AboutSam Expertise I can answer questions about the country`s history, culture, politics, economy, geography. I speak fluent Slovak. If you are planning a visit, I can recommend the places to see - especially the nature in Slovakia is worth it.
Experience I am a Slovak which makes me an expert in the language and culture. I am also a traveller so I know Slovakia quite well. I will do anything to find out the answer to your question.
Question My 17 year old son will be flying alone from the US to Austria and will then go to Slovakia.
Is he considered a minor?
Does he need a notarized permission slip signed by his parents?
Thanks
Answer Hello Nancy,
yes, he is a minor. Across Europe, the legal age is 18 for almost everything
(incl. drinking and driving - one at a time, of course :-).
Having said that, I am pretty sure he doesn't need any written permission or
anything to travel either alone or with other adults. I haven't heard of anyone
using such a thing, nor can I imagine anyone asking for it from a 17-year-old. I
travelled at his age - in and out of Europe - and all I had was my travel
documents. Plus those were times when there were still border controls; nowadays
he won't even have to use his passport once in Europe (but he needs to have it
on him; that's a legal obligation).
We do sometimes give written permission to kids when sending them with other
adults (to summer camps etc.) but even that's more like a statement that we are
sending them healthy etc.
I think it really depends on the point of your asking. If you want to know if it
might come useful, the answer is definitely no. Europe is full of traveling
youngsters, even non-Europeans like your son. If you want to be 100% sure
legally, I can only provide a guess (which is also a "no"), but you would have
to check with the Embassy (http://slovakia.usembassy.gov/) or with the Slovak
Foreign Ministry (http://www.mzv.sk/) - or the Austrian equivalents.
I hope that helps. And I hope your son enjoys his stay!
