France to Join South Africa in Travel Rules for Unaccompanied Minors

Unaccompanied minors travelling from France will be obliged to travel with written authorisation from 15 January 2017, in a move similar to that introduced by South Africa last year.

The decree stipulates that all unaccompanied minors (under 18) travelling from France must have written permission to leave the country signed by one of their parents, or by the parent who has custody.

However, whilst SA introduced the law to prevent child trafficking, France has reportedly brought back the law – which was repealed in 2013 – in an attempt to fight organised crime and terrorism, and to prevent youngsters making their way to Syria to train as terrorists.

The other difference is that new French law only applies to unaccompanied children; whilst in South Africa it applies also to those children travelling with one parent – a signed affidavit is required as proof for minors travelling in and out of South Africa that the other parent authorises the travel. The same applies for children travelling with one parent in and out of Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco and Switzerland.

The French decree was signed on 2 November 2016, and the form that will need to be filled in has not yet been made available. Updates will be made here.