Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.
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Your child is flying to see grandparents overseas, travelling with one parent, or going on a school trip. The airline or immigration officer asks for a parental consent letter. Without it, the child can be stopped at the gate. Here is how it works in Thailand, and how to get one at the amphur.
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Parental Consent to Travel (Free): Guide + Bilingual Consent Letter
A ready-to-sign consent letter in English and Thai for a child travelling abroad, with a practical guide: the Immigration check for Thai children under 18 since 3 August 2026, who must sign, and how to have the letter certified at the amphur or a Thai embassy. Essential after a divorce, for single parents, and in surrogacy and guardianship situations. Free, updated 30 September 2026. หนังสือยินยอมให้บุตรเดินทาง ฟรี
Whether you need the other parent to sign depends on parental power, explained in our overview of family law in Thailand.
What a travel permit (parental consent) is · หนังสือยินยอมให้บุตรเดินทาง
A travel permit is a signed letter in which a parent consents to a minor travelling abroad. Airlines, immigration, and foreign embassies ask for it to prevent child abduction. You usually need one when the child travels with only one parent, with a grandparent or guardian, or alone.
หนังสือยินยอมให้บุตรผู้เยาว์เดินทางไปต่างประเทศ สายการบิน ตม. และสถานทูตมักขอเพื่อป้องกันการลักพาตัวเด็ก
Where to get it. You can sign the consent and have your signature certified at the amphur (district office). For use abroad it often also needs a translation, legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and sometimes the destination country embassy.
ขอรับรองลายมือชื่อได้ที่อำเภอ/สำนักงานเขต หากใช้ต่างประเทศมักต้องแปลและรับรองที่กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
Need a certified, translated and legalised consent letter for a specific country? Contact us. General information, not legal advice.
When do you need a travel permit?
Rules vary by airline and destination. As a guide, you usually need one when:
New since 3 August 2026: Thai Immigration checks every Thai child under 18 who leaves Thailand. The child must show a passport and a birth certificate (original, certified copy or a clear photo). Unless both parents travel, the child also needs a consent letter from each parent who stays behind, issued or certified by a government office such as the district office or a Thai embassy.
ตั้งแต่ 3 สิงหาคม 2569 เด็กสัญชาติไทยอายุต่ำกว่า 18 ปีที่เดินทางออกนอกประเทศต้องแสดงหนังสือเดินทางและสูติบัตร และหากบิดามารดาไม่ได้เดินทางไปด้วยทั้งสองคน ต้องมีหนังสือยินยอมที่ออกหรือรับรองโดยหน่วยงานราชการ
- The child travels with one parent only, and the other is not present.
- The child travels with a grandparent, relative, teacher, or guardian.
- The child travels alone (unaccompanied minor).
- The parents are divorced or one has sole custody.
What the letter should contain
Name the child, both parents, and the person the child travels with. State the destination, the dates, and a clear sentence of consent. Both parents sign where possible. The amphur certifies the signature.
Last reviewed: 29 September 2026. Civil and Commercial Code sections 1520, 1546 and 1566 were read in Thai, and the parental-power points were aligned with the travel consent glossary page. Airline and destination-country requirements vary and were not surveyed in this review.
FAQ
Can I get a travel permit at the amphur?
Yes. The district office certifies your signature on the consent letter. For abroad you often also need translation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalization.
Do both parents have to sign?
Where parental power is shared, the other parent’s consent is legally needed (Civil and Commercial Code sections 1566 and 1567). A parent who holds parental power alone, under a registered divorce agreement (section 1520) or a court order, carries that document instead of the other signature. For a child born outside marriage whose father has not legitimated the child, the mother alone holds parental power (section 1546).
Is a travel permit the same as a power of attorney?
No. It is a consent letter for a child. See our Power of Attorney guide.
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