✈️ Travel Permit for Children
One of the most important question is the ✈️ Travel Permit for Children.
One of the most common questions we receive from clients involves how to obtain a travel permit for a child when traveling abroad from Bulgaria.
Whether you’re a parent, guardian, or a third party traveling with a child, Bulgarian law imposes clear and strict rules to prevent unauthorized removal or abduction of minors.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the legal process, required documents, and court procedures related to child travel permits.
✅Both Parents Accompanying the Child Abroad
When both parents travel with their child, the process is relatively simple:
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Required Documents:
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Valid passport or ID card for the child (depending on the destination country)
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No additional consent documents are required
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This is the only case where notarized declarations are not needed.
✅ Only One Parent Accompanying the Child
When one parent is traveling alone with the child, Bulgarian border authorities will require:
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A valid passport or ID for the child
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Original Birth Certificate (to verify parental rights)
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A Notarized Declaration of Consent from the non-traveling parent, stating:
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Full names and data of the child and both parents
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Dates and destination of travel
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Duration and purpose of the trip
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Important: This consent must be signed in front of a Bulgarian notary or consulate, if abroad.
✅ Child Traveling with a Third Party (e.g., Grandparent, Teacher, Friend)
If the child is accompanied by someone other than a parent, the requirements increase:
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Child’s passport/ID
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Birth certificate
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Two notarized declarations — one from each parent, granting consent for the specified third party to travel with the child
The consent must include the same elements as above — identity details, trip duration, and destination.
⚖️ Court Intervention When One Parent Refuses Consent
In cases of parental conflict, where one parent refuses to sign the consent, the traveling parent can:
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File a court application under Art. 127a of the Bulgarian Family Code
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The court can:
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Authorize the trip unilaterally
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Substitute consent in place of the uncooperative parent
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The procedure usually takes 1–3 months depending on the urgency and is subject to evaluation of the child’s best interest. Courts often ask:
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Is the trip safe?
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Is it in line with school or health requirements?
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Is the opposing parent acting in bad faith?
Traveling abroad with a child without the other parent’s consent or court approval may lead to:
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Border denial by Bulgarian immigration
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Accusations of child abduction
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Criminal prosecution under Bulgarian and international law
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Sanctions under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction
Legal requirements for Minors Traveling Abroad
For a minor to travel outside the country, they need a passport and, if traveling alone, must also have written consent from both parents.
If only one parent consents to the child’s travel, a declaration of consent from the other parent must be submitted at the border.
When a minor is accompanied by someone other than their parents, both parents must submit a travel consent declaration.
According to Article 76, Paragraph 9 of the Bulgarian Law on Bulgarian Identity Documents, a minor may be prohibited from leaving the country if they lack notarized consent from a parent or guardian for international travel.
Border authorities require the original consent declaration and an uncertified copy, with the latter retained by the border officers.
This written consent can be notarized by a Bulgarian notary.
If one parent has sole parental rights, they may present a death certificate or other official documentation at the border to confirm that no additional consent is needed.
Imposing a parental travel restriction for a minor
When parents disagree about international travel, one parent can protect the child’s rights by filing a notarized “declaration of disagreement” with the Border Police.
This legal document officially states that the parent does not give consent for the child to leave the country.
The declaration serves as a preventive measure against child abduction, ensuring that both parents must agree before the child can travel abroad.
It is often used in cases of divorce, custody disputes, or when one parent fears that the other may relocate the child without permission.
Parents of children with dual citizenship also use this procedure to stop cross-border relocation without consent.
The restriction helps guarantee the child’s security and stability, while protecting the rights of both parents under family law.
Filing such a declaration is a recognized legal tool for preventing unauthorized international travel and safeguarding the best interests of the child.
A declaration of disagreement must be notarized by
A/ a Bulgarian notary,
B/a foreign notary (with translation and legalization), or
C/a consulate.
Once certified, it must be submitted to the Border Police, who issue an incoming number as confirmation.
If the parent wishes to lift the travel restriction later, they can revoke the declaration with a notarized signature.
For more information or assistance contact a legal professional call on + 359 897 90 43 91 or send us a message office@lawyer-bulgaria.bg
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