“What documents are needed for a minor child without parents/guardian to fly to Thailand with TUI?” I googled this question myself way too late and managed to panic a bit before the main document was finally in place. Here you can read more about our procedure for sending a fifteen year old to Thailand!
5 documents that our minor child needed to fly unaccompanied to Thailand with TUI
We already booked plane tickets last summer and actually had two reasonable options to choose from.
- Flight ticket (Norwegian) with guardian: Our original plan was for the daughter to fly down with her father Tobias on New Year’s Day. Because Tobias would stay in Thailand for a few extra weeks, our daughter would have had to fly home herself, which we (I) did not see as an option.
- Escape seat (TUI) with a friend’s family: The alternative was to contact the family of a friend who had booked a charter trip with TUI to Koh Lanta, departing on New Year’s Eve. This in turn meant that our daughter could rely on their family and travel with them both to and from Arlanda. Last summer we called TUI and asked if there was an airplane seat available on the same flight as the friend, whose family had already booked tickets. There were still places left and we managed to get one straight away.
Time passed and suddenly there were only a few days left until departure. I who would have SO many days to arrange all the practical details and documents? That was unwise, because suddenly we were in the middle of a chaos of many red weekends and half days during the Christmas holidays.
In the end everything went well, but I wish I had started the paperwork (mainly the certificate of clearance for a minor) a little earlier to avoid unnecessary stress. Below I have collected information about the documents that our minor child needed to fly unaccompanied to Thailand with TUI.
#1. The certificate “Permission for minor”
When a child/young person goes abroad, some kind of certificate/approval is often required, including this time. For children and young people between 12 and 17 years old, TUI requires a certificate for traveling without a guardian. The certificate is mentioned “Permission letter for minor to travel” and must be completed and sent to TUI in connection with booking a ticket. We booked the plane tickets last summer and waited almost six months to fill out the certificate, i.e. just a few days before departure. (We sent the certificate on December 28th and the departure was supposed to take place on December 31st).
I received an automatic confirmation when TUI had received the certificate and later that day I received an email informing me that the certificate had been approved and noted in the booking. We were asked to take the original certificate with us on the trip. This certificate must be presented (printed or digital) upon check-in at the airport and at each hotel. The TUI website states that the processing time is a maximum of 5 days, which in turn means that a trip for a minor without a guardian can be booked no later than 5 days before departure.
The certificate and more information can be found via this link.
#2. Plane ticket
I have been asked several times to show the return ticket to Sweden when I arrive at immigration in Thailand. My tip is to always have a copy of the flight ticket printed (or at least digitally). If you are unable to produce a return ticket within 60 days of entry, you may be denied entry into the country.
#3. Boarding pass (physical or digital)
After checking in from Sweden, you can choose to take the boarding pass with you physically and/or digitally:
- After check-in, you can print the attached PDF and take it with you to the airport or
- Save the boarding pass on your mobile by opening the email and clicking on the Passbook links. TUI does NOT recommend Google Wallet (as the app may display incorrect information) and instead refers to Apple Wallet or other apps.
Once you have your boarding pass ready, you can go straight to the baggage drop desk at the airport to collect baggage tags and leave your luggage.
#4. Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
From May 1, 2025, all foreign travelers must complete a digital form, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, before entering Thailand. (This used to be done manually on a note). The application must be completed online no later than 72 hours before arrival. When applying, we had to fill in passport details and information about our daughter’s housing. We registered on the official site TDAC.IMMIGRATION.GO:TH and was already approved with a return email. We chose to print a physical copy, but also download a digital version onto the daughter’s cell phone. Please note that this digital arrival card is NOT the same as a visa.
#5. Passport with a validity of six months after entry
To go to Thailand you need a passport that is valid for at least six months upon entry. Therefore, do not forget to check the expiry date of the passport before departure!
Other things to take into account:
- Insurance
- Vaccine
- Visa (if you stay longer than a certain number of days)
Feel free to follow along Travel Friday on Instagram for updates, tips and current trips! Cover image Koh Lanta, Thailand. Author: Annika Myhre, Resfredag.se
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