In short
A Child Travel POA (also called a child travel consent or travel NOC) is a notarised written consent from the child’s guardian or custodian approving the child’s travel outside the UAE. As a licensed private notary, we assist you in preparing and notarising it, including online by video call. The document is issued and notarised through the competent judicial authority.
Legal disclaimer
The information in this article is general and educational and is not legal advice. Requirements may vary by case and by the competent authority, and final acceptance of any document rests with the authority, airline or embassy to which it is presented.
Child Travel POA in the UAE: Everything You Need to Know
A Child Travel POA is a legal document signed by the child’s guardian or legal custodian granting explicit approval for the child to travel outside the UAE. As a licensed private notary service provider, you can contact us now for quick online issuance of your child travel POA.
Is a Child Travel POA the same as a travel NOC?
In practice, yes. “Child Travel POA”, “child travel consent”, “travel NOC” (no objection letter) and “travel consent letter” are used interchangeably for the same notarised consent. Some parents also ask about a NOC for a child’s residence visa, which is a different document: see our guide to a NOC for child visa in Dubai. Airlines and embassies may ask for specific wording, so tell us where the document will be used.
Legal Basis for a Child Travel POA in the UAE
Child travel is governed by the Personal Status Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024, which came into force on 15 April 2025 and replaced Federal Law No. 28 of 2005. You can read legislation on the official UAE Legislation portal.
- Article 116(1): a custodian must obtain the prior written consent of the other parent or guardian before travelling with the child outside the UAE.
- Article 116(2): if the guardian refuses, the matter may be referred to the court, which can authorise travel for a limited period (up to 60 days a year, extendable for medical or urgent reasons).
- Article 124: the custodian may hold the child’s documents but must not use them to travel without the required consent.
Conditions for Obtaining a Child Travel POA
- Guardian’s approval: if the child travels with the custodian, the guardian (such as the father or grandfather) must approve.
- Custodian’s approval: the custodian’s approval is required if the child travels with the guardian.
- If no guardian: consent must come from the appointed guardian, whether chosen by the father or by a court.
- Clear consent: the approval must be explicit. Vague or implied consent is not acceptable.
- Travel destination: the destination country must be stated.
- Travel duration: the expected length of stay must be defined.
Child Travel POA without either parent: grandparents, relatives and school trips
A child travelling with a grandparent, another relative, a teacher or a school group still needs the consent of both the guardian and the custodian. The accompanying person’s name, relationship to the child and passport details should be stated clearly in the document, whoever that person is. For school groups, see our parent’s guide to child travel consent for school trips abroad.
Required Documents for a Child Travel POA
- Child’s details: civil registry statement or UAE ID (if applicable).
- Passport details: the child’s passport and that of the accompanying person.
- Visa information: proof of a visa for the destination, showing the stay duration, where required.
- Guardian’s details: information of the person granting consent.
- Relationship proof: evidence of the relationship between the child and the accompanying person, and proof of custody where relevant.
Destination-specific requirements
Some destinations (for example India) and some airlines ask for extra documents or for the consent to be attested by the embassy or consulate. Always check the destination country’s requirements and your airline’s policy in addition to the UAE requirements. Attestation steps are explained in our guide to power of attorney attestation in Dubai.
Nationals of some countries (for example the Philippines)
Some embassies issue or require their own special power of attorney for their nationals, in parallel with or instead of local notarisation. Contact your embassy to confirm which document it needs. We can help with the local notarised document, and the embassy decides whether it also needs its own.
Read more: how to issue a declaration of parentage in the UAE.
Steps to Obtain a Child Travel POA
How Much Does a Child Travel POA Cost in the UAE?
The cost depends on how the document is notarised (in person or online by video call) and on any attestation or translation your destination requires. Official charges can change from year to year, so we do not publish fixed figures here. Message us on WhatsApp with your case and we will explain the position.
Sample Child Travel POA Form in the UAE
Child Travel Consent Form
I, the undersigned, as the legal guardian of the child:
Name:
Nationality:
UAE ID Number:
Address:
Hereby consent to the travel of the child (Name)
Nationality:
UAE ID Number:
Address:
To the country of for a period of , accompanied by Mr./Mrs. (Name)
Nationality:
UAE ID Number:
Address:
This consent is limited to this country and duration. I do not agree to any travel or extension beyond this unless I provide further written consent.
Guardian’s Name:
Signature:
Date:
Sample Child Travel POA form for the UAE. Illustrative template only; final wording is determined by the competent authority.
Get your Child Travel POA notarised
Tell us the destination, travel dates and who is travelling with the child, and we will guide you through the process.
Common Mistakes with a Child Travel POA
- Leaving out the destination or travel dates.
- Assuming the consent covers other trips or extensions.
- Missing details of the accompanying person.
- Not checking the airline or embassy’s own requirements before travel.
How We Help
- Explaining what your case needs and which documents to prepare.
- Drafting the consent with the required details.
- Arranging notarisation in person or by video call.
- Pointing you to the competent authority where your case needs one.
Important notes
- From our daily work with families, most delays come from missing destination or accompanying-person details.
- Requirements may differ by case and authority.
- Final acceptance rests with the authority, airline or embassy that receives the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “guardianship” mean in UAE law?
Guardianship refers to the legal responsibility for a minor’s well-being, education and overall care, including decisions such as consent to travel. Custody (daily care) and guardianship can sit with different people, which is why travel consent often involves both.
Can a guardian retain the child’s passport?
Generally the custodian holds the child’s identity documents, and the rules on who may keep or use the passport for travel are set out in the Personal Status Law. Using the documents to travel without the required consent can be challenged before the court. Ask us about your specific situation.
What is a travel NOC for a minor child in the UAE?
A travel NOC (no objection certificate) is a written statement by a parent or guardian confirming they do not object to the child travelling. In everyday use it refers to the same notarised consent this guide calls a Child Travel POA. The exact wording that an airline or embassy wants can vary.
Can a child travel internationally with only one parent?
Yes, but the other parent’s written consent is generally required, and the consent should name the destination, the period of travel and the accompanying parent. Where the parents disagree, the matter can be referred to the court under the Personal Status Law.
Can a child get a passport without their father?
This is a separate question from travel consent. Passport issuance is handled by the child’s embassy or the competent authority and depends on nationality and family circumstances. We can help with the notarised documents they may ask for, but not with the passport decision itself.
What are the requirements for one parent travelling with their child abroad?
Typically: the other parent’s notarised written consent, the child’s and parent’s passports, the child’s birth certificate, and proof of custody if applicable. Some destinations and airlines add their own requirements, so check both before you fly.
How do I apply for a Child Travel POA online?
You contact us, send the documents, and meet the notary by video call. The notary reads the document, the guardian signs, and the notarised document is issued electronically. Whether an online session is available for your case is confirmed by the notary.
At what age can a child fly internationally alone?
This depends on the airline’s unaccompanied-minor policy, not on the legal age of consent. Airlines set their own minimum ages and conditions. Separately, parental consent rules apply to minors until they reach adulthood.
Age, and flying alone
The parental consent rules described above apply to minors. Whether a child may fly alone is a separate airline policy (“unaccompanied minor”), so always check the airline’s rules.
Abdul Hamid Mohammad
Abdul Hamid is a legal consultant with extensive experience in providing legal advice in the United Arab Emirates. His expertise focuses on legal drafting, resolving commercial disputes, and drafting and reviewing corporate and employment contracts.
Conclusion: Getting Your Child Travel POA Right
A Child Travel POA protects your child’s journey by showing, in writing, who has consented, where the child is going and who is travelling with them. We are a federally licensed office offering private notary services across the UAE, and we can help you prepare and notarise your Child Travel POA online. For related documents, see our guides to cancelling a power of attorney and special power of attorney in the UAE.
Abdul Hamid is a legal consultant with extensive experience in providing legal advice in the United Arab Emirates. His expertise focuses on legal drafting, resolving commercial disputes, and drafting and reviewing corporate and employment contracts.