Adding DH surname to my passport

I've worried about this a few times as my boys have dp's name so I am different. I wonder if it is just applied to anyone travelling with children on their own and the name thing comes up when they're different iyswim. After all, there are lots of situations where children and parents might have different surnames and lots of other countries (Iceland and Spain spring to mind) where children and parents have diffferent names generally. It strikes me as odd that children could have the same surname as grandparents, aunts and uncles so would travelling with them be fine whilst a mother with a different name needs permission. Perhaps the parents' names should be on a child's passport.

I've officially kept my maiden name on my passport. DD has DH's surname.

I've travelled lots with DD (16 Mo) on my own, mostly to Europe and never had a single question asked about whether she is mine or if I have permission to take her away. I have also taken my niece and nephew abroad, (different name yet again) with no issues.

I could have just been lucky.

Has anyone been refused travel for not having a letter?

OP, not sure you are aware but you can have your passport in both names. On the picture side (ie what everyone normally sees) you can have it as "First Name Middle Name Your Last Name" and on the other side of that page you have it endorsed so that it says "The holder of this passport as First Name Middle Name DH's Surname". It means it provides you with identification in both names and you can travel in either name. (Very important if the travel agent is a muppet ) You do it on the bit of the form where it asks whether you have any special instructions (or something like that). Hope that helps.

Don't you think it is more likely that you will take her abroad alone more often than DH? I think you've got some cognitive dissonance going on there.

Am glad you clarified that you like Canadians marshmallows Wouldn't want to upset SGM, now would we?

2 years ago, I travelled with ds2 and ds4 to the UK. My surname is my own, theirs is dh's. No issues whatsoever on entering the UK but on our return. to Ireland the garda on passport control adviised that next time I should bring their birth certs to ba able to prove I was their mother as our surnames were different. It did strike me as odd that according to that way of thinking that dh could bring his niece and nephew abroad and no-one would bat an eyelid.

I was also tempted to whip my breast out and start feeding ds4 there and then but just wanted to get home,

Have travelled all over with my children with different names, from when they were weeks old to now oldest is 10) and noone has ever batted an eyelid. I have never taken birth certificates - can't see it being an issue and wouldn't think to worry about it

It depends on the country - check www.fco.gov.uk/travel in good time before you travel: some places ask for written permission, some don't.

I have been stopped at the Eurostar terminal traveling back to the UK. My husband was actually with me so no problem but I would carry a letter of consent and my marriage certificate in the future. The reason I have a different name is not feminist though - I am just too tight to change my name on a passport I had only had a year!

My DTs and I have a different surname. I've taken them through customs at various places throughout the world and never had a problem (I did have a letter of 'consent' from their father but never got asked for it).

I kept my name but the DCs have DH's. I have been stopped several times going through immigration, luckily DH has always been nearby. I think I am stopped because the DCs are mixed race and look like DH's family. They advised me to take copies of birth certificates so I can prove I am the mother.

DS has his father's name. As of yet, the only time it caused problems was on the way back from Cyprus one year. We've been out there four time, without DS's father. Never had to have anything from DS's father, either. I usually take DS's birth certificate, just in case.

victorialucas - indeed, I was wondering the same ...

Why not give the kid both names? Or even all have the same double-barrelled name?

I also fail to see why sharing the same name as the kid automatically means you're not kidnapping them.

Why is there an assumption that your DCs will have your DP's name? Give them your name. Problem solved.

They often check as we go through security as we leave.

Like I say, they believe it is your child, but are mainly worried you're taking them with you if there's a nasty custody battle going on.

just don't take the original, just the copy.

I doubt it would be an insurmountable problem, probably easier to just take the birth certificate with you than faff about with having different names for different purposes.

Or have you considered giving the baby your surname instead of your DH's? There's no law that children must have their father's name.

different names here, dc have dh's name.
I have a copy of the birth certificates in the dc's passports, never any trouble.

I don't think Customs would care - there isn't import taxes or duty to pay on children is there?

If you're talking about Immigration, there are no exit immigration controls in the UK so you certainly won't be bothered on the way out. There are exit controls in most other countries but if you are not travelling on a passport of that country, and neither is the child, why would they care?

DP and I kept our own names after our CP, and DS has a third surname - it's never been a problem.

My cousin was stopped on her way into Canada, where an aggressive security person demanded of her 5yo DD "Where is your father?" Once she'd got over being freaked out, she said "at home with my baby brother" and that seemed to be sufficient. Cousin, husband and DD all have the same surname.

I took my DS1 to Holland a couple of years ago by myself. I was advised to take his birth certificate, which I did. It was asked for and checked both there and back, so was certainly worth taking. Didn't have a letter though. I don't need one surely. I am entitled to travel with my children.

Birth certificate won't make any difference. They are worried about the non resident parent kidnapping their own child. So they want to know that both parents have agreed to this, not if the child is yours.

Which is why a letter from the father (in this case) matters more than the passport name. And why a father traveling with kids but no mother is more likely to be stopped