Not all trips by children and young people abroad require written authorization. The rules vary depending on who accompanies the minor, the exercise of parental responsibilities, and the travel destination.
When a minor leaves Portugal without being accompanied by either parent or the person exercising parental responsibilities, an authorization to leave national territory is mandatory. This document, with a legally recognized signature, must identify who will accompany the minor and be presented to authorities upon request.
If the minor travels with one parent (married, in a de facto union, divorced, separated, or single with joint parental responsibilities), no authorization is needed, provided the other parent does not object. An objection can be communicated to the border control authority and must be judicially confirmed within 30 days, otherwise it loses effect. The objection is valid for a maximum of 90 days.
For travel outside the Schengen Area, authorization is always required if the minor travels without a parental guardian or with a parent without parental responsibilities. Even within the Schengen Area, airlines may request authorization, so it is advisable to carry it. In case of a parent's death, the survivor authorizes; in single-parent families, the sole established parent; and if the minor is entrusted to third parties, the person granted parental responsibilities by the court.
