Travel authorization for Peruvian minors and underage foreign residents

To travel abroad (so to leave Peru) alone, accompanied by only one parent or by another adult, or to travel in Peru alone, Peruvian minors but as well underage foreign residents need a special travel authorization allowing the child to clear immigration unhindered. If this travel authorization isn’t presented, the minor won’t be allowed to leave the country or, if alone, to travel in the country. So, better be prepared to avoid inconveniences.

Content overview

• General information about the travel authorization for minors
• Notarial travel authorization
  • for traveling in Peru incl. requirements
  • for traveling abroad incl. requirements
  • How to get the notarial travel authorization
• Consular travel authorization
  • Requirements
  • How to get the consular travel authorization
• Judicial travel authorization
  • Requirements
  • How to get the judicial travel authorization

General information about the travel authorization for minors

The travel authorization is an official document signed by the mother and/or the father allowing his/her/their underage child to travel alone in Peru or go abroad alone, accompanied by only one parent or another adult.

When the minor travels with both parents, no authorization is needed. However, if only one parent travels with the minor abroad the permission of the other parent is needed. If the minor travels alone or with another adult in Peru or abroad, both parents must sign the travel authorization.

Depending on the circumstances the travel authorization is issued by different authorities in Peru or abroad

• Peruvian notary: a notarial travel authorization is needed
  • if the child travels alone or with another adult in Peru or abroad
  • if the child travels with only one parent abroad
• Peruvian consulate: a consular travel authorization is needed
  • if one or both parents are abroad
• Peruvian family court: a judicial travel authorization is needed
  • if the minor travels abroad and both parents are absent
  • if the minor travels abroad and one parent is absent
  • if one parent doesn’t agree that the minor is traveling abroad

Sounds complicated? Sorry. Just read through the article and see, which case applies to you. Most times, the travel authorization issued by a notary is all you need.

Travel authorization for minors issued by a Peruvian notary

The notarial travel authorization can be issued by any licensed notary in Peru. Depending on the applicable circumstances, different documents have to be presented and only one or both parents have to be present and sign the authorization.

For traveling in Peru

• If the minor travels in Peru alone or with another adult, only one parent has to be present at the notary and has to sign the authorization
• If the minor travels with one parent, no travel authorization is needed

Requirements for a notarial travel authorization for traveling in Peru

• Birth certificate of the minor (*)
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) of the minor
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) of the mother or father
• Additionally, notaries may as well ask for the date of travel and return, point of departure and destination as well as means of transport (for example, airplane incl. flight number, bus, car, train) and, if applicable, responsible person (full name and ID/passport number). So, be prepared.
• Copies of all documents

(*) In case the birth certificate was issued abroad, it must have an Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention must be legalized by a Peruvian consulate. If the birth certificate is not in Spanish, it must be translated in Peru.

For traveling abroad

• If the minor travels abroad alone or with another adult, both parents have to be present at the notary and both have to sign the authorization.
• If the minor travels abroad with one parent, only the other parent who is not traveling with them has to be present at the notary and has to sign the authorization. However, be aware that the DNI / carné and passport of the parent traveling with the kid may be required as well, even though not on the official requirement list.

Requirements for a notarial travel authorization for going abroad include but may not be restricted to

• Birth certificate of the minor (*)
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) and passport of the minor
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) and passport of the parents
• If one parent has sole custody: usually the consent of the minor is sufficient, but sometimes notaries ask for legal proof
• If one parent died: death certificate
• If one or both parents are abroad: a consular travel authorization is needed (see below)
• Copies of all documents
• Additionally, notaries may as well ask for the date of travel and return, point of departure and destination as well as means of transport (for example, airplane incl. flight number, bus, car, train) and, if applicable, responsible person (full name and ID/passport number). So, be prepared.

(*) In case the birth certificate was issued abroad, it must have an Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention must be legalized by a Peruvian consulate. If the birth certificate is not in Spanish, it must be translated in Peru.

How to get the notarial travel authorization

Just pay the nearest licensed notary in Peru a visit and ask for the “Autorización de viaje para menores de edad”. Present your documents, pay the fee and usually within a few hours, the document is issued on official paper of the Peruvian Association of Public Notaries, signed and stamped by the notary.

Make sure that all names and all other personal information is as in the passports and all travel information is correct.

The travel authorization for minors is valid for 90 days and good for one travel only. When the child is leaving Peru, the document has to be presented at immigration and is usually kept. So, make a copy of it (best a certified one) for yourself just in case you need it somewhere else during your travel.

Travel authorization for minors issued by a Peruvian consulate

If one or both parents of a minor in Peru are abroad, he/she/they has/have to request a travel authorization at a Peruvian consulate so the child can leave Peru either alone, accompanied by only one parent or by another person.

General requirements for a consular travel authorization include but may not be restricted to

• Birth certificate of the minor
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) and passport of the minor
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) and passport of the parents
• If one parent has sole custody: usually the consent of the minor is sufficient, but sometimes consulates ask for legal proof
• If one parent died: death certificate
• Additionally, consulates may ask for other documents and for date of travel and return, point of departure and destination as well as means of transport (for example, airplane incl. flight number, bus, car, train) and, if applicable, responsible person (full name and ID/passport number). So, be prepared.

How to get the consular travel authorization?

Get in contact with the nearest Peruvian consulate. They will inform you about the current requirements and exact procedure.

Be aware that the travel authorization issued by a Peruvian consulate has to be legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the child can leave Peru. As all other travel authorizations, it is as well only good for one travel.

Please note: In case one parent is abroad and the other is in Peru and the minor travels alone or with another adult abroad, then both parents individually have to allow the child to travel; so, the parent abroad has to get the travel authorization at a Peruvian consulate and the parent in Peru additionally one from a Peruvian notary.

Travel authorization for minors issued by a Peruvian court

In case a minor needs / wants to travel abroad and both parents are absent, or one parent wants to travel with the child and the other can’t be found anywhere, or one parent doesn’t agree that the minor is traveling abroad, then either the parent wanting to travel, the minor represented by an adult, or the legal guardian can apply for a travel authorization at a Peruvian family court.

Requirements for a judicial travel authorization

• Birth certificate of the minor (*)
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) and passport of the minor
• DNI or carné (in case of a foreign resident) and passport of the applicant
• Any other document needed for the specific case or helping the case

(*) In case the birth certificate was issued abroad, it must have an Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention must be legalized by a Peruvian consulate. If the birth certificate is not in Spanish, it must be translated in Peru.

How to get the judicial travel authorization?

First the fee for the “Autorizacion judicial de viaje para menores de edad” has to be paid at any Banco de la Nación Branch. Then, the applicant has to submit all documents at the Mesa de Partes of the local family court. Usually, in a timely manner an interview of the applicant and the minor is scheduled.

After evaluating the documents and evidence, the court either denies the travel or issues the judicial travel authorization. Be aware, that Peruvian courts aren't the quickest and in case one or both parents are absent the judge might order first a public announcement which can delay the process for at least 14 or 30 days and then involve Reniec or Migraciones which might take another month or so. So don't expect a quick ruling.

The judicial travel authorization is valid only once and, when leaving the country must be presented at immigration together with the officially signed court decision.