Delta Air Lines does not publish a branded minor travel consent form, so parents and guardians write the letter themselves. For any international Delta flight where a child under 18 is traveling without both custodial parents, you should carry a signed, notarized consent letter naming the accompanying adult and confirming the other parent’s permission. The U.S. government strongly recommends it, and many destination countries require it before letting a minor enter or leave.1U.S. Department of State. Travel with Minors
When You Actually Need the Letter
The letter matters whenever a child under 18 crosses an international border without both custodial parents present. The United States itself does not require proof of both parents’ permission for a child to leave the country, but many destination countries do.1U.S. Department of State. Travel with Minors You can board a Delta flight in the U.S. without the letter and still be turned away at your destination’s immigration desk.
The scenarios that call for a letter on a Delta international itinerary:
- A child traveling with only one parent.
- A child flying with a grandparent or other relative.
- A child traveling with a family friend or group leader.
- A child flying alone.
For domestic U.S. flights, no consent letter is legally required. Carrying one anyway can head off questions if the child’s last name differs from the accompanying adult’s, or if custody arrangements are complicated.
What to Put in the Letter
Because Delta supplies no template, you draft the letter yourself. USAGov advises that it be written in English, preferably notarized, and include a clear statement of permission such as: “I acknowledge that my child is traveling outside the country with [name of the adult] with my permission.”2USAGov. International Travel Documents for Children If the child is traveling with a guardian or alone, both parents should sign.
Beyond that core statement, border agents will expect specific details:
- The child’s full legal name, spelled exactly as it appears on their passport.
- The child’s date of birth.
- Both parents’ or legal guardians’ names, home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.
- The accompanying adult’s full name, address, phone number, and relationship to the child.
- Airline, flight numbers, departure and return dates, and destination cities.
- Specific dates the child will be away.
Attach a photocopy of the non-traveling parent’s government-issued photo ID and a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Officers don’t always ask, but when they do, missing copies can stall entry for hours. If you have a custody order or guardianship papers, bring copies of those as well.
Getting the Letter Notarized
Some countries require the letter to be notarized; others accept an unnotarized version.1U.S. Department of State. Travel with Minors Notarize it either way. A notarized letter carries more weight at every checkpoint, and if you learn at the last minute that your destination requires notarization, you won’t be hunting for a notary at the airport.
The non-traveling parent signs the letter in front of a notary public. The notary verifies the signer’s identity with a government-issued photo ID, then applies an official seal and signature. Most banks, UPS stores, and shipping centers offer notary services, with fees for a single signature usually running $10 to $25 depending on your state. Schedule the appointment a few days before travel so you have time to correct any errors on the letter.
Country-Specific Rules That Override the General Letter
Several popular Delta destinations impose their own rules on top of a standard consent letter, and missing them can mean a denied entry no matter how carefully you prepared for the U.S. side of the trip.
Brazil requires minors who are Brazilian citizens or residents and traveling with only one parent to carry a notarized authorization from the absent parent. Delta’s country-specific regulations page flags Brazil as having additional documentation requirements.3Delta Air Lines. Country-Specific Regulations Mexico requires Mexican minors who are residents leaving the country alone or with a third party to obtain a separate exit permit, the Formato SAM, from Mexico’s National Immigration Institute; that involves an in-person visit with the child’s passport, birth certificate, and the parent’s or guardian’s ID. Canada has seating proximity rules for minors traveling to or from Canada on Delta flights.
The State Department’s advice is direct: contact the embassy or consulate of your destination country before you travel to confirm what they require.1U.S. Department of State. Travel with Minors CBP gives the same guidance for minors traveling internationally without their parents.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Children Traveling to Another Country Without Their Parents Rules change, and a requirement that didn’t exist on your last trip may be enforced on your next one. Build in lead time for any country-specific permits or translations.
The Consent Letter Is Not the Unaccompanied Minor Form
Two different pieces of paperwork often get confused. The consent letter addresses who authorized the child’s travel and is aimed at foreign border officers. Delta’s Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) program is a paid supervision service for children flying without an adult in the same cabin, with its own booking process and check-in paperwork.
Children ages 5 through 14 not seated in the same cabin as an adult 18 or older must be enrolled in UMNR. For teens 15 through 17, enrollment is optional. Children under 5 cannot fly without an adult in the same cabin. The service costs $150 each way for up to four children and must be booked by phone at 800-325-8847, not online.5Delta Air Lines. Unaccompanied Minor Program
If a child is flying alone internationally, you’ll likely need both: the UMNR enrollment for Delta’s onboard supervision, and the notarized consent letter for the destination country’s immigration officers. Completing Delta’s UMNR check-in does not replace the consent letter, and border officers at your destination will not accept it as a substitute.
Mistakes That Get People Turned Away
The problems that cause the most trouble at the airport are the preventable ones. Name mismatches top the list: if the child’s passport reads “William” but the letter says “Will,” an officer may reject it. Use full legal names on everything. If a parent has a different surname from the child, bring the birth certificate that establishes the relationship.
A missing notarization is next. Some parents write a good letter and skip the notary, assuming it’s optional. For any country that requires notarization, an unnotarized letter is the same as no letter. Handle notarization days in advance because airport notary services are rare.
Custody situations need their own documents. If you have sole custody, carry the court order granting it. If the other parent is deceased, bring a copy of the death certificate. If the other parent is unreachable and cannot sign, a court order authorizing the travel is the safest alternative. A verbal explanation at the gate leaves you at the discretion of whichever officer is on duty.
Finally, keep the letter and its supporting copies in a folder you can hand over at check-in and again at immigration, not buried in a suitcase. The two touchpoints are separate, and both may ask.