Traveling with a Grandchild Without Custody in Washington: Domestic and International Rules

Domestic Travel Is Usually Straightforward

For domestic or interstate travel, carry a copy of your Parental Power of Attorney or Caregiver Declaration, along with a medical consent form and the child's identification.

That said, practical situations create friction. Airlines may ask about your relationship to the child at check-in. Hotels sometimes want a parent's name on the reservation. A medical emergency on the road means finding a provider who will accept your Washington caregiver declaration — and whether they do depends on the state you're in.

What you should carry for any domestic trip:

• A copy of your RCW 7.70.065 kinship caregiver health declaration (for medical emergencies)
• A copy of the child's birth certificate or other ID
• A letter from the parent (if available) authorizing you to travel with the child
• Your own photo ID
• The child's insurance card or Apple Health information

A signed parental authorization letter may help explain the arrangement, but it does not replace a power of attorney or passport requirements.

International Travel Is a Different Story

This is where informal kinship care hits a hard wall. The U.S. Department of State has federal requirements for minor passports that no Washington state form can override.

Passports for children under 16. Both legal parents must execute Form DS-11 in person. If one parent is absent, the applying adult must present one of the following:

• Form DS-3053 — a Statement of Consent signed by the non-applying parent and notarized
• Form DS-5525 — a Statement of Exigent or Special Family Circumstances
• A certified court order explicitly granting sole legal custody or international travel authority

A kinship caregiver health declaration or state power of attorney does not substitute for the passport requirements above.

For children aged 16–17, check current U.S. Department of State requirements before applying.

What This Means Practically

If you are raising a grandchild or relative's child in Washington and you need to travel internationally:

Parent is cooperative. Have the non-applying parent sign and notarize Form DS-3053, or have both legal parents execute Form DS-11 in person.

Parent is absent. The passport process lists Form DS-5525 or a certified court order explicitly granting sole legal custody or international travel authority as alternatives. Confirm which documentation fits the circumstances.

Neither parent will sign. Ask a Washington legal aid provider about a court order that explicitly grants sole legal custody or international travel authority.

Border Crossings Without a Passport

Entry and re-entry documents depend on the destination. Informal declarations and state powers of attorney do not establish passport authority or guarantee that border-control officials will accept the travel documentation. Confirm current passport and border requirements with the relevant official agencies before booking.

The Practical Takeaway

Domestic travel with a grandchild in Washington is manageable with the right paperwork in your bag. International travel without a cooperative parent is genuinely difficult and may require a court order.

The Washington Consent Guide for Kinship Caregivers includes a travel documentation checklist and covers the full set of Washington consent instruments — the health declaration, the parental power of attorney, and guidance on when informal documents reach their limits and a court order becomes the practical next step.

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