Arriving in Spain with children

Key rules

• Child's own passport: A child cannot enter Spain on a parent's passport, so even a baby needs their own passport or ID.
• Consent letter: No law requires a consent letter, but carry one signed by the absent parent, with a copy of their ID and contact details.
• Notarised letter: Notarising the letter, with an apostille or Spanish translation, is optional but makes it more likely to be accepted.
• Officer's discretion: Officers decide case by case, and they ask mainly when they have doubts.

The short answer

If your child travels with only one parent, or with an adult who is not a parent, carry proof of the relationship and written consent from the parent or parents who are not travelling. Officers do not always ask for these papers, but you avoid delay if you have them ready. The documents and checklist below list exactly what to pack.

Every child needs their own document

Every child, including a baby, needs their own valid travel document. A child cannot enter Spain on a parent's passport.

• Children from outside the EU need their own passport. Some nationalities also need a visa, so check this before you book and get the visa before you travel.
• EU, EEA and Swiss children can use a national ID card or a passport.
• The document must be valid for the whole stay.

Why officers may ask questions

Border officers check that the adult with the child has the right to travel with them. In practice, they ask for papers mainly when something raises a doubt. This applies to children arriving from outside the Schengen area. The Policía Nacional applies the checks case by case, so one traveller may be asked for nothing while another is asked for everything.

Proof of relationship

Bring the child's birth certificate showing who the parents are. If it is not in Spanish, bring a translation. This matters most if you and your child have different surnames.

Consent from the parent who is not travelling

Spain has no compulsory form or legal requirement for a consent letter. Even so, a signed letter from the absent parent is the safest thing to carry. Add a copy of that parent's ID and their phone number or email, so an officer can contact them.

A notarised letter is not required by law. It is more likely to be accepted, though, especially with an apostille or a Spanish translation. The final decision is up to the officer.

The Policía Nacional has a consent form for children leaving Spain. You can use it, but you do not have to.

Special situations

• If you have sole custody or guardianship, bring the court papers. Officers may ask for them.
• If the other parent has died, bring their death certificate.
• If the child travels with an adult who is not a parent, that adult needs consent from both parents, where both are living.

On the day

Keep all the papers in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag, so you can show them at passport control.

Consent and parentage papers for children entering Spain

Papers to carry for a child

• The child's own passport or ID card.

• The child's birth certificate showing who the parents are. Bring a version in Spanish, or with a translation into Spanish, if it is in another language.

• A signed consent letter from the parent who is not travelling, if the child travels with one parent or with another adult. Spain has no required form, so a plain signed letter works.

• A notarised consent letter, with an apostille (an international stamp that certifies a document) and a Spanish translation where relevant. The law does not require this, but officers are more likely to accept it.

• Court custody or guardianship papers, if you have them. Officers may ask for these when you have sole custody or are a guardian rather than a parent.

• A death certificate for the other parent, if they have died and you travel alone with the child.

Checklist

• Check that each child, including babies, has their own passport or ID valid for the whole stay.

• Find out whether your child's nationality needs a visa, and get it before you travel.

• Pack the child's birth certificate showing who the parents are, with a Spanish translation where needed.

• Get a signed consent letter from the absent parent, with a copy of their ID and their contact details.

• Consider notarising the consent letter and adding an apostille or Spanish translation so it is more likely to be accepted.

• Bring any court custody or guardianship papers, or a death certificate if the other parent has died.

Frequently asked questions

Does a consent letter for my child need to be notarised?

No, Spanish law does not require a consent letter to be notarised or legalised. A notarised letter is still more likely to be accepted by the officer. Add an apostille or a Spanish translation if the letter is in another language.

Can my baby travel on my passport?

No, every child, including a baby, needs their own valid travel document to enter Spain. A child cannot enter on a parent's passport. Non-EU children also need a visa if their nationality requires one.

Is there an official form for the consent letter?

No, Spain has no mandatory form for a consent letter for a child entering the country. A plain signed letter works, with a copy of the absent parent's ID and their contact details. The police offer an optional form, but it is meant for children leaving Spain.

Will officers always check my child's documents?

No, officers mainly ask for these papers when they have doubts about who is travelling with the child. Carrying them avoids delay if you are asked.