# Travel consent, passports and relocation

**What do we agree about passports, travel consent and moving away with the child?**

How you handle taking your child abroad, getting passports and moving away: either parent freely, notice and itineraries, or joint consent.

In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Either parent travels freely with the child; Notice and itinerary; Joint consent for international travel or moves. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: 0–6 months.

- Area: Legal, financial and "what if" planning
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: 0–6 months
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/legal-financial-and-what-if-planning--travel-consent-passports-and-relocation

## Travel consent, passports and relocation: what are the options?

1. **Either parent travels freely with the child**: Either of you can take the child anywhere without asking.
2. **Notice and itinerary**: The travelling parent tells the other in advance and shares the plans.
3. **Joint consent for international travel or moves**: Both of you must agree before the child leaves the country or moves.

## Travel consent, passports and relocation: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

Standard clauses in court parenting plans

Sources:

- [Maryland Courts](https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/family/pdfs/mdparentingplanpacket.pdf)

## What else is worth knowing?

Border officials may ask a parent travelling alone with a child for a consent letter from the other parent. Passport applications for a child usually need both parents. Deciding your own rule about travel and moving avoids conflict.

## Questions to ask each other

- Would either of us travel alone with the child?
- What documents and permissions do we need to put in place?
- How would we handle a move?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=legal-financial-and-what-if-planning&topic=legal-financial-and-what-if-planning--travel-consent-passports-and-relocation