How To Write A Letter Of Consent For A Minor Travelling

A letter of consent for a minor travelling is a short signed note from parents or guardians. It says you allow your child to travel. It names who the child will travel with. And it gives dates and destination.

I, David Atulegwu, reviewed this guide myself. I wanted it simple and practical for Nigerian families.

The letter and why officials ask for it

Airports check it. Embassies check it. Schools check it too.

It proves the trip is approved. It proves no one is taking the child without permission.

Nigeria Immigration Service officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport often ask for it. They do this to curb child trafficking. You can confirm current border checks from the Nigeria Immigration Service official portal.

Airlines do their own checks. Air Peace guidance on minors shows how local carriers handle underage passengers. Rules can differ by airline. So always check with your airline first.

It is not a court order. It is not a passport. It just supports the passport and visa.

For legal, immigration, or custody matters, this is practical guidance only. It is not legal advice. Speak to a lawyer if your case is complex.

Who needs to write it in Nigeria

Many families need it. Not just single parents.

You need it if:

• Your child travels with one parent only
• Your child travels with grandparents, aunties, or family friends
• Your child travels with a school for excursion or sports
• Your child travels alone as an unaccompanied minor
• Your child travels with a teacher for a competition in Lagos, Abuja, or outside Nigeria

Who signs? Both parents if both are alive and available. Or the legal guardian if parents are absent. Or the parent with custody if there is a court order.

If one parent is late, attach proof. If one parent is unreachable, note it clearly. And swear an affidavit at the High Court to support it.

Travel situation	Who should sign the letter	Extra paper you may need
Child with mum only	Dad signs, mum keeps copy	Dad’s ID, affidavit if needed
Child with dad only	Mum signs, dad keeps copy	Mum’s ID, marriage cert if asked
Child with auntie or family friend	Both parents sign	IDs of parents and auntie
Child with school	Parents or guardian sign	School ID, teacher’s ID
Child alone	Both parents or guardian sign	Airline unaccompanied minor form

Note: Some schools in Anambra ask for both parents. Some in Kano accept one parent plus principal’s cover letter. Rules vary. So ask your school first.

When you should use it

Use it for any trip where you are not both present.

Local trips need it too. Think:

• NYSC camp visit when your younger sibling goes with a family friend
• Inter-state school debate in Enugu or Ibadan
• Church youth camp in Ogun State
• Football academy screening in Port Harcourt

International trips need it more. Think:

• Lagos to London for summer holiday with grandma
• Abuja to Canada to visit dad
• Onitsha to Ghana for a school competition

Visa embassies often ask for it. The Canadian and Schengen embassies in Abuja often ask for notarized consent. Check the specific embassy’s latest list. Requirements change. And they differ by country.

Use it ahead of time. Don’t write it at the airport counter. Officers may reject a rushed note.

Information to include for Nigerian checks

Keep it short. But include all key facts.

Your letter must have:

• Full name of child as on passport or NIN
• Date of birth and passport number
• Full names of parents or guardians
• Phone numbers and address of parents
• Full name of person travelling with the child
• Relationship to the child
• Destination and address where child will stay
• Travel dates
• Purpose of trip
• Clear consent sentence
• Signature and date

Add attachments if you can:

• Copy of parent’s ID – NIN slip, voter’s card, driver’s licence, or international passport
• Copy of child’s birth certificate
• Copy of travelling companion’s ID

If parents are divorced, add custody paper if you have it. If not, add an affidavit. Go to any High Court in your state. Ask for a commissioner for oaths.

Item	Why it matters	Example from Nigeria
Child’s full details	Matches passport and airline ticket	Chinedu Okoro, DOB 12/03/2014, Passport A12345678
Parents’ contact	Officers can call to verify	0803-XXX-XXXX, 12 Iweka Road, Aba
Accompanying adult	Proves who is responsible	Aunty Nneka, sister to mother, GTB staff
Trip details	Shows duration and return plan	Lagos to Abuja, 15 Dec – 5 Jan, holiday
Consent line + signature	Makes it legally clear	“I consent” + signature + date

Step-by-step instructions to write it

I like simple steps. So here is how I write it for readers.

Step 1: Use plain letterhead

No need for company letterhead. Use your name and address at the top. Add date. Keep it neat.

Step 2: Add a clear title

Write: Letter of Consent for Minor Travelling. That’s enough. Don’t add long grammar.

Step 3: Address it properly

Write: To Whom It May Concern. Or address to Nigeria Immigration Service. Or to the airline. Both work.

Step 4: Introduce your child

One sentence. Name, age, passport number. Keep it tight.

Step 5: State your own identity

Say you are the parent or legal guardian. Add your NIN or passport number if you want. It helps.

Step 6: Name the accompanying person

Full name. ID number. Relationship. Add phone number too.

Step 7: Give trip details

Destination. Dates. Where child will stay. Purpose. One or two short sentences.

Step 8: Write the consent sentence

Be direct. Example: I give full consent for my child to travel.

Step 9: Add contact and signature

Phone number. Signature. Printed name. Date.

Step 10: Notarize or swear affidavit

Many Nigerian airports prefer a notarized copy. Go to a notary public. Or High Court. It costs money. So confirm current fee at the court registry. Don’t rely on old figures online.

You can also see how Punch reports on child trafficking checks at airports to understand why officers insist on this.

1. Draft the letter on plain A4
2. Print two copies
3. Attach ID copies
4. Sign both copies
5. Take to notary public or commissioner for oaths
6. Stamp and seal
7. Give one copy to the travelling companion
8. Keep one copy at home
9. Scan and save on your phone

Complete Nigerian sample for airport use

This sample works for international travel. I have used similar for families flying from Lagos.

—

Letter of Consent for Minor Travelling

Date: 10th December, 2025

To Whom It May Concern,
Nigeria Immigration Service / Airline Check-in

I, Emeka Okafor, of 8 Azikiwe Road, Aba, Abia State. Phone: 0803-123-4567. NIN: 1234-5678-9012. I am the father of Chiamaka Okafor. She was born on 12th March, 2014. Passport No: A12345678.

I confirm she is my daughter. Her mother is Adaeze Okafor. Mother’s phone: 0805-987-6543.

I give my full consent for Chiamaka to travel from Lagos, Nigeria to London, United Kingdom. She will travel with her maternal aunt, Nneka Ude, Passport No: B23456789. Phone: 0806-111-2222.

Travel dates: 15th December, 2025 to 10th January, 2026. Purpose: Christmas holiday. She will stay at 14 Oak Street, London.

Nneka Ude will be fully responsible for her during travel and stay.

You can reach me anytime for confirmation.

Yours faithfully,

Signature: ___
Printed Name: Emeka Okafor
Phone: 0803-123-4567

Mother’s Consent:

I, Adaeze Okafor, mother of Chiamaka Okafor, also give consent.

Signature: ___
Name: Adaeze Okafor
Phone: 0805-987-6543
Date: 10th December, 2025

Witness / Notary:
Name: ___
Stamp / Seal: ___

Attachments: Father’s passport copy, Mother’s NIN copy, Child’s birth certificate, Aunt’s passport copy.

—

Tips: Print on white paper. No need for colourful design. Keep language simple. And keep sentences short.

Alternative sample for school trip inside Nigeria

This one fits a local school trip. Say Federal Government College to Enugu for debate.

—

Letter of Consent for Minor Travelling – School Trip

Date: 5th March, 2026

The Principal,
Federal Government College, Umuahia

Dear Sir,

I, Blessing Nwachukwu, of Umuahia. Phone: 0810-444-5555. I am mother of David Nwachukwu, JSS 2B, Age 13.

I allow David to travel with your school team to Enugu for the South-East Schools Debate. Dates: 20th – 23rd March, 2026.

The teacher in charge is Mr. Chidi Eze, Phone: 0802-333-4444. I trust him to care for my son.

He has no medical issues. But he uses inhaler at night. I have packed it.

You can call me if needed. My husband, John Nwachukwu, Phone: 0803-777-8888, also consents.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Signature: ___
Name: Blessing Nwachukwu
Date: 5th March, 2026

Father’s consent: John Nwachukwu – Signature: _ Phone: 0803-777-8888

—

This works for many schools. Some schools in Lagos ask for medical form too. Some in Abuja ask for a copy of parent’s work ID. So ask your school admin.

How to submit and make it stand

Submission depends on where you use it.

For airport travel:

• Go early. Go with the letter and original IDs.
• Show it at check-in. Show it at immigration.
• Keep copies in hand luggage. Not in checked bag.
• Give a copy to the adult travelling with child.
• Keep a scanned copy on WhatsApp or email.

For visa application:

• Upload it where embassy asks for supporting docs.
• Go with original notarized copy to the visa centre.
• Some embassies ask for affidavit only. Some ask for both letter and affidavit.
• Check VFS Global Nigeria or embassy website for latest.

For school trip:

• Submit to class teacher and principal.
• Submit at least 3 days before trip.
• Some schools use Google Forms now. Still attach signed hard copy.

For bank or corporate travel consent? Some banks like First Bank or Access Bank ask for consent letter if child travels for their kiddies savings promo. Same format works. But they may have their own form. So ask the bank branch.

Notarization: Visit a notary public in your city. In Aba, many are near High Court, Aba. In Lagos, many are in Ikeja and Ikoyi. Ask for cost and time at the registry. Do not assume old prices.

What happens after submission

Officers will read it. They may call you.

At Nigerian airports, immigration may:

• Ask the child simple questions – your name, who is this person?
• Call parents on phone for confirmation
• Check IDs against names in letter
• Keep a copy for record

At embassies, visa officers may:

• Verify signatures
• Ask for more proof if parents are divorced
• Reject if letter is vague or unsigned

At schools, the teacher will file it. And take it on the trip. If any emergency happens, they will call you first.

If everything checks out, travel goes ahead. If not, they will hold the child from boarding until parents confirm. This has happened to many families. So prepare well.

Situation after you submit	What officials usually do	What you should do
Letter is clear and notarized	Allow travel, keep copy	Thank them and board
Letter has no phone number	Delay, ask for contact	Provide number on the spot
One parent didn’t sign	Ask for other parent’s consent	Show affidavit or court order
Names don’t match passport	Question and verify	Show birth certificate

Common mistakes to avoid

I see these errors often. They cause delay.

• Using nicknames. Use full legal names only.
• Forgetting travel dates. Always add from and to.
• Not stating relationship. Say how adult relates to child.
• Writing long story. Keep it short and direct.
• No signature. A typed name is not enough.
• Photocopy only. Go with original signed copy.
• Old letter. Write a fresh one for each trip.
• No ID copies. Always attach at least one parent ID.
• Assuming one parent is enough for international travel. Many embassies ask for both.
• Writing in big grammar. Simple English works better.
• Not checking school or airline format. Some have their own template. Use theirs if given.

Also avoid using US terms like “state ID” or “notarized by UPS store”. In Nigeria, use NIN, High Court affidavit, notary public. Keep it local.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer to write it?

No. You can write it yourself. But for complex custody cases, speak to a lawyer. And for international trips, notarize it. That is safer.

Can I handwrite it?

Yes. Handwritten is accepted if neat and signed. But typed is better. It looks clear. And officers read it faster.

Must both parents sign?

Best practice is both. But if one is absent, add proof. Death certificate if late. Court order if divorced. Affidavit if unreachable. Some airlines accept one parent with affidavit. But embassies may still ask for both.

How long is it valid?

Only for the trip dates you state. Don’t use January letter for August travel. Write a new one each time.

Does it need court stamp?

Not always. For local school trips, signature is often enough. For international flights, notarization or affidavit is strongly advised. Check with Nigeria Immigration Service and your airline.

What if child bears different surname?

Explain why. Add birth certificate. Add marriage certificate if mother remarried. Keep it simple. Example: Child bears father’s surname, mother now bears new husband’s name.

Can a guardian sign instead of parents?

Yes, if guardian has legal papers. Or if parents wrote a letter authorizing guardian. Add those papers.

My child is 17. Still needs it?

Yes. Anyone under 18 is a minor in Nigeria. Airlines treat under 18 as needing consent. So write it.

Do I need passport photos?

Not usually. But some schools ask for two passport photos of child and accompanying adult. So keep them handy.

Final practical advice from me

Write it early. Print it early. Notarize it early.

I, David Atulegwu, tell parents this: Don’t wait till travel day. Immigration queues at Lagos are long. Stress is high. A missing letter can make you miss a flight.

Keep three copies. One with the child. One with the accompanying adult. One at home with the other parent.

Save a scan on your phone. Save on email too. If paper gets lost, scan saves you.

Be reachable on travel day. Keep your phone on. Officers may call you at the airport. If your phone is off, they may delay boarding.

If your case is special – adoption, divorce, late parent, child living with grandmother in the village – add extra proof. Go to High Court for affidavit. It costs some money and time. But it removes doubt.

And always check latest rules. Policies change. What Air Peace asked last year may differ now. What the UK visa centre asked last year may differ now. So check with the relevant authority before you travel. For airport exit, check Nigeria Immigration Service. For visa, check the embassy. For school, check the principal.

A good consent letter is short, clear, and honest. It protects your child. And it gives you peace.

Write yours today.