Permission for minor to travel alone

[Jaikers]

DS is 16, travelling with DS1 who is 18 to visit relatives.
Does the document giving him permission to travel need to be certified? Also do they need certified copies of birth certificates etc? Have received conflicting information on this.

What countries are they going to/through?

South Africa

When I have taken DC abroad that weren't my own I had a letter from their parents (template from internet) with their passport numbers, my passport number and childs passport numbers on.
I was asked for it every time when entering Portugal (we own a property there)
I am not sure if a sibling will be the same but better to have such a letter and not use it

Thank you, I’ve done the letter already but just not sure whether getting it certified and the accompanying documents certified is necessary.

South Africa is much stricter than many countries, although their rules seem to be mainly concerned with children with South African passports, do DS1 and DS2 have UK passports @Jaikers ?

The Foreign Office page links to this page of the South African government's https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/statements-speeches/621-updated-advisory-new-requirements-for-children-travelling-through-south-african-ports-of-entry which implies that a non-SA child needs only the passport, plus permission of everyone with parental responsibility (which is a condition of leaving the country).

we didn't but this was EU so I am not sure about other places

It's very country specific, look at the information link that's been posted. For the EU there's no issue for 16+ dd took nothing

Thank you @tribpot , that’s a useful link. They have uk passports but maybe best to get things certified just in case

I don't think you need to get the letter certified @Jaikers - I did it for travel to Alaska in case the plane needed to divert to Canada where the rules are v strict. In the event no-one looked at it of course! But there's nothing on either the FCDO or South African Gov website to suggest you need to.

On the other hand, I can imagine an 18 and 16 year old travelling alone together are going to attract some attention, I think I would do it just to be on the safe side.

Who would you get it certified from?

Also check with the airline. For example Air France dont want a letter they want their specific form. Should say on the web booking or give them a call.

You can get a notary to certify it, meaning the notary has witnessed the signing of the letter and verified the signatures of the people who signed.

Thanks. The airline don’t need anything, it’s just for the border.