Grandparent Travel Consent Letter (Relative or Friend)
United States · Canada · United Kingdomversion 2026-09
When a child travels with grandparents, a relative or a family friend: what the consent letter should contain, who signs, and cruise-line extras.
When a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle or a family friend takes a child across a border, no parent is present to speak for the child, and the letter carries the whole explanation. The difference from a one-parent trip is not the form: it is that both parents or guardians have to sign, and that some cruise lines and airlines add their own paperwork on top. The form on this site prints the letter; the details below come from U.S., Canadian and company sources.
When this applies
Global Affairs Canada recommends a consent letter for a child travelling alone, in the care of friends or other family members, or with a group such as a sports, school, musical or religious group. U.S. Embassy guidance names the adults a child may travel with when a letter is strongly recommended — an adult relative, a legal guardian, a non-relative adult, an adult sibling, or one parent — which covers the grandparent case and the family-friend case in the same list.
What the letter should say
- The child's name and birth date.
- The name of each person with legal custody or guardianship, and their contact information.
- The name of the adult accompanying the child and the relationship — grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, chaperone.
- The purpose of the trip, such as visiting relatives, a holiday, a school trip or a competition.
- The dates and the destination, with the port, airport or border crossing named.
- A signature line for each parent or guardian giving permission, with a date.
Who signs
| The child travels with | Who the sources say signs | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Grandparent | Every parent or guardian who is not travelling | S2, S7 |
| Aunt, uncle or another relative | Every parent or guardian who is not travelling | S2, S7 |
| A family friend | Every parent or guardian who is not travelling | S2, S7 |
| A school, sports, musical or religious group | The organisation's letterhead letter, with the supervising adult's signed statement that consent was obtained for each child | S4 |
| Nobody — the child travels alone | Both parents or the legal guardian sign the letter of authorization IRCC describes | S9 |
Where there is no second parent with legal claims, sources point to other paperwork in place of a second signature: U.S. Embassy guidance recommends documentary proof that there is no other parent, and Carnival's minor guest policy names a court decision, a death certificate or a birth certificate naming only one parent.
Cruise and airline extras
Three of the four cruise lines checked ask for more than a letter when the accompanying adult is not the parent or guardian. Royal Caribbean requires an original notarized letter signed by at least one parent, together with the child's passport and visa or birth certificate, and a certified certificate of guardianship where the adult is a legal guardian. Norwegian requires its own Parent/Guardian Consent Form, signed by both living parents or legal guardians, with a copy of government-issued ID attached, and adds a preferably notarized letter on Canada itineraries. Disney Cruise Line requires its own authorization form, completed by a parent or legal guardian and presented at terminal check-in. Carnival's policy strongly recommends an original signed letter from the absent parent. The cruise line page puts the four policies side by side.
Group and school trips
Where a group of children crosses by land or sea, U.S. guidance describes a different document: a letter on organisational letterhead naming the group and the supervising adult, listing every child with a primary address, phone number, date and place of birth and at least one parent or guardian's name, and carrying a written, signed statement from the supervising adult certifying that parental or guardian consent was obtained for each child. That letter does not replace the passport rule for air travel.
Frequently asked questions
Do the grandparents sign the letter?
No. The letter is signed by the parents or guardians who are not travelling, and it names the grandparent as the accompanying adult with the relationship stated. U.S. Embassy guidance lists both halves of that: the names and contact details of the adults with custody, and the name of the accompanying adult with their relation to the child.
What if one parent has died or is not involved?
Sources describe paperwork in place of a second signature. U.S. Embassy guidance recommends that single parents carry documentary proof that there is no other parent — a birth certificate naming only one parent, a single adoption, a parent's death or sole custody — and Carnival's policy names a court decision, death certificate or birth certificate naming only one parent. Global Affairs Canada directs readers to legal advice where consent is not possible or could be unsafe.
Does a grandparents' letter need to be notarized for a cruise?
It depends on the line. Royal Caribbean's published page requires an original notarized letter for an adult who is not a parent or legal guardian. Carnival strongly recommends an original signed letter. Norwegian asks for its own form signed by both living parents or guardians, with a copy of ID attached, and a preferably notarized letter for Canada itineraries. The documents checklist lists what travels with the letter.
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Disclaimer
This page is general information, not legal advice.
We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created.
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Jurisdiction: United States · Canada · United Kingdom — version 2026-09.
What government sources say about notarisation and witnesses (information only):
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that there is no regulation requiring a consent letter to be notarized, but that CBP highly advises it. Certain destination countries require a consent letter for children arriving or leaving without both parents, in some cases notarized.
- Global Affairs Canada states that a consent letter is not legally required in Canada, that any adult may witness the signing, and that it strongly recommends a notary public witness it. Original signed letters are best.
- For the United Kingdom, GOV.UK states you must get the permission of everyone with parental responsibility, or a court, before taking a child abroad, and that a letter from that person is usually enough to show permission.
- Cruise lines set their own rules and they differ. On 13 September 2026 the published pages of Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian did not all require the same document.
- Royal Caribbean: adults who are not the parent or legal guardian must present an original, notarized letter signed by the child's parent(s).
- Carnival: original signed letter strongly recommended when a parent or legal guardian is not sailing.
- Disney Cruise Line: the Minor Authorization Form is required for each child travelling without a parent or legal guardian.
- Norwegian: their Parent/Guardian Consent Form must be signed by both living parents/legal guardians, with a copy of government-issued ID attached.
Check the current published policy of the airline, cruise line or border agency you are dealing with.
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Sources
Sumber:
- S2 — https://pl.usembassy.gov/child-travelers — U.S. Embassy in Poland (U.S. Department of State) — checked 13 September 2026
- S4 — https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1300?language=en_US — U.S. Customs and Border Protection — checked 13 September 2026
- S7 — https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter — Global Affairs Canada — checked 13 September 2026
- S9 — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/minor-children-travelling-canada.html — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — checked 13 September 2026
- S15 — https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/faq/questions/what-family-legal-documents-do-i-need-to-board — Royal Caribbean — checked 13 September 2026
- S17 — https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10972/ — Carnival Cruise Line (Minor Guest Policy, effective 1 February 2025) — checked 13 September 2026
- S18 — https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/kids-teens/minor-authorization-form — Disney Cruise Line (Help Centre) — checked 13 September 2026
- S19 — https://www.ncl.com/faq/age-requirements — Norwegian Cruise Line (Age requirements FAQ) — checked 13 September 2026