Taking someone else's kid on holiday.

[IHeartKingThistle]

We're going to be taking a DD's friend on holiday this year - they are 13. Just wondering how we prove at passport control that we're not abducting her! Do we bring a letter from her mum or something? (Is this a stupid question?) Flying within Europe.

Anyone done this?

Bump?

To take a child abroad, officially you need the permission from everyone with parental responsibility - usually the mother and father.

I would start by asking the airline you are using for advice. Do whatever they say, keeping the emails.

OK. How do we prove we have permission? Didn't even occur to me but now having visions of being hauled off for questioning...

We did it,we had a letter signed by both parents.We weren't questioned though so have no idea if it would have been useful.

Letter from both parent. Id also take birth certificate (so you can prove the connection between child and permission letter)

Telephone contact numbers for at least on of parents who can be on standby at anout the time yourd going through customs

Dd went last year with friends to Europe and I sent her with a letter of permission, stating I and dh had parental responsibility for her, her date of birth, address when she was travelling and with whom. I also was advised to include dh and my passport numbers as well as mobile contacts numbers.

She was stopped going out and coming back in (airport) but was allowed to proceed when she showed them the letter.

We did what hazelnut suggests but without the birth certificate.

They went by ferry though.
Interestingly no-one questioned them taking my DS out of the country, but they were questioned when trying to return to England.

She was 13btw

Dd1 took dd2 with her when she was 15. I gave them a letter but they weren't asked for it.

Copies of the parents passports are useful too, along with the birth cert and permission letter.
Hopefully you wont need them, but better to have and not need, than need and not have!

That's really helpful, thank you. Child has double barrelled surname but dad not on scene, no way of contacting him. Hope that doesn't complicate things.

We contacted the airline who told us to contact the embassy of the country we were travelling to. In the end nothing was essential but a letter was recommended which we did, but was never used.