Minors Traveling
MINORS TRAVELING TO/THROUGH BRAZIL WITHOUT ONE OR BOTH PARENTS
Children who are dual citizens of Brazil and the U.S: Brazilian law requires any minor who is a Brazilian citizen (even dual nationals who are both U.S. and Brazilian citizens) to have permission from each parent to travel within Brazil or exit the country. When a minor travels with both parents, no written authorization is needed.
When the minor travels with only one parent or without either parent, they must have two original written authorization letters from each absent parent and carry a copy of the child’s birth certificate or have an annotation in their Brazilian passport authorizing travel alone or with only one parent. If the birth certificate was issued in Brazil, copies must be notarized by a Brazilian notary. If issued outside of Brazil, copies must be apostilled and translated by a certified translator into Portuguese.
Brazilian citizen minors without authorization letters and a birth certificate or an annotated Brazilian passport likely will not be allowed by authorities to pass through immigration or to board a flight departing Brazil. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil cannot intervene in Brazilian immigration matters or request that this requirement be waived for U.S. citizen travelers.
Written Authorization Letter: If the absent parent is in Brazil, written authorization letters must be in Portuguese and notarized by a Brazilian notary. If the absent parent is in the United States or elsewhere outside of Brazil, the authorization must be done at the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate using the form provided by that office.
Again, please note that Brazilian law requires two original authorizations for each absent parent. This is important, because Federal Police may request and retain one authorization upon the minor’s entry into Brazil. Authorities may then request the second original document upon the minor’s departure.
Authorizations written in English or executed before a U.S. (or any non-Brazilian) notary public are not accepted by the Brazilian Federal Police. Similarly, birth certificates issued outside of Brazil that are not apostilled and translated by a certified translator may not be accepted.
Passport Annotation: In lieu of carrying authorization letters, parents of dual U.S.-Brazilian citizen minors may instead request an annotation be placed in the minor’s Brazilian passport authorizing the minor to travel with only one parent, or to travel alone or with a third party. This annotation replaces the requirement for written authorization letters until the passport expires. Parents residing in Brazil should contact the Brazilian Federal Police for details on obtaining an annotated passport. Parents residing abroad should contact the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. The annotated Brazilian passport must not be expired and must be always carried along with the minor’s U.S. passport. There is no comparable annotation available in U.S. passports.
Children who are not dual citizens of Brazil: Please note that, while Brazilian law related to travel authorization does not explicitly apply to non-citizens of Brazil, Federal Police have, at times, delayed the travel of non-Brazilian minors who lack appropriate authorization from both parents. For this reason, we recommend that families of non-Brazilian minors who may travel through Brazil without one or both parents execute written authorizations (following the instructions in the preceding paragraph) in advance of travel and ensure that the minor, or the minor’s traveling companion, carries the original or notarized copy* of the minor’s birth certificate.
If you are in Brazil, information on how to obtain the authorization form for minor travel without one or both parents may be found here.
If you are in the U.S., information on how to obtain the authorization form for minor travel without one or both parents may be found here.
MINORS TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT ONE OR BOTH PARENTS
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) controls the entry of people into the United States. CBP strongly recommends that children carry a letter authorizing international travel when traveling alone or with one of the following adults:
- Other parent
- Adult sibling
- Adult relative
- Legal guardian
- Non-relative adult
The letter must state the following:
- Child’s name and birth date
- Name(s) of legal custody adult(s) (Parents, legal guardians, etc.)
- Contact information of legal custody adult(s)
- Name of adult(s) accompanying the child and their relation (Aunt/Uncle, Grandparent, teacher, chaperone, etc.)
- Purpose of travel (Visiting relatives, vacation, school trip, etc.)
- Dates of travel
- Places of travel (Countries where visiting, cities, etc.)
There is no regulation that requires the authorization letter to be notarized. However, CBP highly advises this, because notarization is proof that the Notary has identified the person(s) signing the letter as being the actual parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
CBP recommends that single parents also provide documentary proof that there is no other parent of the child (only one parent stated on birth certificate, single adoption, parent death, sole custody, etc.).
Please view CBP FAQs regarding children on travel.
