Authorization to leave the territory (AST)

Verified 18 December 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A minor of French or foreign nationality who usually lives in France and travel abroad must have an authorization to leave the territory (AST) if he does not travel with a person having parental authority. We present you with the information you need to know.

AST is compulsory as soon as a minor child leaves France without being accompanied by one of his or her parents or another person having parental authority (guardian, curator).

Tableau - Minors concerned or not by AST

Minors concerned

Minors not concerned

  • French child living in France
  • Foreigners child who usually lives in France
  • A French child living abroad and staying in France does not need AST when leaving France.
  • A child foreigner who lives abroad and who stays or transits through France does not need AST

FYI  

A child traveling only with his father or only with her mother has no need for AST.

Please note

If the miner leaves the metropolis to go to overseasHowever, he must have an AST in case of a stopover abroad.

You can obtain the AST using the online service below:

Authorization to leave the territory (AST)

Once you have completed the input, you can then download the completed form. You can also print the blank form and fill it out by hand.

Please note

No move is not necessary in the city hall, the prefecture or the police station.

The duration of the AST is fixed by the parent who signs it. It may be for the duration of a particular trip or for a specific period (for example, 6 months).

However, the period of validity of the AST may not exceed 1 year.

The AST form must be presented to the border guard during the border control.

The AST must be signed by the parent (holder of parental authority) who signs the form. AST does not have to be signed by the two parents.

Warning  

If a minor is the subject of a opposition to exit from the territory (OST) or to an exit ban (IST), the AST must be signed by the two parents.

In this situation, each of the 2 parents must, together or separately, authorize (via a declaration) before a judicial police officer (OPJ) the minor to leave the territory. Each parent will need to specify the destination and the period for which this exit is allowed.

This declaration must be made no later than 5 days before the date on which the minor's departure from the territory is envisaged, unless the intention to leave the territory is motivated by the death of a member of the minor's family or in exceptional circumstances (which must be justified).

If the minor travels in the European Union or abroad alone or without one of his parents, the minor must have AST and a photocopy of the valid identity card or passport of the person who signed the AST form.

The minor must also have in his possession a valid identity document to his name: identity card or passport + visa if necessary depending on the country of destination.

Please note

No other documents should not be asked.

Example :

The Family Record Book cannot be required when your child crosses the border, even if the child and the parent who signed the TA have a different name.

It is strongly recommended to consult the section Travel advice on the site diplomatie.gouv.fr:

Travel advice

Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

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