Even though an official document is no longer required, parents are still advised to print a letter of consent with all contacts
According to the changes of the Travel Documents Act that have come into power recently, children younger than 14 will be able to travel aboard alone without the certified permission from their parents or guardians which was required until now. Head of the migration department in the Border Authority of the Ministry of Interior Zvonimir Vrbljanin explained to Hina that according to the Schengen Border Act which regulates the methods in which border police controls passengers, there are no limitations on border crossings when it comes to children.
“This Act supersedes our own regulations. It would be discriminatory to say the least not to allow our children to travel to EU countries without the certified permission when children from other EU countries have no limitations” Vrbljanin commented.
Vrbljanin also stated that the Schengen border code sets the standards that enforce border control especially when it comes to children “If any member of the border police has any doubts regarding the safety of any child, he has the authority to check with the parents or family where the child is staying abroad. Only after the officer is sure that the child is safe will he let him cross the border”.
He is convinced these new measures are not playing into the hands of child smugglers “Well, I don’t think a piece of paper stamped by the public notary was any kind of a guarantee. Remember, Public notary only checks the signature he doesn’t check the authenticity of the actual content” .
However, even though certified documents are no longer required, if a child is travelling on its own, parents are still advised to provide a letter with contacts where parents can be reached.
