Dummy Ticket for a Child: Consent Letters, Minors' Documents and Reservations

When a child needs a visa, the flight reservation is the easy bit. The harder questions are about the adults: who is travelling with the child, who has agreed to the trip, and which papers prove it. Embassies and border services ask for these documents because they are responsible for children crossing borders, and some of them are very specific about wording and signatures. This guide pulls together what destination governments actually publish about minors, explains how to put a child correctly onto a flight reservation, and covers the airline side, including children who fly alone.

Key facts: children, minors and visa files

Does a child need their own flight reservation?

The child needs to be on one, by name. Usually the simplest file has the whole family on a single reservation, so the officer sees at a glance that the child travels with a parent on the same flights. Each child's name must match their passport exactly, and the dates must match the parents' applications.

Airlines sort young passengers by age. Emirates, for instance, lets an adult carry one infant under two on their lap; a second infant needs a seat of its own, and children aged two and over always have their own seat.^[8] On a reservation, that means the infant is linked to an accompanying adult while older children appear as ordinary passengers. Give us the date of birth when you book so the child is entered in the right category.

What does the UK ask for when a child applies?

The UK is unusually clear. GOV.UK's guide to supporting documents for visitors says a child should show a legal document proving the relationship to at least one parent or guardian, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers, and a copy of the photo page of at least one parent's or guardian's passport, including signature and passport number, if that parent is not also applying.^[1]

If the child will not travel with a parent, GOV.UK asks for a signed letter from the parent or guardian confirming the travel arrangements, including:^[1]

• the parent's or guardian's consent for the trip to the UK;
• who is travelling with the child, with that adult's passport number;
• who will look after the child while in the UK;
• how the child will travel to the UK.

The last point is where a flight reservation earns its place. If a grandmother is taking a twelve-year-old to London, a reservation with both names on the same flights answers "how" and "with whom" in one page. The same GOV.UK guide treats flight bookings in general as less useful evidence, so the reservation supports the letter rather than replacing it.^[1] Our UK visa guide covers the rest of the file.

What do Schengen consulates want for minors?

More signatures than for adults, and often a notary. The German missions in India give one of the most detailed lists for anyone under 18:^[2]

• the child's birth certificate;
• copies of both parents' passports (biometric and address pages);
• the application form and declarations signed by both parents;
• if one parent is not present, a written and signed authorisation from that parent with a passport copy, both certified by a notary;
• if the child travels without either parent, notarised written consent from both parents or guardians;
• a no objection certificate from the school or university;
• medical travel cover of at least €30,000 and a flight reservation.

The Netherlands sets out what is needed when a minor travels without parents: a consent form signed by the parents or guardians who are not travelling, a signed copy of their passports, and a recent extract of the child's birth certificate. Where it applies, add the death certificate of a deceased parent, official proof of guardianship, or a court's permission for the trip.^[3] On flights, the Dutch page again rules out the need for a "paid travel ticket".^[3]

Fees are lower for children. The European Commission lists €45 for children aged 6 to 12 and €90 for adults.^[4] For the general rules, see our Schengen visa guide.

Do children need a US visa interview now?

Generally, yes. The State Department's interview waiver update says that from 1 October 2025 all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under 14, should expect to attend in person, with only narrow exceptions such as diplomats and certain adult renewals.^[5] Plan the appointment around school, and bring the documents that show the child's relationship to the adults applying alongside.

For organised groups of children under 19, CBP's travel guidance asks for a letter listing each child's details and at least one parent or guardian, plus a signed statement from the supervising adult confirming parental consent for each child.^[6] The State Department's general advice on tickets still applies to families: don't buy them until the visas are issued.^[12] See our US visa guide.

When should a child carry a consent letter?

Whenever a child travels without one or both parents, carry one, even if nobody asks. The Government of Canada's advice is a good template. It recommends that children travelling abroad without one or both parents carry a signed consent letter, notes that the letter is not a legal requirement in Canada but may be requested by immigration authorities, airlines or Canadian officials, and strongly recommends that a notary witness the signature.^[7]

Canada says the letter usually includes the child's name, the names and contact details of the parents or guardians, the accompanying adult's full name, address, contact details and relationship to the child, and where and for how long the child is travelling, with dates. It also warns that border officials may not accept photocopies or digital versions, and that some countries have their own entry and exit rules for children which a letter may not satisfy.^[7]

Our practical advice: carry the original signed letter, keep a phone photo as backup, and put the same flight dates in the letter that appear on the reservation. When the officer compares them, they match.

Which countries have strict rules for children leaving or entering?

South Africa is the best-known example, and its rules apply to South African children. According to the guidance published by South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, parents travelling with a child must produce an unabridged birth certificate showing both parents' details. A child travelling with only one parent also needs the other parent's affidavit of consent, a court order granting full parental responsibilities, or the other parent's death certificate. An unaccompanied minor needs proof of consent from one or both parents or the legal guardian.^[9]

Foreign families visiting South Africa should check the current position with a South African mission before travel, as the DIRCO page we checked is written for South African minors. For South African passport holders more generally, see our South African travellers guide.

Other countries have exit rules for their own resident minors too. Canada's advice to check the foreign embassy for minors' entry and exit requirements is sound for every destination.^[10]

Children's documents by destination

What if the child flies alone?

Then the airline's unaccompanied minor rules come first. Emirates says children aged 5 to 11 travelling alone must use its Unaccompanied Minor service; for 12- to 15-year-olds the service is optional and costs extra. The service is booked directly with Emirates, separately for each direction, and only on flights Emirates operates.^[11] Other airlines set their own ages, fees and route limits, so read your carrier's page.

For the visa, a reservation in the child's name on the planned flights is fine. But the unaccompanied minor service can only be added to the real ticket, after the visa, so check before you apply that the airline you have reserved actually offers it on that route. Otherwise you may need to change airline when you buy, and the dates in the visa file should still hold.

How do you prepare a child's visa file, step by step?

1. Download the current checklist from the mission handling the application and read the minors section.
2. Gather the relationship proof: birth certificate, adoption papers or guardianship order.
3. Arrange signatures. If a parent is absent, get the consent letter or authorisation signed, notarised if required.
4. Get the school's no objection letter where the checklist asks for it.
5. Fix the travel dates around school holidays and both parents' leave.
6. Book one reservation listing every family member, names exactly as in each passport, with children's dates of birth given at booking.
7. Buy insurance for each traveller covering the same dates.
8. Verify the reservation on the airline site before the appointment.

Our guides on name formats, insurance dates and family visits fill in the detail.

Which mistakes hold up children's applications?

• Only one parent signing where the checklist asks for both.
• Unnotarised consent letters where a notary is required.
• A child's name spelled as the family uses it, not as printed in the passport.
• Separate reservations for parent and child on different flights without explanation.
• A consent letter with different dates from the reservation.
• Assuming an airline will take a lone child without checking its unaccompanied minor rules.

How do you order a reservation that includes children?

Add every traveller on the booking page: adults, children and any infant travelling on a parent's lap. Type each name exactly as in the passport and include dates of birth for the children. Pay by UPI, card or netbanking through Razorpay. Most PDFs reach the inbox in around 10 minutes; check progress through order tracking.

Charges are per head for single or return routes, and a child counts as one head. A family of two adults and two children therefore pays ₹2,796 in India or $36 elsewhere. See the price page for details. Each hold can run for up to two weeks, its precise expiry being an airline decision; that is why we suggest ordering only a few days ahead of the appointment. Look the booking up with its PNR and the family name on the airline's website; our guide on verifying before submission shows how. The difference between a reservation and a ticket is explained on flight reservation for visa.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child need a separate flight reservation?

No. The child should be on the same reservation as the parent or adult they travel with, named exactly as in their own passport. One booking for the whole family shows the officer you are travelling together. Each child is still priced as a passenger: ₹699 or $9 each.

My child is travelling with one parent. What extra paperwork is needed?

Usually written consent from the parent who is not travelling. Germany's Schengen checklist in India asks for that parent's signed authorisation and passport copy, notarised. The UK asks for relationship proof and a parent's passport page. Canada recommends a consent letter witnessed by a notary. Check your destination's own list.

Does a consent letter have to be notarised?

It depends on the mission. The German missions in India require notarisation of an absent parent's authorisation. Canada does not make it a legal requirement but strongly recommends a notary witness, and warns that photocopies may be refused. When in doubt, notarise it and carry the original.

Is the Schengen visa cheaper for children?

Yes. The European Commission lists a fee of €45 for children aged 6 to 12, compared with €90 for adults. Service-provider charges are separate. The flight reservation is priced per passenger whatever the age, so budget for each child.

Do children have to attend a US visa interview?

From 1 October 2025, the State Department generally requires an in-person interview for nonimmigrant applicants under 14 as well as adults, with limited exceptions. Plan around school dates and bring documents showing the child's relationship to the accompanying adults.

Can a 10-year-old fly alone on Emirates?

Yes, but only with Emirates' Unaccompanied Minor service, which is mandatory for children aged 5 to 11 travelling alone. It must be arranged with Emirates for each direction and covers Emirates-operated flights only. Add it when you buy the real ticket after the visa is granted.

What if my child turns two during the trip?

Tell us the date of birth when you book. Airlines treat under-twos as lap infants and older children as seated passengers, so the category can differ on the outbound and return legs. On the paid ticket, expect a seat to be needed for the later flight.

Sources

All sources last checked: October 2026.

1. GOV.UK, Guide to supporting documents: visiting the UK.
2. German Missions in India, Checklist for a Schengen visa for tourism.
3. Netherlands Worldwide, Checklist: Schengen visa for tourism.
4. European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs, Applying for a Schengen visa.
5. U.S. Department of State, Interview waiver update, 18 September 2025.
6. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Know before you go: before your trip.
7. Government of Canada, Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad.
8. Emirates, Travelling with infants.
9. Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa, Travel regulation for children under 18 years of age.
10. Government of Canada, Children travelling abroad: FAQ.
11. Emirates, Unaccompanied minors.
12. U.S. Department of State, Visitor visa.