25-07-2011-
The Ministry of External Relations was recently informed by the Office of Public Safety about the complex situation encountered by some Monegasque minors or minors residing in Monaco when travelling abroad.
As the Aviation and Border Police (PAF) at Nice Airport point out, under international regulations concerning travel by minors, the latter may travel without their parents provided that they have a valid individual passport, or failing that, an “attestation de sortie de territoire” (authorisation to leave the country).
It is worth noting that the Foreign Police Services have said that a minor child with a passport is not required to hold such authorisation to leave the country, since his/her passport entitles him/her to travel on a permanent basis.
If a minor travelling without his/her parents has no passport, he/she must carry authorisation to leave the country which is issued by the Office of Public Safety in Monaco.
However, some international airlines require minors departing from Nice with a valid passport or authorisation to leave the country, to also present a "declaration sur l’honneur” (sworn consent form). This consent form must be established in English by the parents, and must include details of the identity of the child and any accompanying person(s), as well as information on outbound and inbound flights (date, flight number, times).
The PAF points out that as the Captain has the right to accept or refuse a traveller aboard the aircraft, he may require a travel consent form even if this is not in compliance with the international regulations concerning the movement of persons.
As such and as a matter of precaution, it is recommended that parents of a minor child establish a travel consent form in English, in case this is required by airline companies at the airport check-in desk.
Should a minor child be travelling abroad, parents should therefore make sure their child has: his/her passport and/or authorisation to leave the country, as well as a travel consent form. |