Letters with parental permission to travel

returnplanning · 9 Nov 19, 07:14 PM

Hi all

My nieces (12 + 14)will be coming on our next trip with us. For various complex reasons, neither of their parents will be accompanying them (their parents are divorced, and hile dad has lots of contact, he won't be coming, and they no longer live with their mother, but with their maternal grandmother who is also coming with us). Grandma does not have parental responsibility.

Presumably it would be sensible to get a letter signed by both parents to say that they grant permission for the holiday? Do we need to bring birth certs as well in case?

Pinchy · 9 Nov 19, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by returnplanning

Hi all

My nieces (12 + 14)will be coming on our next trip with us. For various complex reasons, neither of their parents will be accompanying them (their parents are divorced, and hile dad has lots of contact, he won't be coming, and they no longer live with their mother, but with their maternal grandmother who is also coming with us). Grandma does not have parental responsibility.

Presumably it would be sensible to get a letter signed by both parents to say that they grant permission for the holiday? Do we need to bring birth certs as well in case?

Yes it would. If you have the birth certs that can only help. There's very little consistency in what you get asked for. If they are suspicious or being efficient the child might be taken aside and questioned on their own which can be rather intimidating.

The recommendation is letters from both parents, preferably notarized as the signature could be anyone's unless you have other documentary evidence. But many don't bother with the notarization.

It's important to be able to prove you have parental responsibility if they need any urgent medical care.

GoofyK · 10 Nov 19, 01:25 AM

My sis took my daughter to Japan last year. I gave her a copy of my daughter�s birth certificate, copy of my passport, and a consent letter. Online u could find a template. Letter should include the parents full name, passport details and contact details like home address and telephone.

But not once she was ask to show it. But it�s best to have it.

Whereas when I travel with my own daughter ( we have different surname) I get ask to see proof of our relations all the time. So I now bring copy of birth certificate every time we travel. Just in case.

DiszeeBelle · 10 Nov 19, 11:13 AM

We were asked, for the first time ever I might add, for a signed letter for my nephew traveling in our car to France. Hubby explained grandparents in other car and because they had same surname as him they could sign the letter. When coming back they didn't even get asked!

birdiesX4 · 11 Nov 19, 12:34 AM

We took our sons friend when he was 16. We had a letter which had details of both parents, passports, addresses and phone numbers and they signed it. We included where we were staying and dates and that both parents gave me consent to take him and make decisions about emergency medical care until a parent could be contacted. His parents were recently separated and he had a different surname to his mum. I got the template off the internet but didnt have it notarized.
We were asked about why he was travelling with us, how we knew each other, who had bought his ticket and how much cash he had brought. They asked him questions on his own and then our son and then confirmed a few things with us about the situation. I showed them the letter. The immigration officer stamped and signed it and said to keep it safe in case we were asked for it again. It was serious but not challenging and didnt feel like we were being interrogated at all. Our sons friend was a bit overwhelmed but the officer said not to be it was just normal to check.

We didnt get asked for any clarification again.

Dunc · 11 Nov 19, 04:05 PM

Best practice is a letter from parents with your name and details, birth certificates (or copies) if possible, and a contact number for parents as well (make sure they know roughly what time to receive a call). If you or child get questioned, don't worry. It's fairly common, and just so that authorities are covering all bases.

Excited2019 · 11 Nov 19, 07:08 PM

We always get questioned in uk and got questioned going from Toronto to orlando but other than ask dd who I was nothing else as we had all paperwork.
I always ask for a letter from her dad as we are not together.
My only argument about this whole situation is my ex and his wife can take dd without permission from me as they all have the same surname. Bizarre that her step mum could take her away without question and me, her mum cant 🤔

11 Nov 19, 04:05 PM	#6
	11 Nov 19, 04:05 PM Dunc Very Serious Dibber
Dunc Very Serious Dibber Join Date: Jul 16	Best practice is a letter from parents with your name and details, birth certificates (or copies) if possible, and a contact number for parents as well (make sure they know roughly what time to receive a call). If you or child get questioned, don't worry. It's fairly common, and just so that authorities are covering all bases.

11 Nov 19, 07:08 PM	#7
	11 Nov 19, 07:08 PM Excited2019 Surfing at Typhoon Lagoon
Excited2019 Surfing at Typhoon Lagoon Join Date: Aug 19	We always get questioned in uk and got questioned going from Toronto to orlando but other than ask dd who I was nothing else as we had all paperwork. I always ask for a letter from her dad as we are not together. My only argument about this whole situation is my ex and his wife can take dd without permission from me as they all have the same surname. Bizarre that her step mum could take her away without question and me, her mum cant 🤔