Crossing a border with children: documents checklist

Updated: October 29, 2026

Every child needs their own valid passport or, for EU citizens, an ID card. A Bulgarian child leaving Bulgaria without one or both parents typically also needs a notarised declaration of consent from the parent who is not travelling. These rules still apply on Schengen borders with Greece and Romania, even without routine checks. A private transfer from Sofia to Thessaloniki costs 230 € per vehicle.

The basic rule: one child, one document

Children can no longer be written into a parent’s passport in the EU, the UK or most other countries. Each child, including babies, needs a travel document in their own name. For EU children that can be an ID card where the destination accepts it; for British children it is always a passport.

Document	Who needs it	When it matters
Child’s passport	All non-EU children; EU children going to Turkey and most non-EU countries	Every border
Child’s ID card	EU children, as an alternative to a passport	Greece, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania
Notarised declaration of consent	Bulgarian children travelling without one or both parents	Leaving Bulgaria
Letter of consent	Non-Bulgarian children travelling with one parent or another adult	Recommended for all borders
Birth certificate	Child whose surname differs from the accompanying adult	Helps prove the relationship
Court order or guardianship papers	Children travelling with a guardian	Any border

Bulgarian children: the consent declaration

Bulgarian law on identity documents sets conditions for minors leaving the country. In the usual case, a Bulgarian child who travels without one of the parents, or with another adult such as a grandparent, needs a declaration of consent from the parent or parents who are not travelling. The declaration is signed before a notary in Bulgaria, or before a Bulgarian consul abroad, and states the countries and the period it covers.

Because this is a legal requirement and the details are set by Bulgarian law, confirm the current wording with the Border Police or a notary before you travel. Requirements for children with dual nationality can also differ.

Non-Bulgarian children

For British, Irish, American and other foreign children, Bulgaria does not have the same notarised form, but border officers anywhere can ask questions when a child travels without both parents. The UK and many other governments recommend a signed letter of consent from the parent who is not travelling, with their contact details and a copy of their passport. Carry the child’s birth certificate if surnames differ.

Border by border

• Greece and Romania: internal Schengen borders, so no routine checks since 1 January 2025 according to the European Commission. The documents are still required and can be asked for at a spot check. See Kulata and Ilinden–Exochi.
• Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia: external borders with full checks on exit from Bulgaria and on entry to the next country. This is where consent declarations are most likely to be read.
• Return to Bulgaria: non-EU children are also registered in the EU’s Entry/Exit System; under-12s are exempt from giving fingerprints, but a facial image is taken.

Checklist the night before

1. Each child’s passport or ID card, valid for the whole trip.
2. Notarised declaration of consent for Bulgarian children, if a parent is not travelling.
3. Letter of consent and copy of the absent parent’s passport for foreign children.
4. Birth certificates where surnames differ.
5. Visa or e-visa for each child if the destination requires one.
6. Child seat or booster added in the booking form for the right age and weight.
7. Snacks, water and something to do at the border, which can take an hour on an external crossing.

In the vehicle

When you book, add a child seat or booster seat for each child who needs one and enter the correct number of passengers, including babies. Long cross-border drives also go better with planned stops. A Sofia to Thessaloniki transfer of about 4 hours usually works with one break; longer routes need more.

Keep the children’s documents in a separate folder with the adults’ passports. If one passport is missing at a border, the whole car waits.

For a wider look at what still gets checked inside Schengen, see our explainer on Bulgaria’s Schengen borders.