to warn you and also to have felt like bursting into tears after a long journey to the airport, the passport man asked me for proof that I was the mother of my children accompanying me ...

[LeepyTime]

Like alot of women, I did not change my surname on marriage, (now separated, but this scenario would still apply to married women travelling alone with their children with different surnames) and hence my children have their father's surname, a different one from mine. The passport man in Geneva airport asked me to provide documentation that they were my children, which I did not have, as have never been asked for it before. He left me dangling for a few minutes before finally saying we could go on through and to remember it next time. I was nervous and exhausted after all the stress of getting the car hire back and ferrying/entertaining my small 3 through the airport so this final hurdle nearly broke me. (Oh yes, apart from the last straw of my car starting but not actually moving when we got back to our final destination long stay car park - brakes stuck - a common thing apparently - but that's another story!). Has anyone else ever been asked for such documentation, I suppose it does make sense, but surely if we require it they should make that clear in the first place??? Oh well home now, happy holidays to all and those that need it please be fore-warned! :-)

Sorry you feel upset, but I'm quite pleased they do this tbh.

Jeez, what documentation would prove this?

I am sorry for your stress.

birth certificates at a wild guess?

I've always been asked for and always had; a letter form DH, notarised; DD's birth certificate. Because we have different surnames and different nationalities it is worse for us. The only reason I don't regularly get dragged into a back room is that she, thankfully, is my visual clone.

It is on the websites for travel information (airlines and countries) if you look. With a helpful sample letter as well.

YANBU to want to cry at an airport. They make me want to cry all the time.

Yes I agree TidyDancer it is a good idea, and it does make sense, but it just was a shock to me as I have travelled with them before and not been asked. Just letting people know to think of it in future. I was saying to him - look at their dimples, they are just like mine - as I thought he was joking at first. He was not amused ...

travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter Here.

Birth certificates, surely?

Im glad they do this too, tbh.

I suppose a Child benefit letter would have your name and theirs? Yes or a birth certificate, I didn't think of that. Thanks MrsPratchett that will teach me for not reading the small print!! :-)

I get asked all the time and carry a notarised declaration stating that I am the only person with PR. with birth Certs and my kids have the same surname as me.

Stuff like this is why although I have not changed my name, my DC will be double barrelled. So they'll have my name as well.

Sorry to hear it upset you. Air travel is so stressful anyway, I've yet to attempt it with DD so I can't even imagine!

This is one of the main reasons we registered DD with my surname and then OH's surname (it'll change to just OH's when we marry, because I'll take his name).

The only reason I read the small print was that I appreciate that taking a tiny Canadian out of Canada without her Canadian father looks REALLY dodgy!

YANBU to be upset and stressed.

Not useful to you, but in France we all have a "livret de famille" which documents marriage and birth info so is v useful in this sort of situation.
My eldest two will be travelling from Spain to UK with a friend's mum in a fortnight -I have provided photocopies of this, along with their (French) passports and signed, stamped parental authorization for them to travel with her... Fingers crossed this will be enough for all the authorities concerned!!

I always take DD's birth certificate with me when travelling because I am anxious, paranoid and OTT. But it's only a piece of paper isn't it? surely if you want to traffic children it must be very easy to produce a fake one. DD looks nothing like me so we always get picked on :(

I met a woman from a charity that helps parents who have had their children abducted and taken abroad by an estranged partner. Apparently the majority of child abductions are by the woman, not the man. That goes against the stereotype. I had always assumed that child abductions were by men.

Any form of regulation that protects children from abduction, by anyone, parent or not is very important. I'd be happy to carry the necessary ID myself.

I was asked last year when I travelled to Canada to see family. Luckily I had Dd's birth certificate and a letter from XP giving permission for me to take her out the country. I have to say the officer at passport control seemed to hesitate as to whether the letter was enough proof so next time I will be organising something more official!

Now that I have got over my own stupidity in NOT having it, I am delighted that they asked, in case anyone ever tries to sneak my or anyone else's wee tinkers out :-( It was just a bit of a slap in the face on a stressful day when I thought I was on top of everything! But you live and learn. Thanks all!

I carry dc birth certificates and letters of consent to travel as we have three different surnames. I have been asked if they are my children and offered to show documents, but have never actually shown them. My letter of consent gives authorisation for emergency medical treatment as well, should, heaven forbid, anything happen to me.

I did feel like commenting to immigration person that it would just be easier if children took their mothers' names but I figured that would not help the situation. They need to do their job and I see why they ask. It pisses me off that their dads who have the same name as dc will not be asked, even though I have done 95% of the care for over a decade, but that is not immigration's fault. Plus I want dc dads' to let me know where dc are going too, so I consent for them.

I guess if you are still married and wearing a ring, then I can see why you might be a bit at being asked to prove dc are yours just because the names are different, but let's face it, they still need to check.

My passport is my maiden name. I carry my wedding certificate with it. Not been. Asked yet though.

Does that mean it is not really enough just to prove that I am the mother, but I also need written permission from their father to travel, everytime? It isn't a problem, I just want to cover all bases and be prepared next time.

You should have written, notarised consent to travel with the children alone. Strictly you don't need it but you only need there to have been an alert and you could be at the airport for some time.

I have the same surname as ds, but when he was about 3/4 as we came through passport control back into the Uk, and the looked at our passports for longer than usual and then turned to ds and asked him who I was:
That is steppemum (he had just learnt my 'real' name)
No, what name do you use?

ds looked very confused and I could see he was getting upset, so I asked him

What do you call me poppet?

Mummy???

Then he waved us through.

I was very

ok great thanks!

Leepy, legally yes though if you are married and all is well, immigration could presumably just call him? We are separated, and with one dc, I am legally the resident parent, so can legally go without consent up to 28 days, with the other dc, dad is very sticky about it all and legal situation is dragging on; partly I am sure is he does not want me to be able to legally leave the country without his permission.
But yes, unless you have a court order giving you sole residency, you need the other person with PR's consent to travel.

BTW I travel with DD a lot and the passport and immigration people will always have very 'cute' and seemingly sweet conversations with her. They are very clever as children of her age are bad at lying convincingly.

We once had issues with my PR card and a non-returned US form and all sorts. We were waved through after DD told a rambling story about visiting her baby cousin, which backed up what we had told him. Very interesting...