Traveling with a minor (documents depending on custody situation)

Who does this apply to?

• Any minor under 18 years old (unmarried and not emancipated) traveling to or from Curaçao
• Parents, guardians, or accompanying adults of the minor

Costs

There is no immigration fee: it is a list of documents for Border Control, not an application. The extracts do cost money: XCG 10 for the Public Affairs (Kranshi) extract and XCG 50 for the Custody Register extract.

Decision time

Not applicable. It is verified at the time of the border/airport control, it is not an application with a waiting period.

Requirements

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• Child not recognised by the father, travelling with the mother: the child's full extract "for travelling with minors" (lange uittreksel) from Public Affairs (Kranshi), no older than 1 year
• Child not recognised, travelling without the mother: also the completed consent form and a copy of the mother's ID or passport
• Recognised child and only one parent has custody, travelling with that parent: full extract (no older than 1 year) and the consent form of the parent staying behind, with a copy of their ID. If that parent does not cooperate: also the extract from the Custody Register (Gezagsregister), likewise no older than 1 year
• Only one parent has custody and the child travels without that parent: also a copy of the ID of both parents, if both sign the consent form; if only the parent with custody signs, the Custody Register extract and a copy of that parent's ID. Instead of the extract, a court decision less than 1 year old (or validated with its stamp) is accepted
• Both parents have custody and both travel: the family book (trouwboekje) if they are married to each other; otherwise the child's full extract (no older than 1 year)
• Both parents have custody and the child travels with one of them: also the consent form and a copy of both parents' IDs
• Both parents have custody and the child travels with another person (including a school or club): also the consent form signed by both parents and a copy of their IDs
• If one of the parents has died: the death certificate (or the full extract of the deceased)
• Guardian appointed by the court, the child travels with the guardian: the court decision appointing them, recently validated with the court's stamp (or the full extract together with the Custody Register extract). Travelling without the guardian: also the consent form and a copy of the guardian's ID or passport
• Child under supervision (ondertoezichtstelling): there is a separate procedure through the family guardian (gezinsvoogd), with a statement of the travel details and copies of the documents; contact them well in advance
• If the trip falls outside the school holidays: permission from the school (or, if the child has an exemption from the Ministry of Education, that decision; in special cases, permission from the Leerplicht section of the Uitvoeringsorganisatie Onderwijs & Wetenschap, Bon Bini Business Center, Schottegatweg Oost 10)
• If the child is emigrating (for example, to study abroad): the deregistration certificate from Public Affairs (Kranshi), with its stamp in the passport (required by the official page on additional documents)
• If the child is emigrating alone within the Kingdom, without their parents or guardian: the declaration of no objection from the Guardianship Council (Voogdijraad), which must be requested at least 6 months in advance (official page on additional documents)
• Foreign child who does not live in Curaçao: their birth certificate and identity and travel documents; the ID of the parent or guardian giving consent and of the accompanying adult; proof of who their legal representative is; the consent form signed by the parent(s) not travelling; and, if there are special circumstances, official documents apostilled or legalised

Steps to apply

1. Work out which case is yours: child not recognised, only one parent with custody, both parents with custody or a guardian appointed by the court, and who the child travels with
   How to get this done

   Each case requires different documents (see 'Requirements'). Since July 1, 2025 a circular has simplified the list: in many cases the Custody Register extract is no longer needed.

2. Request the extracts in good time (no older than 1 year)
   How to get this done

   The full extract "for travelling with minors" is requested at Public Affairs (Kranshi), by appointment at loketdigital.gobiernu.cw; it costs XCG 10. The Custody Register (Gezagsregister) extract, if your case requires it, is requested by email at gezagregister@caribjustitia.org at least 5 working days in advance, collected at the Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie (Emancipatie Boulevard Dominico F. 'Don' Martina 18) and costs XCG 50.

3. If the child is not travelling with both parents: complete and sign the official consent form
   How to get this done

   One per child. It is signed by the parent or guardian giving consent and by the person accompanying the child, with a copy of the passport or ID of the person giving consent. No notary is needed. Download it from the 'Forms' section of this page.

4. Gather copies of the ID of the adults your case requires (parents, guardian, companion)
   How to get this done

   A legible copy of a valid passport or ID card.

5. Present everything at Border Control at the time of travel (it is not processed in advance with the Toelatingsorganisatie)
   How to get this done

   Border control: port and Hato airport

   Curaçao International Airport (Hato) and the official seaports — Google Maps

   Depends on flight and ship schedules: it is not an office you visit in advance

   +5999 839-1000 (airport, main line)

   NO appointment is made: this is the checkpoint that inspects your documents when you enter or leave the country (airport or port). Arrive well ahead of your flight or boarding.

Downloadable forms

• Consent form for travelling with minors (Spanish) DOCX · 310 KB · Official English version DOCX · 309 KB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Toestemmingsformulier Reizen met Minderjarigen

  Consent form for a minor travelling abroad with one parent or with an adult other than both parents/guardians. It speeds up border control.

  Section 1 — Minor's details: Surname, first names, date and place of birth, nationality(ies), number and validity of the minor's travel document (passport).

  Section 2 — Details of the person(s) accompanying the minor: If the minor is NOT travelling alone: full details (or of the organisation, e.g. school or sports club, and the responsible contact person) of up to 2 companions, including their relationship to the minor.

  Section 3 — Details of whoever gives consent but does NOT travel: Details of the person with parental authority/custody who signs the consent without travelling (usually the parent staying behind), including address and contact phone.

  Section 4 — Travel details: Exact outbound and return dates, flight details, destination address/country, phone and name of the family contact or place of stay at the destination.

  Section 5 — Signatures: Both the person(s) giving consent (with parental authority) AND the companion(s) must sign, each with date and place of signing.

  Tips

  • Always attach a copy of the passport or ID of the person giving consent. Depending on the case, you may also need: the child's birth certificate, the marriage certificate, an extract from the Custody Register, the school's permission if travelling outside the holidays or, if the child is emigrating within the Kingdom without their parents, the Guardianship Council's declaration of no objection (request it 6 months in advance).
  • Check the 'Travelling with minors' circular on immigrationcur.org for the COMPLETE list of documents for your specific situation: this form alone is not always enough.
  • If the other parent does not agree or cannot be reached, this form does not replace permission from a court: consult a family lawyer.
• Policy circular on travelling with minors PDF · 635 KB
• Update to the policy on travelling with minors (2025) PDF · 165 KB

Important notes

• Legal basis: articles 233 and 234 of Book 1 of the Curaçao Civil Code.
• The extracts (the full extract and the Custody Register extract) can be up to 1 year old: that is what the circular in force since July 1, 2025 says. Some Toelatingsorganisatie pages still say 6 months.
• Unlike the other procedures in this document, this is not an application before the Toelatingsorganisatie with a response deadline — it is documentation that is verified at the time of travel, so it's a good idea to prepare it in advance, but it is not 'filed' with weeks of waiting.
• If documents are missing, the child is not allowed to leave or enter. A foreign child can be refused admission or placed, temporarily, under the supervision of the authorities while the case is looked into. A foreign child travelling alone must be reported to the Immigration Supervision and Border Control Unit with the authorisation form signed by their legal representatives.
• Emergencies and special cases (for example, medical ones): Team Leader of the Border Control Department, +5999 674 0143. The rules in force are those of the circular of June 26, 2025, in force since July 1, 2025, which simplified the 2023 one.
• If the child travels more than twice a year for school exams or sports events, their legal representative can ask, through the school, club or federation, to submit the documents just once a year. The request goes to the Immigration Supervision and Border Control Unit (UVTG) of the Police (Winston Churchillweg z/n, Rio Canario; +599 9 674 0063), in the same calendar year and no later than 2 weeks before the trip. If approved, the child travels with a copy of that decision and a valid passport.
• If the other parent with custody does not give permission (there is no contact, they refuse or cannot), you can ask the court for substitute consent (vervangende toestemming). It also works for getting the child's passport.
• Forms: the "Update to the policy on travelling with minors (2025)" is in Dutch and is the circular in force; the "Policy circular on travelling with minors" is the 2023 one and still applies where nothing changed.

Frequently asked questions