- Transiting or staying across several European countries
Authentication by destination
| Destination | Hague? | Authentication |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. (incl. Guam & Hawaii), Japan, Europe | Hague member | Apostille |
| Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand | Non-member | Consular confirmation + embassy legalization |
The process
- Draft & translate the consentThe child's and parents' names are written to match passports exactly, translated into the destination language, with administrative-scrivener translation verification.
- Notarization agencyAfter the parents sign by hand, the document is notarized to publicly confirm its authenticity.
- Hague countries: apostilleFor members like the U.S., Europe and Japan, a Ministry of Justice or Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille completes the process.
- Non-member countries: consular + embassy legalizationFor non-members like Vietnam or the Philippines, MOFA consular confirmation is followed by legalization at that country's embassy in Korea.
- Carry the original when you travelAlways carry the finished original — copies or scans may not be accepted in some countries.
How to apply
Tell us your destination and that you need a parental travel consent, and we'll set up the right option. If you have several children, prepare a separate document under each child's name. For groups of ten or more minors, a group consent service lowers the cost.
FAQ
Do Guam and Hawaii need a parental travel consent?
Guam and Hawaii are U.S. territory, so U.S. entry rules apply. If a minor travels with one parent or a third party, carrying a consent is the safe choice. As the U.S. is a Hague country, an apostille is sufficient.
Traveling across several European countries — do I need one per country?
The Schengen Agreement allows free movement between EU countries, but customs checks or local requests can still arise during air travel. The safest approach is to prepare a consent for every country you transit or stay in.
How does processing differ between the U.S. (Hague) and Vietnam (non-member)?
For the U.S., a Ministry of Justice or MOFA apostille is enough. For Vietnam, instead of an apostille you need MOFA consular confirmation followed by legalization at the Vietnamese embassy in Korea.
What is the most important thing when drafting the consent?
The child's and parents' romanized names must match the passport exactly. The romanized name on the family relation certificate should match the passport and consent too, to keep the whole set credible.
Can group school trips or church groups use this service?
Yes. For groups of 10+ minors, a group parental-consent service lowers the cost, and a rush issuance service is available for urgent departures.
Why Apostille Korea
- One-stop remote handling — issuance, translation, notarization, authentication and delivery — all online.
- 180-country network — country-specific teams who know each destination's submission standards.
- 300,000+ cases handled — deep experience and 99% satisfaction that minimize the risk of rejection.
- Recognized credibility — selected for 'Innovative Companies, National Representatives 1000', and backed by professional liability insurance.
- B2B strength — 10,000+ corporate clients and an official export-voucher provider, supporting companies going global.