Travel Documents for Minors Going to a Summer Camp in Spain

The short answer

Most children going to a camp in Spain need a valid passport or, for some nationalities, a valid national ID card. Depending on where you live, they may also need a visa or a travel authorization. If a child travels without both parents, airlines and border officers may ask for a signed consent letter. On top of that, the camp will ask for medical information and emergency contacts. The sections below explain each item. Rules change, so always confirm them with official sources shortly before you travel.

Passport and entry rules

Spain is part of the Schengen Area. Entry rules depend on the traveler's nationality, not on age, and children follow the same rules as adults. Some nationalities can enter without a visa for short stays, some need a visa and some can travel with an ID card within the EU.

• Check passport validity. Many countries require a passport that is valid for a certain period after the trip ends. Look at the expiry date now, because a renewal can take weeks.
• Check visa rules. Your government's travel advice and the official Spanish and EU pages explain whether your family needs a visa or a travel authorization.
• Check if anything new started. Entry systems for visitors to Europe have been changing. Do not rely on an old article, including this one. Look up the current rule before you book.

Good official starting points are the UK government travel advice for Spain and the travel pages of your own country's foreign ministry.

Consent letter for a child traveling without both parents

A consent letter is a short written statement, signed by the parent or parents who stay home, saying the child may travel and naming the adult or organization who will look after them. There is no single rule that applies to every country and every airline, but it is common for airlines, border officers or national rules to ask for one when a child travels alone, with only one parent or with another adult.

What a good consent letter usually contains:

1. The child's full name, date of birth and passport number.
2. The names, addresses and phone numbers of the parents or legal guardians.
3. The travel dates, the destination and the flight details.
4. The name and contact details of the person or organization that receives the child in Spain.
5. A statement that the parents agree to the trip.
6. Date and signatures. Some countries ask for a notarized or officially stamped letter.

Ask your airline and your country's authorities whether a letter is required and which form they accept. If parents are divorced or separated, check whether one signature is enough or whether both are needed.

Documents to carry in your child's hand luggage

Document	Why
Passport or ID card	Needed at the airport and for entry
Visa or travel authorization, if required	Needed before departure for some nationalities
Consent letter, if asked	Shows the parents agree to the trip
Copy of a parent's ID	Helps officers check the letter
Birth certificate copy	Proof of the family link, if a surname differs
Flight confirmation	Shows the route and the meeting plan
Camp confirmation and address	Shows where your child is going
Emergency contact card	Phone numbers of parents and the camp
Insurance and health card details	Needed if your child needs a doctor

Keep a digital copy of everything in your own phone and email, and a paper set in the suitcase as a backup.

Medical information and health insurance

The camp will ask for details about allergies, medicines and medical conditions. Write them clearly and tell the staff before arrival, especially if your child takes daily medicine or carries an emergency allergy kit. Ask the camp which forms it needs and whether prescriptions or doctor letters should be in English or Spanish.

• Insurance. Naranja Camp includes insurance in the price. Check what any camp includes and whether you want extra travel insurance from home.
• Health cards. Families from EU countries can usually bring the European Health Insurance Card. UK families can check the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). These cards are not a replacement for travel insurance.
• Vaccinations. Spain does not usually ask for special vaccines from most travelers, but check your country's advice and make sure routine vaccinations are up to date.

Who meets your child at the airport?

For a child flying alone, write down exactly who receives them in Spain. At Naranja Camp a staff member meets every child at Valencia airport. Share the flight number and arrival time with the camp as early as you can. If the airline offers an unaccompanied minor service, read the rules in our guide unaccompanied minor flights to Spain, because each airline sets its own age limits and forms.

Timeline: when to prepare each document

1. 3 to 6 months before: check passport expiry and visa rules. Apply for or renew documents if needed.
2. 2 to 3 months before: book flights and ask the airline about minors traveling alone or with one parent.
3. 1 month before: prepare the consent letter, collect medical forms and check insurance.
4. 1 week before: print and copy everything, pack the documents in hand luggage and share flight details with the camp.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until the last month to check the passport expiry date.
• Assuming that rules for adults and children are the same for every airline.
• Putting all documents in checked luggage.
• Forgetting a signed consent letter when only one parent comes to the airport.
• Not telling the camp about allergies or medicine in advance.
• Relying on an old article for visa or entry rules.

What if your child's trip includes a connecting flight?

A connection can add rules of its own, such as a transit visa in some countries or a stricter airline policy for minors. Choose a direct flight when you can, or check the transit rules for every airport. Many parents prefer a direct flight for a first trip alone. See Valencia airport to city centre for what happens after landing.

Prepare your child too

Talk through the airport steps with your child: passport control, security, where to wait and who to ask for help. Give them a small folder with the documents and a card with phone numbers. Agree how and when they will message you on arrival. Read homesickness at summer camp and what to pack for summer camp in Europe to finish the preparation.

Example: Naranja Camp in Valencia

Naranja Camp is a residential summer camp in Valencia, Spain, for ages 10 to 16. The two groups in July 2027 run from 4 to 17 July and from 18 to 31 July. Two weeks cost €2,800 and four weeks €5,300, including accommodation, meals, 20 hours of Spanish a week, activities, insurance and airport pickup. Flights are not included. Staff are on site 24 hours a day. Learn more on summer camp in Valencia.

Frequently asked questions

What documents does a child need for a summer camp in Spain?

A valid passport, or a valid ID card for some nationalities, plus a visa or travel authorization if your nationality requires one. Many families also carry a consent letter, medical information, insurance details and the camp's address.

Does my child need a consent letter to fly to Spain?

It depends on your country, the airline and who travels with the child. A letter is often requested when a child travels alone or with one parent. Ask your airline and your country's authorities.

How long should the passport be valid?

Requirements differ by nationality. Check the rule for your passport and renew early, because renewals can take weeks.

Does my child need a visa for Spain?

That depends on your nationality, not on age. Check the official Spanish, EU and national government pages shortly before you travel.

Who receives my child at the airport in Valencia?

At Naranja Camp a staff member meets every child at Valencia airport. Send the flight details to the camp ahead of time.

Is insurance included in the camp price?

At Naranja Camp insurance is included. Ask any camp what it covers and decide if you want extra travel insurance.

Keep reading

• Unaccompanied minor flights to Spain: airline rules and what parents should check
• What to pack for summer camp: a complete packing list
• Summer camp in Valencia: dates, prices, a day at camp and how to book