Minors Traveling Without Both Parents: The Rome Guide
Travel authorization letter, passport, the absent parent's consent: everything you need to get your child across the border safely and without delays.
In a nutshell
If your child is a minor and needs to leave Italy — alone, with only one parent, or with other adults — there are specific rules to follow. For children under 14, a travel authorization letter (dichiarazione di accompagnamento) is mandatory; it states who is responsible for the child during the trip. The good news: it's free and can be obtained on the same day at the Questura (police headquarters) in Rome.
At a glance
| Cost | Travel authorization: free. Minor's passport: €73.50 + €42.50 contribution. CIE valid for travel abroad: €22.21. |
| Timeline | Authorization: same day. Passport: 7–15 working days. CIE: 6 days (delivered by post). |
| Where in Rome | Questura di Roma – Ufficio Passaporti, Via San Vitale 15. Alternatively: your local Commissariato (district police station). |
| Documents needed | Child's travel document, both parents' ID, written consent from the absent parent (if only one parent applies), copy of the accompanying adult's ID. |
When authorization is actually required
Not every trip requires the same paperwork. The rules change based on the child's age and who is travelling with them.
For children under 14 travelling with both parents, a valid travel document is all that's needed. But if they're travelling alone, with only one parent, or with other relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles), the travel authorization letter is also mandatory. Without it, border police or customs can stop the child from leaving.
For teenagers aged 14 to 17, the authorization is not legally required — but some transport companies and certain countries (Morocco, Egypt, the USA, South Africa) ask for it anyway. Better to have it.
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Under 14, with both parents | Travel document |
| Under 14, alone or with only one parent | Travel document + authorization letter |
| Under 14, with grandparents/relatives/third parties | Travel document + authorization letter + absent parent's written consent |
| 14–17, travelling alone | Valid travel document |
| 14–17, with only one parent | Travel document + authorization letter (recommended for certain countries) |
The right travel document
Outside the European Union, every Italian minor must have their own individual passport (family passports were abolished in 2009). You can apply at the Questura di Roma by booking through Passaporto Online.
Within EU countries and certain other states (Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Egypt for organised tourist stays), the CIE (Italian electronic ID card) valid for travel abroad is sufficient. The CIE is issued by the Comune (city hall) of Rome, at the Municipio (district office) where you are registered as a resident. For minors, both parents must give their consent. See the Roma Capitale – CIE page for details.
Both the passport and the CIE have validity periods tied to the child's age: 3 years for children up to 3 years old, and 5 years from age 3 to 18.
Foreign nationals residing in Rome must carry their home-country passport, their permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens — children have their own from age 14; younger children are listed on their parents' permit) and, where required, a visa for the destination country.
How to get the travel authorization letter
The authorization letter is the document in which parents designate who will be responsible for the child during the trip. The accompanying adult can be any adult — a relative, a family friend, a babysitter — or an organized entity such as a school, a parish, a travel agency, or an airline running an "Unaccompanied Minors" service.
You can choose between two validity options: 6 months from the date of issue (handy if the child travels with the same person more than once) or a single trip (for one specific destination). You can also list several adults as alternative authorized companions.
How to get it:
- Download the form from the Polizia di Stato website and fill it in with the child's details, travel document information, and the accompanying adult's details.
- Book an appointment at the Questura di Roma through Passaporto Online, or walk into your local Commissariato.
- Bring the completed form, your own ID, the child's travel document, and a copy of the accompanying adult's ID. If only one parent can attend, you'll also need the other parent's written consent and a photocopy of their ID.
- The authorization is issued the same day or within a few days.
Keep the original with you during travel — some border checkpoints do not accept photocopies.
Mistakes to avoid
- Travelling with an expired authorization. Some customs officials will reject it and the child can be stopped at the border. Always check the expiry date before you leave.
- Leaving the accompanying adult's details incomplete. First name, last name, date of birth, and document number are all mandatory. An incomplete form will be rejected.
- Paying anyone for the authorization. It is free and issued only by the Questura or the Commissariati. Any agency charging money for this service has no legal standing.
Special cases
Separated parents with joint custody. Both parents must sign. If one refuses without valid reason, you can apply to the Giudice Tutelare (guardianship judge) at the Tribunale Ordinario di Roma (Viale Giulio Cesare 54) with a petition under art. 320 of the Italian Civil Code.
Sole custody. The parent with sole custody cannot always sign alone: if sole custody does not also strip the other parent of parental responsibility, their consent is still required for major decisions, including travel abroad.
One parent unreachable or deceased. If a parent cannot be found, you must go to the Giudice Tutelare with documented evidence (registered letters with no reply, search attempts). If a parent has died, the death certificate is sufficient — only the surviving parent's signature is needed.
School trips abroad. The school collects parental authorizations and submits a list of students. For children under 14, the individual travel authorization letter is still required, naming the supervising teacher as the responsible accompanying adult.
Countries with special requirements. Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, and several others often require a consulate-stamped authorization even for teenagers aged 14 to 17 travelling with only one parent. The USA requires the minor to have their own ESTA. Always check the Viaggiare Sicuri – Farnesina page before you travel.
Official sources
- Polizia di Stato – Passaporto
- Polizia di Stato – Travel authorization for minors under 14
- Questura di Roma – Passaporti
- Book an appointment at the Questura
- Ministero dell'Interno – Passaporti
- Viaggiare Sicuri – Minors (Farnesina)
- Roma Capitale – CIE
Legal references: Legge 21 novembre 1967 n. 1185; DPR 6 agosto 1974 n. 649; DM Interno 18 novembre 2014; Circolare Ministero Interno n. 400/A/2014; Regolamento UE 2019/1157; Codice Civile artt. 316, 320, 337-ter.