It assumed through the American Passport issuance regulations and laws that the kidnapping factor has been addressed [parental kidnapping] by having the parents be present when the application is submitted. The parents must bring specific documentation proving their identity, and then both sign the passport application. Once all that has been compiled, it is up to the parents to supply their child with the rest of the documentation for safety purposes. If the child is younger than 16 years old, the airline company may have its own rules in terms of what constitutes an Unaccompanied Minor, but if traveling with a team/coach then that is not a necessary consideration as they are not traveling alone. However, for a 16 year old + the rules get a little less stringent [taken directly from the US Gov. passport site]:
- Have a parent or guardian present photo identification if the minor does not have identification of his or her own
- Establish parental consent (You may be requested to provide written parental consent for a child age 16 or 17 if it is not implied on the application)
When went back to Europe in December, my daughter who is under 16 needed both of our consents/documentations, etc. However, my son had a driver's license and the agent at the post office only required his birth certificate and his driver's license. In other words, once you turn 16 in the US, you only need the assistance and/or consent of one parent.
It sounds to me that your country has more steps in place than the US for a 16 year old +?
**If I have left anything out in terms of the rules above, please chime in. I would not want to leave any important details out as it is a serious matter when children travel without their parents in general.