Under martial law, notarised consent from the second parent for a child to leave Ukraine **is in many cases not required**: a child may travel with one parent on the birth certificate and the child's passport alone. Consent becomes mandatory when the child travels with someone who is not a parent (outside a simplified list of relatives), relocates permanently, or when the destination country requires it. Current as of Q2 2026 — verify with the State Border Guard Service before travelling.
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Disclaimer. This material is informational and reflects practice as of Q2 2026; it is not legal advice. Child-exit rules under martial law change and destination-country requirements differ — verify with official guidance from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Border Guard Service, and the destination consulate before travelling.
Key Takeaways
- Under martial law, a child travelling with one parent needs no notarised consent from the other (birth certificate + child's passport suffice).
- Notarised consent of both parents is needed if a non-parent accompanies the child (coach, teacher, acquaintance) or for permanent relocation.
- Consent is also not required when the child travels with a grandparent, an adult sibling, or a stepparent (simplified martial-law rules).
- If you, as a parent, are abroad and must give consent — use the consulate, e-Consul, or a local notary + apostille.
- Border guards check a database: the other parent may have filed an objection to the exit.
When consent is NOT required (martial law)
During martial law, simplified rules apply. A child may cross the border without the other parent's notarised consent when accompanied by one parent — the birth certificate (showing both parents) and the child's passport are enough. This removes the need for a notarial act in most family trips. The simplification also covers travel with a grandparent, adult sibling, or stepparent. Consent is likewise not required if the other parent is a foreign national or stateless, or where there are documents on their death, loss of parental rights, or being declared missing.
The takeaway: before ordering notarised consent, check whether your case falls under the simplification — often the document simply is not needed. Do not pay for an act you can skip.
When consent IS mandatory
Notarised consent (or sometimes a power of attorney) is still needed when: a non-parent outside the simplified list of relatives accompanies the child (then both parents' notarised consent is required, naming the companion, country and travel period); the child relocates permanently abroad; or the destination country or carrier explicitly requires it. Because border practice and country requirements differ, verify your case with the State Border Guard Service and the destination consulate in advance.
If you, a parent, are abroad
A typical diaspora situation: one parent is abroad but consent or a power of attorney for the child is still needed. You can issue the notarial document from abroad three ways:
- Ukrainian consulate — signature certification on the consent statement; the document is in Ukrainian and works in Ukraine without apostille or translation.
- e-Consul (online, since 1 July 2025) — a child-travel statement is on the list of available actions: submit the draft online, the consul reviews it.
- Local notary + apostille + translation — if the consulate is unavailable; the apostille is affixed by your country of residence, then a notarised Ukrainian translation.
notaryk helps choose the route and word the consent or power of attorney correctly for the specific trip.
Consent or power of attorney: the difference
They are different documents. Consent to travel is a certified statement by one (or both) parents permitting the child to cross the border with a named companion, country and period. A power of attorney is broader — it authorises the companion to represent the child's interests abroad (deal with authorities, make decisions during the trip). For an ordinary tourist trip, consent usually suffices; for longer stays or representation, a power of attorney may be needed.
What the consent should contain
Properly drafted consent usually includes: the consenting parent's details; the child's details; the companion's details (if applicable); the country or countries; the travel period; and the purpose. Vague wording ("any country, any term") is rejected by some authorities and carriers, so specifics save time. A notary or consul certifies the document; the abroad parent's signature is certified where they reside.
Cost, timing and how notaryk helps
Honest framing: the cost is the consular fee or notary's charge plus, on the local-notary route, the apostille and translation; the MFA publishes no fixed "fee for consent". Timing depends on the route. notaryk first helps determine whether consent is even needed in your case (so you don't pay for nothing), and if it is, suggests the route, drafts the consent or power of attorney for the specific trip, and arranges apostille and translation. Physical presence in Ukraine is not required.
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