Travelling with a child and one parent in 2026: consent and documents

Travelling with a child without the other parent does not always require consent under Norwegian law. If you share parental responsibility, you can normally take your child on a short trip abroad. Still check travel bans, your child's documents and the requirements of the destination country and airline.

Can you travel without the other parent's consent?

If you share parental responsibility, either of you can normally take the child on a short trip abroad without the other's consent. A travel ban or other restrictions in the case may nevertheless prevent the trip.

Parental responsibility is the right and duty to decide on a child's personal matters. It is not the same as where the child has their permanent home or an arrangement for contact. Find out who actually has parental responsibility before booking.

This guide covers children who usually live in Norway. The rules were checked on 7 October 2026. It is based on the current Lov om barn og foreldre (barnelova), the Children Act⁠, particularly §§ 30, 40 and 41, on Lovdata, which publishes legislation. The new barnelova adopted in 2025⁠ is not yet in force.

In the last situation, the court may grant permission when it is obvious that the child will return. Contact rights alone do not give a right to travel abroad. SamfunnPrep provides more background on contact rights and child maintenance after separation.

Is a holiday the same as moving abroad?

No. With shared parental responsibility, both must consent to moving or stays beyond short trips abroad. The same applies if an agreed stay is extended or changed, for example by leaving the child there.

Barnelova §§ 40 and 41 do not set one fixed number of days that makes every trip legal. Do not rely solely on a return ticket if the actual plan is a longer stay. Seek legal advice when the distinction is unclear.

If you disagree about parental responsibility, moving abroad or where the child should have their permanent home, the child cannot move abroad until the case is decided. This also applies if you have sole parental responsibility. The rules on moving must not be used as a general rule for all short holidays.

Must the child give consent?

Children aged 12 or over must consent to a trip abroad without a parent who has parental responsibility. This might be a trip with grandparents or a parent who does not have parental responsibility.

This specific requirement in § 41 does not automatically apply to every trip with a parent who has parental responsibility. The child nevertheless has the right to be heard. You must give weight to their opinion according to age and maturity; see § 31. The trip must safeguard the child's needs and safety.

Is passport consent also consent to the trip?

No. Consent to issuing a passport and permission for a particular trip are separate matters. A valid passport alone does not determine whether the trip is lawful.

For a Norwegian passport for a child under 18, both people sharing parental responsibility must normally consent. Lov om pass (passloven), the Passport Act⁠ § 4 contains exceptions, including ones linked to barnelova's right to travel without the other's consent. The passport authority must assess the exception; you cannot simply declare that it applies.

Politiet, the police who process Norwegian passport applications, explains how guardians give consent for passports and ID cards⁠. Consent is normally given in person before or during the appointment. At least one guardian attends with the child. The old paper passport consent form must no longer be used.

A parental travel consent letter therefore does not replace the passport authority's process. Also see SamfunnPrep's guide to passports and ID cards if the child needs a new document.

Which travel documents does the child need?

The child needs their own valid travel document. Which document is accepted depends, among other things, on citizenship and the destination country. Also check any visa requirement and how long the passport must remain valid after the trip.

A Norwegian national ID card with travel rights can be used in EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. The EU is the European Union; the EEA is the European Economic Area. An ID card without travel rights cannot be used as a travel document. Utenriksdepartementet, the ministry responsible for Norway's relations with other countries, explains the difference in its answers about travelling abroad⁠.

If the child has a Norwegian residence permit, you must also check the documents for returning. UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet), the immigration directorate⁠ states that you must have a valid residence card together with a passport, immigrant's passport or refugee travel document. This requirement does not apply to Nordic citizens or citizens of EU/EEA countries. Family members with another citizenship must check their own situation. A residence card alone is not a passport.

When do you need a travel consent letter?

The destination country may require written consent from the other parent even when Norwegian law permits the short trip. Also check transit countries and the airline's own forms.

There is no common EU rule on such permissions. Your Europe, the EU's information service⁠, explains that each country sets its requirements. Ask the embassy or the country's authorities for the current document list. The airline must answer questions about boarding requirements.

Utenriksdepartementet provides a general example of a confirmation for children travelling⁠. The example includes:

• the identity of the parent giving permission
• the identities of the child and the accompanying adult
• the travel dates and countries covered
• the parent's telephone number with country code
• place, date and signature.

This is a starting point, not a form automatically accepted everywhere. Ask about the correct language, passport copies, and whether the signature must be authenticated or the document legalised. Arrange this before departure. A holiday consent letter does not transfer parental responsibility.

How do you show parental responsibility and your relationship?

You can use documentation of parental responsibility and your relationship when the destination country asks for it. Ask what they need; a birth certificate and a confirmation of parental responsibility show different information.

Skatteetaten, the tax authority which maintains Folkeregisteret, the National Population Register, offers confirmation of registered parental responsibility⁠. It concerns children resident in Norway and can be ordered by someone with parental responsibility. The confirmation is available in Norwegian and English. If you choose use abroad, you receive a paper document with a stamp and signature. Follow the guidance on any further authentication for the country concerned.

Different surnames may make proof of the relationship useful. As a specific example, Border Force, the UK border authority⁠, says it may ask about the relationship between the child and the adult on entry to the United Kingdom. A birth or adoption certificate can help. For different surnames, a marriage or divorce certificate is also mentioned. This is British guidance, not a document list for all countries.

What should you do in a disagreement or risk situation?

Resolve disagreements and the risk that the child will not return before departure. With shared parental responsibility, the court can prohibit a trip abroad when it is uncertain whether the child will return. The police can impose a temporary departure ban when there is a risk of non-return, until the court can consider the case.

This follows from barnelova § 41. It does not mean that one parent can always stop a holiday by refusing to sign. In a specific conflict, you should ask a lawyer to assess the trip and any decisions. The child's best interests and protection against violence must be safeguarded; see §§ 30 and 48.

A lawful holiday can also become unlawful retention if the child stays without the necessary permission. Clarify new plans before changing the return arrangements.

Before booking, you should be able to answer three questions: Who can decide on the trip, which documents are required, and when will the child return? SamfunnPrep's practical tools overview can help with other everyday document tasks; the destination country and carrier determine their travel conditions.