Passport question

[LivingEdwardMunchPainting]

Anyone travelled on their UK passport with their children on foreign (EC) passports? Is it OK or am I likely to get airport hassle?

[Bartimaeus]

Nope but will watch thread with interest as that is what I will be doing once DS1 arrives.
Hadn't thought it could be a problem though - all EU passports queue in the same line....

[LivingEdwardMunchPainting]

it's the surname difference I'm worried about

[LongWayRound]

I kept my maiden name after I married, so the surname on my passport is not the same as my children's surname. It's never been a problem when we've travelled, and certainly it's not been questioned in the UK, Germany or Netherlands. When they were younger I had to show proof that DH agreed to me taking them out of the country where we live, which is outside the EU: I have no idea whether the same applies in any EU countries. You could always take copies of their birth certificates, but seriously I doubt if you would be questioned.

[alexpolismum]

I live in Greece. I have a UK passport, with a very English surname, my children have Greek passports with their father's Greek surname, so within the EU.

I have been stopped at the airport and questioned. I had to show proof that I had DH's consent to take the children out of the country, and I also had documents along, translated with official stamps on, proving that they are indeed my children (it doesn't have mother's name in the passport) I wasn't actually asked for them, but I produced them very quickly, and it seemed to solve the problem.

[LivingEdwardMunchPainting]

thanks for that alexpolismum. This is the kind of situation I am expecting. I am in the process of applying for UK passport for DC3 - does anyone know whether they are likely to question me if I am travelling alone with children on UK passport and me on UK passport, if the surnames are different?

[LivingEdwardMunchPainting]

sorry LongWayRound I appear to be unable to read properly today. You have already answered that question. What proof did you take when they were younger - just their birth certificates?

[Tenebrist]

I frequently travel with a different passport from the children - I have my British one, they travel with their Irish ones because it's so ridiculously expensive getting the British passports renewed. However, we do have the same surname. We've never been stopped and asked about why we have different passports, and I would not expect it to happen either. I certainly don't take any other proof we're related, like birth certificates.

[natation]

To LivingEdward.... yes do expect to be questioned by UK Border Agency if you are travelling alone and going to the UK, even if you have same names, if you have different names, expect to provide proof to of parentage - for UK born children a copy of full birth certificate will suffice, for children travelling with one and not 2 parents, carry a letter from the other parent, even a copy of their passport with the letter. Don't take offence, just show documents if asked, it's to protect ALL children from kidnap by absent parents or even worse, to be fair to all, everyone should expect to be asked.

In some countries, residents are required to have permission to take under 18s out of the country without a parent, eg France.

[McDreamy]

DD's godmother kept her maiden name when she married her husband. He's from Cyprus, the family live there so the children have Cypriot passports, she has a British one. She has to carry a copy of her children's birth certificate with her when she travels as she has been stopped and asked to prove parentage on numerous occasions.

[AlpinePony]

We gave our son both our surnames to try and avoid trouble. Last time flying from schiphol staff phoned out town hall to check. Leaving Edinburgh nobody bothered checking. :(

This was my partner and my son BTW, so travelling without mum.

[scaryteacher]

Ds and I both have UK passports, but no-one ever questioned me when I took him to another EU country and back without his Dad.

[ZZZenAgain]

I've never been questioned anywhere travelling alone with dd, neither has dh. If both the passports and the surname are different though, best be prepared.

[Engelsmeisje]

Reading this with interest as I'll be in the same situation soon.

One of my American friends got stopped by US immigration taking 2 of her kids over for a week on their Dutch passports. Her passport is in her maiden name. They did eventually let her in!

[RuthChan]

I once had this conversation with a UK customs officer when entering the UK.
Both my DCs have UK passports and also share my surname. However, they are half Japanese and therefore don't look necessarily like my children.
The customs official checked very carefully whether they were mine and I asked him what would happen if our names were different.
He told me that it would be necessary to produce their birth certificates or other official proof that they were mine.
And yes, Belgium too requires proof that your spouse is happy to have you remove them from the country if not travelling together.

[fraktious]

I got questioned (me UK, DS French) as DH had to go through a special queue in Mauritius and I have both maiden and married name on my passport. I carry copies of marriage cert, birth cert and livret de famille just in case as well as a letter from DH in French and English authorising me to travel with DS.

I take the belt and braces approach!