Minors entering or leaving Germany must present a valid passport at the border.

Since 26 June 2012, entries for children in their parents' passports have been invalid due to European regulations and no longer entitle the child to cross the border. Therefore, since that date, all children traveling abroad must have their own travel document.

If a child is traveling abroad without their parents or a parent, it is recommended that, in addition to the required identification document, the child be given an informal letter of consent and a copy of the identification page of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The letter of consent should state that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) agree to the trip abroad. This facilitates the border police's work in preventing potential child abduction or unauthorized removal of the child from the custody of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

The following information is recommended for the consent form:

• Personal details of the minor
• Personal details and contact information of the legal guardian(s)
• Travel itinerary
• Personal details of any accompanying adults

Example of a consent form: Consent letter for children travelling abroad

Whether the signatures on a consent form should be notarized and whether such notarization is recognized in Germany (by a notary, municipal, or city administration) depends on the law of the destination country.

If necessary, a translation of the entire consent form into the local language (by a translation agency) or, if applicable, a court order regarding custody with a translation may be advisable.

Further information can be found on the website of the German Federal Police and on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.