Moving abroad with kids: passports, consent and paperwork
Facts last verified on against 8 sources (8 official). By the Relocate+ team.
Short answer
Moving abroad with children adds three things to your checklist: a valid passport for each child, permission from everyone with parental responsibility, and proof of your relationship, usually a birth certificate. In the UK, taking a child abroad without the required permission is child abduction.[2][1][3]
Children also raise the money you must show for many visas. Spain's digital nomad visa adds 25% of the minimum wage for each family member after the first, and Portugal's passive-income route adds 30% per child.[6][7]
Key facts at a glance
What changes when children come
Spain: digital nomad (telework) visa
Best for: Families moving on Spain's remote-work route.
Requirement: Income of 200% of the minimum wage for the main applicant, plus 75% for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. Family members with a residence authorisation may work in Spain.[6]
Portugal: passive-income (D7) route
Best for: Families moving on pensions or savings.
Requirement: Means of subsistence based on the minimum wage: 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child.[7]
Dubai: virtual work visa
Best for: Families moving with a remote worker.
Requirement: GDRFA says the visa holder can sponsor family members for the same period as their own residence.[8]
Step-by-step timeline
- 1
3+ months before
Check every child's passport
US and UK child passports last five years. A US passport for a child under 16 can't be renewed: each new one needs an in-person application.[1][3]
- 2
3+ months before
Get consent from the other parent
In the UK you need permission from everyone with parental responsibility, or from a court. A letter from the person with parental responsibility, with their contact details and the trip details, is usually enough.[2]
- 3
If consent isn't given
Apply to the court
Without the other parent's permission you need a court's permission to take the child abroad from the UK. For longer stays the court will want more information, such as the child's education abroad.[2]
- 4
2–3 months before
Apostille birth certificates if your destination asks
UK birth certificates are apostilled on paper by the Legalisation Office (no e-Apostille), for £45 each; the standard service usually takes up to 25 working days plus postage.[4]
- 5
When applying for visas
Add the children to your money calculation
Many residence routes scale the required income or savings with family size, so recalculate before you apply.[6][7]
- 6
Travel day
Carry proof of your relationship
GOV.UK suggests carrying a birth or adoption certificate and, if your family name differs from your child's, a marriage or divorce certificate.[2]
Document checklist
- Each child's passport (valid for the whole move)[1][3]
- US: Form DS-11 in person, or DS-3053 notarised consent from the absent parent[1]
- Birth or adoption certificate (proof of relationship)[2][1]
- Signed consent letter from the other parent, with contact details[2]
- Court order, if relevant (custody or permission to relocate)[2][1]
- Marriage or divorce certificate if surnames differ[2]
- Apostilled certificates, where your destination requires them[4]
Official fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| US child passport book (under 16)Expedited service adds $60. | $100 + $35 acceptance fee[1] |
| UK child passport | £66.50 online / £80 paper[3] |
| UK apostille, paperPlus postage or courier. | £45 per document[4] |
School fees, translations and childcare vary too much by country and provider to estimate honestly.
Moving with family
The 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention aims to secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to or kept in another member country. Whether a removal is wrongful is judged under the law of the country where the child lived just before, and the Convention stops applying when the child turns 16.[5]
In the UK, if a child arrangements order says the child lives with you, you can take them abroad for up to 28 days without permission — unless another court order says otherwise.[2]
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the other parent's agreement is a formality. Without the required permission, taking a child abroad from the UK is child abduction.[2]
- Letting a DS-3053 go stale. The US State Department wants it submitted within 90 days of notarisation.[1]
- Leaving apostilles to the last minute. The UK paper service can take up to 25 working days, and birth certificates can't get an e-Apostille.[4]
- Using single-person income figures. Visa thresholds in Spain and Portugal rise with each family member.[6][7]
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the other parent's permission to move abroad with my child?
From the UK, yes: you need permission from everyone with parental responsibility, or a court's permission. Taking a child abroad without it is child abduction.[2]
How do I get a US passport for my child if one parent can't come?
The absent parent signs a notarised Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053), which must be submitted within 90 days of notarisation. Sole-custody cases have their own document rules.[1]
How much is a child passport?
In the US, $100 plus a $35 acceptance fee for a passport book. In the UK, £66.50 online or £80 on paper. Both last five years.[1][3]
How do I get a UK birth certificate apostilled?
Through the FCDO Legalisation Office's paper service, at £45 per document. Birth certificates can't get an e-Apostille.[4]
Sources
Every fact on this page links to one of these. Official = government, consulate or official gazette.
- [1] Apply for a child's passport under 16 — US Department of StateOfficial · checked 24 October 2026
- [2] Get permission to take a child abroad — GOV.UKOfficial · checked 24 October 2026
- [3] Get a passport for your child — GOV.UKOfficial · checked 24 October 2026
- [4] Get your document legalised — GOV.UK (FCDO Legalisation Office)Official · checked 24 October 2026
- [5] Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction — Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)Official · checked 24 October 2026
- [6] Digital nomads: frequently asked questions (English) — Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (UGE)Official · checked 23 October 2026
- [7] Meios de subsistência (means of subsistence) — AIMAOfficial · checked 19 October 2026
- [8] Visa issuance (Virtual Work) — General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) DubaiOfficial · checked 24 October 2026
Immigration rules change often. Always confirm requirements with the consulate or authority that handles your application before you book or pay for anything. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.