Traveling with a minor child in the UAE necessitates fulfilling certain legal requirements, especially in cases where both parents do not accompany the child. These requirements help in protecting children and preventing illegal travel or child trafficking. An affidavit of parental consent is one of these legal requirements to be complied with. An affidavit of parental consent ensures that the child’s travel has been consented to by their legal guardians and complies with UAE laws.
What is an Affidavit of Parental Consent for Travel?
An affidavit of parental consent to travel is a legal document through which permission is given to allow a child who is considered a minor to travel abroad with someone who is not one of his or her parents or guardians. This is a precautionary measure against child abduction and an assurance that indeed the child travels with the permission of either the parents or guardians.
Importance of Parental Consent for Minor’s Travel
Parental consent mainly aims at evidencing that the parents or guardians of the child agree on the travel of the child. These requirements were put in place by the UAE and many other countries as a result of the increased cases of illegal acts such as abduction. Immigration and airlines may request a notarized consent form in the following cases:
- The child is traveling with only one parent.
- A minor is accompanied by anyone who is not the legal guardian of the minor, for example, a grandparent or teacher.
- The child is flying alone.
Airlines flying both within and outside the UAE also have specific rules to ensure a minor’s travel is safe and authorized. These are policies put in place to protect the child; hence, it shows transparency on who shall be responsible for them during the course of their travel.
When is it Needed?
An affidavit of parental consent is useful in the UAE in the following circumstances:
- A child is traveling with one parent, and the other parent is not traveling with them.
- The child is traveling with a relative or a guardian who is not his legal parent.
- The child is traveling alone.
Components of an Affidavit of Parental Consent
An affidavit of parental consent is the legal permission to take the child out of the country. The format may have some minor variations, but typically, it includes the following:
- Details of the Child: Full name, date of birth, passport number.
- Information of Travel Companion: Full name, contact information, relationship to the child, if any.
- Details of Travel Plans: Dates, destination details, and flight information.
- Information of Parents or Guardians: Names, passport numbers, and contact details of consenting adults.
- Purpose of the Trip: Small explanation of the motive of travel.
- Notarized Signatures: The document needs to be signed in front of a notary by both parents or a single guardian, whichever the case may be.
Where the parents are divorced or separated, additional documentation may be required such as custody agreements or divorce decrees to help verify which parent has the authority to grant permission for traveling.
Process of Notarization
This affidavit should be notarized to make it legally valid. Notarization means verification of the identity of the signatories and that the document is authentic. In the UAE, this can be notarized through notary public offices and other authorized legal service providers. The parents or guardians concerned have to provide valid identification documents in the form of passports or Emirates IDs when notarizing the paper. A notary public will then affix their official seal to confirm the consent as being in order.
This notarization of the affidavit will ensure its acceptance by immigration authorities and airline personnel without any delays. Some destinations require that an affidavit be attested by government authorities, and hence, it is important to make inquiries about specific requirements for countries of travel.
Additional Documents to Prepare
Other necessary documents may include, besides the affidavit of parental consent:
- Passport and Visa: Ensure those are valid for the trip.
- Consent to Medical Treatment Form: Allows another adult to make medical decisions for the child should it be required.
- Custody Papers: These are required when applicable to substantiate the legal right of travel decisions.
It’s also highly advisable to bring copies of the birth certificate of the child and any court orders concerned with guardianship or custody to avoid potential problems during travel.
Consequences of Not Having Proper Consent
If the required consent documents are unavailable, immigration may deny boarding or entry into the country of destination. All airports within the UAE have measures regarding the protection of minors to ensure that travel occurs only when properly authorized. It is similarly possible that airlines can deny boarding of children who are either traveling alone or with non-guardian adults if the papers are not in order.
Considering the importance of such requirements, it is better to prepare well in advance by the parents regarding the affidavit and other travel documents. Moreover, it is highly advisable to check the airline policy for specific needs and immigration rules of both the UAE and the destination country.
How HHS Lawyers Can Assist You
HHS Lawyers also undertake professional drafting and notarizing of the affidavit of parental consent for the travel of minor children. Whether it is compliance with UAE law or immigration and airline requirements, our legal team will handle your documents with precision. We also provide advice on what extra documentation might be required for a smooth and hassle-free journey.
Reach out today to ensure your child’s travel arrangement is legally sound and less stressful. Our experts will easily walk you through every step of the process for peace of mind while your child travels uncomplicated.
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