Child to Bali Without One Parent: Do You Need a Consent Letter?

No Indonesian immigration rule requires a foreign child to carry a consent letter from the parent who is not travelling when entering Bali. The requirements are the same as for adults: a valid passport, the right visa or visa exemption, and the All Indonesia arrival card. Even so, a consent letter is strongly recommended, because the ones who ask for it most often are airlines, officers in the home country and transit countries (checked October 2026).

What does Indonesian law say?

Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration (amended several times, most recently by Law No. 63 of 2024) requires everyone entering or leaving Indonesia to hold a valid travel document and to be examined by an immigration officer at the checkpoint. We found no provision in that law or its implementing regulations that makes a parental consent letter an entry requirement for foreign children. Officers still carry out the examination, though, and if the relationship between the child and the adult is unclear, extra documents speed things up.

What about Indonesian children leaving Indonesia?

For children who are Indonesian citizens, parental consent is checked when the passport is issued. Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 8 of 2014 on Ordinary Passports (amended by Regulation No. 18 of 2022) requires a statement from the parents for a child's passport. If the parents are divorced, it is signed by the parent with custody under a court order; if one parent has died, a death certificate is attached. Once the passport is issued, we found no separate permission form for leaving through Ngurah Rai Airport. Still carry the birth certificate and family card as proof of the relationship.

What do the airlines say?

Airline rules are stricter and apply from check-in. A child flying with one parent counts as accompanied; the rules below are for children flying without an adult:

• Singapore Airlines: children under 5 cannot fly alone. The Unaccompanied Minor service is mandatory for ages 5 to under 12 and optional for 12 to under 18. All passengers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult (18 or over) at check-in. If the itinerary includes a Scoot flight, unaccompanied children aged 5-12 are not accepted.
• Emirates: children aged 5-11 flying alone must use the Unaccompanied Minor service and pay an adult fare. Ages 12-15 may fly alone or use the same service for USD 50 per sector. A parent or guardian signs a Declaration of Indemnity.
• Cathay Pacific: unaccompanied minor registration is mandatory for children aged 6 to under 12 who are not with an adult passenger of at least 18. Ages 12 to under 18 need no special arrangement but can be registered.

Garuda Indonesia, Jetstar and AirAsia have their own rules, but we could not open their official pages when checking. Ask the airline's call centre directly before buying tickets, especially about minimum age and transit routes.

Which countries ask for it when a child leaves?

• Canada: the official travel.gc.ca site says a consent letter is not legally required, but border officers, airlines or other countries' immigration may ask for one. Canada recommends it for any child under 19 travelling without both parents, ideally witnessed by a notary, and carrying the original.
• France: since 15 January 2017, children under 18 living in France who leave the country without a parent must carry an autorisation de sortie du territoire form signed by a parent, plus a photocopy of the signer's ID.
• Malaysia: the official Malaysian government portal (updated September 2026) requires a consent letter and a copy of the parent's ID for Malaysian children under 18 travelling abroad without their parents or guardians.
• South Africa: according to Singapore Airlines, South African authorities require additional documents for children under 18 travelling into and out of the country. Check the latest list on the Home Affairs website if your route goes through Johannesburg.

What should a safe consent letter include?

• The child's full name, date of birth and passport number.
• The name, address, phone number and email of the parent who is not travelling, plus a copy of their passport or ID.
• The accompanying adult's name and relationship to the child.
• Destination (Bali, Indonesia), departure and return dates, and where you are staying.
• The signature of the parent who is not travelling, ideally witnessed by a notary. Carry the original, as digital copies may be questioned.
• The child's birth certificate (translated if not in English) and any custody order.

What if the child's surname differs from the adult's?

This is the situation that most often triggers questions at the desk: a mother using her maiden name, grandparents travelling with a grandchild, or a step-parent. A birth certificate listing both parents is the most direct proof of the relationship. For grandparents or relatives, a letter signed by both parents is far stronger than one signed by just one.

What else does the child need?

The child's passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival; see our rule on passports with less than 6 months. The child also needs their own visa based on nationality, such as an e-VOA, and every traveller, children included, fills in the All Indonesia arrival card before arrival.

Put the phone number and email of the parent who is not travelling on the letter, and make sure that number stays reachable during the trip. Canada recommends this contact information precisely so officers can verify directly if needed.