posted by Travel Cat on Sep 20
Travel With Kids Series - Essential Documents - Part 4
It may not even have crossed your mind until just now - but some countries require documented proof that any children with you are yours, and that the other parent has given their permission for their children to travel with the other parent.
It is very rare, but you could be refused entry to a country without it. Taking copies of birth certificates, passport pages or signed letters form the absent parent can all save you time when arriving in a country - so be prepared.
The same goes for adopted children - passport control may well ask for certified proof that the children ‘belong’ to you or that you are their legal guardians. Other family members (grandparents, aunties, etc) will also require written proof that the children’s parents agree to them traveling with you.
Younger children are more likely to be checked than older children, due to the huge trade in trafficked babies and young children across the globe. Unless the children are of a different skin tone to their traveling parent, there are not usually that many issues - but there is no harm in being prepared for all eventualities to avoid wasting time and hitting ‘red-tape’ on your journey.
2 parents traveling with their own children:
This is fine in legal terms, as both parents of the child/children are present, and agree for the child/children to travel.
Possible problems could be encountered if the parents have different surnames, and/or look very different from the child/children. In these cases, it may be worth carrying their birth certificates or a written confirmation from a solicitor to avoid any issues.
1 parent traveling with their own children:
Regardless of marital status - it would be wise to carry a letter of consent to travel for more unusual destinations from the absent parent. This would usually detail the child/children’s names, nationality and passport number, and the permission to travel statement.
Details of the mode of travel and destination could be included, and of course the signature and nationality/passport number of the absent parent. Ideally this should also be counter-signed or stamped by a solicitor or notary.
If you have no idea who the absent parent is, or the absent parent refuses or cannot complete this declaration, then you would need advice from a solicitor regarding an attestation to this effect.
1 or 2 Adoptive Parents or Legal Guardians with their Children:
You must travel with their adoption certificates or legal paperwork that attests to the fact that you are their legal representatives and that you give them permission to travel.
If there are 2 names showing on the legal paperwork and only 1 ‘parent’ traveling, then you would be wise to carry a consent letter from the other named person as well, granting consent to travel for the child/children.
Other Relative or Friend:
You will need a legally represented document from both parents declaring that they have given you permission to travel with their children.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article - problems are very rare, but for the sake of a letter and a copy of a passport, it is worth being over-prepared.
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