A parental authorization is a document in which one or both parents give consent for their minor child to participate in an activity or travel. While simple to draft, it is essential in many situations and must contain specific information to be accepted.
When Is It Required?
Parental authorization is required in many contexts involving minors:
- School trips: excursions, field trips, end-of-year travel organised by the school
- Sports activities: club registration, competitions, sports camps
- Travel abroad: any trip outside the country without parents requires an official exit authorization
- Extracurricular activities: summer camps, holiday centres, workshops
- Medical procedures: certain non-emergency interventions require written parental consent
Required Elements
- Parent identity: full name and address
- Child identity: full name and date of birth
- Activity description: nature, location, start and end dates
- Responsible organization: school, club, association
- Date and handwritten signature of the parent(s)
Legal Framework for Minors
Parents hold parental authority until the child reaches the age of majority (typically 18). Any person supervising a minor can be held liable in case of an accident. A written parental authorization serves as proof that the parents consented to the activity. For international travel, specific government forms may be required depending on your country.
Practical Tips
- Write the authorization in duplicate (one for the organization, one for your records)
- Attach a copy of your ID if requested
- Include emergency contact details (phone number, family doctor)
- In cases of separated parents, both signatures may be required depending on the activity
Generate your parental authorization in seconds
Use the generator