Children are not free extras on a parent’s day count. Each travelling child is an individual for entry conditions, documents, and — for third-country short stays — presence days.
Basics
- Minors generally need their own passport.
- Each child’s presence days count toward that child’s 90/180 limit when travelling as a third-country visitor.
- Airlines and borders may ask for parental consent letters when a child travels with one parent or another adult.
- ETIAS (when open) will apply per traveller, including children, subject to fee exemptions by age.
Shared itineraries, separate clocks
A parent who already used 80 days cannot “assign” spare days from a child who stayed home earlier. Likewise, a child who visited grandparents for a long summer has less room even if the parent’s year looked different.
Consent and custody documents
Requirements vary by airline and country. Notarised consent from the non-travelling parent, birth certificates, and custody orders are commonly requested. Carry more proof than you think you need for solo-parent trips.
Family visits
Combine this page with family-visit documentation when staying with relatives.
Build calculator plans per person when histories differ. One family spreadsheet with three different used-day totals is normal.
Check your remaining Schengen days
Free calculator — runs in your browser, no account.Frequently asked questions
Do infants count toward 90 days?
Yes, if they are present in Schengen as third-country short-stay travellers.
Can my child travel on my passport?
Generally no — minors need their own travel document.
Are ETIAS fees waived for children?
Planned rules exempt under-18s from the fee once ETIAS opens; authorisation may still be required.