Child Travel Consent for Argentina From Australia

Argentina's rules apply when a child leaves Argentina. A child under 18 leaving with only one parent needs the other parent's authorisation, made before a notary or another competent authority where that parent lives. A child leaving alone or with another adult needs it from both. An Argentine child who lives abroad, for example in Australia, is exempt.

Key takeaways

• Argentina's migration rules say a child under 18 needs their parents' authorisation to leave Argentina without both parents.
• The authorisation can be made before a notary (escribano) or the competent authorities where the parent lives.
• No authorisation is needed when both parents travel with the child, or when an Argentine child lives abroad.
• Teenagers aged 13 and over must give their own express consent to leave, even if both parents agree.
• If one parent refuses to consent, Argentina says a judge must resolve it.

When does Argentina require an authorisation?

Argentina's Ministry of Justice publishes a plain-language guide to the rules set by the National Migration Directorate. It says children need their parents' authorisation to leave the country, and sets out when:

Situation	What Argentina requires
Both parents travelling	No authorisation; bring the birth certificate, marriage book, or passports or IDs showing the parents
One parent travelling	The other parent's permission or authorisation, made before a notary or the competent authorities where they live
The child travels alone	Authorisation from the parents before a judge, notary or other competent public authority, with details depending on the child's age
The child travels with another adult	Authorisation that includes the details of the adult travelling with the child
A parent has died	The child's birth certificate and the death certificate of the parent who died

The same guide says that if you are the child's only registered parent, the birth certificate proving it is enough, and that if the other parent has been deprived of, or suspended from, parental responsibility, you present the court decision.

Is an Argentine child living in Australia exempt?

Usually, yes. The Ministry of Justice guide lists the cases where a minor does not need an express authorisation to leave, and one of them is a child who is Argentine but has their domicile or lives abroad. For an Argentine-Australian family living in Australia, that means a child visiting relatives in Argentina and flying home may not need the authorisation at all. Be ready to show that the child lives in Australia, and ask the Argentine consulate what evidence Argentine migration officers expect, because the guide does not list it.

The guide also lists a married minor as exempt, whether they married in Argentina or abroad. Other exemptions in the guide concern foreign children holding residence in Argentina, which is less common for Australian families.

What does the authorisation need to say?

When a child travels without either parent, the guide says the details depend on the child's age:

• for a child aged 0 to 13, the authorisation must state the country the child is travelling to and the full details of the person who will receive them: name, surname, type and number of identity document, and address
• for a child aged 14 to 17, it must state the destination country

When the child travels with another adult, the authorisation must include that adult's details. The guide also says that children under 6 travelling alone, or with adults other than their parents, have their entry and exit recorded in a special register kept by the National Migration Directorate.

Which documents prove the relationship?

Even when no authorisation is needed, for example when both parents travel together, Argentina's guide says you must show that the child is the child of both. It lists the child's birth certificate, the marriage book (libreta de matrimonio), a passport, national ID or foreign identity document that shows the parents' details, or the court decision of adoption or another public document proving the link. For an Australian-born child, a full birth certificate from the state or territory registry that names both parents does that job. If the certificate is in English, bring a Spanish translation in case an officer asks, and keep the originals with the passports.

The guide adds two further points. Where a child's parents are themselves under 18, the child also needs the agreement of one of the grandparents, unless the grandparents are travelling with them. And authorisations made by notaries in the City of Buenos Aires must be registered in the migration authority's electronic register before the child can leave; the notary does that. If the parent signs in Argentina rather than Australia, ask the notary there about it.

How does a parent in Australia give the authorisation?

The guide says the permission can be given before a notary or before the authorities that correspond to the place where the parent lives. Argentina's migration service also indicates that a parent located outside Argentina can arrange the authorisation through the relevant Argentine consulate. From Australia, that gives two realistic routes:

• At the Argentine consulate or embassy, where the parent signs before a consular officer.
• Before an Australian notary, who confirms the parent's identity and witnesses the signature, followed by authentication for use in Argentina.

For the notary route, Argentina is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an Australian notarial document is usually authenticated for Argentina by an apostille from DFAT. Only DFAT issues apostilles in Australia; an apostille confirms the notary's signature and seal, never the contents. Check the HCCH status table on the day. The authorisation will also need to be in Spanish, or translated, for an Argentine migration officer to read. Ask the Argentine consulate which route it recommends, and whether it wants the document in Spanish, before the parent signs. Our guide to apostilles for Argentina covers the DFAT step.

What about teenagers?

Argentina gives older children a voice. The guide says teenagers who have turned 13 must give their own express consent to leave the country, even if their parents agree and have authorised it. Presenting themselves voluntarily at the departure point is enough, but if the migration officer suspects the teenager does not want to leave, the migration police and a judge must step in. Prepare your teenager for the fact that an officer may speak to them directly.

What if the other parent will not agree?

Argentina's guide is direct: if one parent refuses to authorise the child's departure, the conflict must be resolved by a judge. A notary cannot provide consent a parent has not given. If you are in that position, speak to a family lawyer in Australia, and in Argentina if the child is there. Our general guide to travel consent letters covers the Australian side, including Family Court orders.

How do you prepare for a child leaving Argentina?

1. Work out whether the child needs an authorisation: are both parents travelling, or does the child live abroad?
2. If one is needed, decide who will travel with the child, or who will receive them at the destination.
3. Prepare the authorisation with the details Argentina requires for the child's age, in Spanish or with a translation.
4. Have each parent who is not travelling sign at the Argentine consulate, or before an Australian notary with a DFAT apostille.
5. Talk to a teenager aged 13 or over about the trip, since their own consent counts.
6. Carry the originals with the child's passport and birth certificate, and any court order.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Getting an authorisation the child does not need, when they are an Argentine who lives abroad.
• Leaving out the receiving person's details for a child aged 13 or under.
• Forgetting the apostille on an authorisation signed before an Australian notary.
• Using an English-only document without checking whether Spanish is needed.
• Assuming a notary can override a refusing parent. Only a judge can resolve that.
• Using a JP, when Argentina refers to a notary or a competent authority.

Here is an illustration, not a real case.

An Argentine grandmother in Córdoba has cared for her ten-year-old granddaughter for a year while the girl's parents settled in Perth. The girl, an Argentine citizen who has been living in Argentina, will fly to Perth with her grandmother. Because she is travelling without her parents, both must authorise it. They prepare a Spanish authorisation naming the grandmother and Australia as the destination, sign it before a notary in Perth, and have DFAT apostille it after checking with the Argentine consulate. The grandmother carries the original with the girl's passport and birth certificate.

In short

A child under 18 leaving Argentina without both parents needs their authorisation, made before a notary or the competent authority where the parent lives. An Argentine child who lives abroad, such as in Australia, is exempt. For a child travelling without parents, the details depend on age, and teenagers of 13 and over must agree to leave. A parent in Australia can sign at the Argentine consulate, or before an Australian notary with a DFAT apostille. Our document notarisation page explains the notarial act.

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