My child is travelling with only one parent. Do we need a consent letter (muvafakatname)?
It is not always asked for, but a notarised consent letter may be required when leaving Turkey. To avoid problems, carry the other parent's written consent and check with the consulate before you travel.
When a child travels with only one parent, the police at passport control sometimes ask for the other parent's consent and sometimes do not. It depends on the officer and the country. It seems more likely to come up when leaving Turkey.
For children with Turkish citizenship, a notarised consent letter from the other parent (muvafakatname) may be required when leaving Turkey. When one parent alone had applied for the child's passport, it has not been asked for at departure, but practice varies.
If you do not have the document, the police can phone the other parent, get their consent and let you through. Do not count on it, though.
The other parent's written consent should say who the child is travelling with, on which dates and to which country, and carry their signature. For leaving Turkey, a notarised muvafakatname is the safest option.
Check with the Turkish consulate or a notary before you travel. The rules may be different for children with German citizenship.
This information is based on community experience and is not legal advice. Rules can change; check important things with the responsible office.
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