If you need a visa, then your child will usually need one as well. However, for children under 16 years of age at the time of travel there is no consular fee to be paid.
Everyone under the age of 18 has to provide additional documents with the application:
- a copy of both parents’ passport information
- a completed parental consent letter signed by both parents – if only one parent is travelling, then this letter serves as confirmation that there is agreement of both parents
- a copy of the birth certificate – preferable the longer version containing both parents’ names
These documents do not need to be notarised, signed or assessed by a solicitor and you should not send originals unless we ask you to do so.
If the child cannot sign the application form themselves, then the parent or guardian should sign on their behalf and note their relationship under the signature, e.g. by writing ‘mother’.
In the event that you are the sole parent or guardian of the child and you are not able to provide the second parent’s passport copy and signature then you should provide:
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A copy of your divorce certificate or death certificate of the parent(s) or child's birth certificate noting ‘father unknown’ alongside with the child's birth certificate. Moreover, you need to alter the parental consent letter to explain why the second parent or guardian is un able to give consent.
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If you have been awarded sole guardianship or custody of the child, or parental responsibility by a court of law, then please enclose a copy of this as well.
In the event that your child is travelling with a guardian who is not their parent, please provide a copy of the guardian’s passport information in addition to the documents mentioned above, and indicate in the parental consent letter that the child will be under the constant supervision of the guardian rather than the parent(s).