How old do you have to be to travel alone without parental permission?

Can a minor travel out of the country without parental permission or concent?

• I am curious to know if one who is a minor can leave the country without parental consent. Is there any point in the process of travel where the parent MUST be involved? Do they need to approve the passport? the airline ticket? or can a minor get a passport and leave the country on their own without parent's permission?

• Answer:

  No, they can't. First of all, airlines won't transport a minor without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. They can buy tickets online if they have a credit card, but they won't be allowed on the plane. Second, countries don't let just anyone enter. Some countries are so strict that they will not allow a minor to enter even with one parent along. The parent who is not traveling must provide notarized written consent. Addendum: There is not a standard policy for unaccompanied minors that applies to all airlines. The process can differ by airline and even depend on the age of the child. Many airlines post their policies on their websites or you can just call the airline. I've never worked with a situation where the parent is on the other end, but I doubt that it's an insurmountable problem. Expect a signature to be required. Anyone can make a phone call and claim to be a parent providing permission, so I doubt that any airline will go along with that. Again, check with the airline. Someone in this country is obviously responsible for the child, so maybe that person can do it. If not, the mother can probably deliver it on the other end. I also suggest that the mother contact Customs and Immigration in the other country to see if any special documents are needed. (Alternatively, someone here can contact the Embassy or consulate of that country to get the information). The mother can't just enter the secure area and guide the child through, so Immigration officials may need something to show that there is an adult in the country who is accepting responsibility for the child. You can accomplish this, but it may take some work. Be sure to check the details carefully. Otherwise, you could get to the airport and find that the airline won't board the child.