Minor Travel Consent in Chile
A child cannot leave Chile with only one parent unless the required authorization is on paper. Here is how it works.
Who must authorize a child's trip
Chilean border police (the PDI) check the paperwork when a minor leaves the country. Under article 49 of Ley 16.618, a child leaving Chile needs the authorization of the people with the right to give it, unless they travel with the child. If no one has been granted custody, both parents must authorize. If a court gave custody to one parent, that parent's authorization is the one required. If a visitation regime exists, the parent who benefits from it must also consent.
The consent must be a public deed or a private deed authorized by a notary. This applies to Chilean children and to foreign children who live in Chile, and families traveling for school holidays or a relocation are caught by it regularly. A missing or defective permit usually means the child is stopped at the airport, which is why the paper should be reviewed days before the trip, not hours.
When the other parent will not sign
If the authorization cannot be obtained, for example because the other parent is missing or refuses without a plausible reason, a Family Court judge in the child's place of residence can authorize the trip. The judge looks at the child's benefit, not at the dispute between the parents, and sets the exact period of the trip.
If a child does not come back without a justified reason, the judge may order consequences such as suspending support payments, and the court can consider the incident in later custody decisions. The process is quicker when the request is well documented, so a clear itinerary and return ticket help.
Special cases worth knowing
Where a parent unjustifiably fails to comply with a visitation regime, the law lets a judge authorize the other parent to travel with the child for limited periods. Where a parent owes support and the court has already applied enforcement measures, the court can also authorize travel without that parent's consent. Both rules are in the same family of statutes, Ley 16.618 and Ley 14.908.
Foreign parents often assume that a letter from their own country is enough. Chilean authorities are used to notarized documents in Spanish form, so we recommend a bilingual authorization and the right legalization if it is signed outside Chile. Rules can change, so confirm with us before you book non-refundable tickets.
What we handle
Drafting the permit
A notarized authorization with the child's details, the destination, the dates and the person traveling with the child.
Authorization signed abroad
Guiding a parent who lives outside Chile on signing before a Chilean consul or with an apostille, so the permit is accepted at the border.
Court permits
Filing in Family Court when the other parent refuses without a plausible reason or cannot be found.
Long absences and relocation
Authorizations for study abroad or longer stays, and the wider issues that come with moving a child.
Defending a refusal
Advising a parent who has good reasons to refuse, and how to present them to the court.
Getting a permit when a parent lives overseas
Check who must sign
We review the custody situation and tell you whose signature is required and in what form.
Sign where you are
Sign before a Chilean consulate or with an apostille. We send a bilingual draft that fits PDI practice.
Court if needed
If consent is refused, we prepare the Family Court request, with the itinerary and evidence the judge expects.
Travel Consent for Minors — common questions
What English-speaking clients ask us most about this specific service.
Does a child need written consent to leave Chile with one parent?
Can the consent be signed outside Chile?
The other parent refuses to sign. What now?
Does a foreign child living in Chile need the permit too?
How long is the permit valid?
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