1. Overview
According to the Child Act, Chapter 352, the term "child" means any person who is under the age of 18 years.
As the competent authority for conducting passport control at Larnaca and Paphos International Airports, we follow a specific procedure aimed at the safety and protection of all minors that travel without their parents or guardians. |
2. Prerequisites/Procedure
All airlines departing from Larnaca and Paphos airports require parents or guardians of minor children between the ages 5-16, to complete all the information requested in the form "Statement of Parent or Guardian upon delivery of the unaccompanied minor’.
The unaccompanied minor is brought to the Airport either by both parents or guardians, or one of them, and handed over to the officer on duty of the particular airline.
At the same time, along with the valid travel documents of the minor, parents or guardians must also give to the personnel of the airline that will undertake the escort of the child on the plane, the above-mentioned form signed by the parents or guardians.
If one of the parents or guardians is handing over the minor to the duty officer of the airline, he/she will be asked whether there is written consent from the other parent or guardian allowing the minor to travel alone.
It should be noted that the airline's duty officer does not oblige the parent or guardian to provide written consent signed and certified by the other parent or guardian in order to allow the minor child to depart, as this procedure is carried out by officers of the Aliens and Immigration Service during passport control.
This form includes the personal details of the child, details of his / her destination, the complete personal information, addresses and cell phone numbers of the parent or guardian handing the child over, as well as the full personal details, addresses and mobile numbers of the person(s) expecting to pick up the unaccompanied minor on arrival.
Upon completion of the process of handing over the minor to the airline attendant, the necessary documents are placed into a special folder which remains in the possession of the minor during the journey.
During the passport control procedure conducted by officers of the Aliens and Immigration Service it is checked whether there is a written consent by the parents or guardians allowing the minor to travel without their escort and verified if he / she is on the list of wanted persons STOP LIST or ALERT LIST.
Subsequently, the airline escort takes the minor to the departure office so that the written statement of the parents or guardians and the ID or passport of the minor is photocopied and archived.
Upon completion of the above procedure the minor is accompanied by the airline staff and handed over to the cabin crew. Then, s/he is taken on board and seated in a seat that allows constant supervision by the crew throughout the flight.
Upon arrival and landing in the country of destination, the ground staff of the airline at the airport of the country of destination undertakes the supervision and escort of the minor until s/he is delivered to the responsible person that had been previously named in the relevant declaration form of the parent or guardian. It should be noted that the person awaiting at the airport of arrival to pick up the minor shall present a passport or an ID for verification purposes.
If the person referred to in the declaration of the parents or guardians is not present at the arrivals area in order to pick up the minor, the responsible airline employee shall try to locate him / her. If this is not possible the minor will be returned to the departure airport under the responsibility and supervision of the airline's employees. |
3. Certificates
· Statement of Parent or Guardian upon delivery of the unaccompanied minor’. This form includes the personal details of the child, details of his / her destination, the complete personal information, addresses and cell phone numbers of the parent or guardian handing the child over, as well as the full personal details, addresses and mobile numbers of the person(s) expecting to pick up the unaccompanied minor on arrival.
· Valid Travel Documents
· One of the parents or guardians is handing over the minor to the duty officer of the airline, he/she will be asked whether there is written consent from the other parent or guardian allowing the minor to travel alone.
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4. Legal Reference
· According to the Child Act, Chapter 352, the term "child" means any person who is under the age of 18 years.
· They have to present the documents at the airport
· The procedure is free
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5. AssistanceServices
CyprusPolice – Immigration Office – Passport Control
Passport Control Office LarnacaAirport : 24804622, 4804621,24804685
Passport Control Office PaphosAirport : 26806420, 26806448,26806452 |