The children

Here’s some useful information to help you and your family travel with peace of mind:

Authorization to leave the country for minors

Authorization to leave the country for minors was reinstated by decree on November 2, 2016. It concerns minors residing in France regardless of their nationality and will come into force on January 15, 2017.

As of this date, children traveling abroad (domestic flights and flights to Corsica are therefore not concerned) without being accompanied by a person with parental authority (usually a parent) must present the following 3 documents:

1. Valid identification of the minor :

Identity card or passport + visa if required by destination country.

Minors unaccompanied by a parent must therefore be in possession of a valid pass.

2. Photocopy of the identity document of the signatory holding parental authority (usually a parent):

The order setting out the terms and conditions of the decree specifies that :

The following documents may be used to prove the identity of the signatory in support of the authorization to leave the country form:

2.1. For holders of parental authority of French nationality :

– National identity card (extension allowed) or
– Passport (valid or expired within the last 5 years)

2.2. For holders of parental authority who are nationals of a Member State of the European Union, a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation:

– National identity card, issued by the competent authority of the country of which the holder is a national, or
– Passport, issued by the competent authority of the country of which the holder is a national, or
– Permit to stay in France (long-stay visa or residence permit);

2.3. For holders of parental authority who are nationals of a country outside the European Union :

– Passport, issued by the competent authority of the country of which the holder is a national or
– Titre autorisant le séjour en France (Visa long séjour ou carte de séjour ou carte de résident) or
– Titre d’identité et de voyage pour réfugié(e) ou pour apatride.

All these documents must be valid, with the exception of the French national identity card and passport, which may be valid or expired within the last five years.

In general, the photocopy of the official document proving the identity of the person signing the authorization to leave the country must be legible and include the following information:

– surname and forenames of the holder,
– date and place of birth,
– photograph,
– signature,
– date of issue and validity of the document and issuing authority.

3. Form signed by the person with parental authority (usually a parent) :

The authorization to leave the country, signed by a person with parental authority, is drawn up on a form that can be downloaded from the service-public.fr website.

It includes the following information:

– The surname, first names, date and place of birth of the minor child authorized to leave the country;
– The surname, first names, date and place of birth of the holder of parental authority signing the authorization, the capacity in which he or she exercises this authority, his or her address, signature and, where applicable, telephone number and e-mail address;
– The duration of the authorization, which may not exceed one year from the date of signature.