AIBU to be surprised no one checked my 17yo had permission when travelling abroad without a parent?

[TeenageTravels]

We are British. My 17yo recently travelled abroad to an EU country for a holiday with another family (who live in the UK but are originally from the country they were travelling to). I sent her with a permission letter and provided my and DH's contact details and passport details and a copy of her birth certificate. She wasn't asked for any of this either in the UK or the other country, or any information about who she was travelling with or why. AIBU to be surprised by this? Obviously my daughter was completely safe but is this not a concern for trafficking or other reasons?

Yes, if you read my posts I checked online and the country in question recommends this for under 18s, as does the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-travelling-to-the-uk/children-travelling-to-the-uk-accessible

Most airlines count 16+ as adult passengers

This is just getting bizarre. It's not babying my 17yo to give her a couple of extra pieces of paper (as recommended by the country she is travelling to) in case she needs them at passport control. The EU has 27 member states, perhaps your son travelled elsewhere. Or perhaps they don't always check older teens, but it was worth being prepared just in case. There are several examples on this thread of people who were detained.

This is interesting, I guess certain routes are more policed than others.

Yes, it's best to check the requirements for each country. Some countries kindly provide a form of letter you can download, fill in, and print out.

I've just looked at a few and I've not seen any needing to be notarised yet, anyway 🤔

Which country requires this, please?

If she has a passport why would they check?

Portugal according to UK travel advice.

I think you need parental consent if you join the armed forces when you are not yet 18.

I took my 14 year old niece to 3 different countries & we weren’t questioned once. Crazy as she had a different surname.

What would happen if you had no idea where a child's father was?

It is interesting, and not unreasonable to be surprised if not experienced with it.

Quite a few countries, including the UK, the governments have previously made a big song and dance about requiring all children coming across borders needing need proof of parental consent and more - and this being up to 18.

In practice, and in fine print, it's only on some child visitors. As others said, it's good to have the paperwork just in case.

Where do the rules say that? And who has hundreds of £ for solicitors for a weekend away.

Last time I got paperwork notarised, it was £20 and less than 10 minutes.

My DS took his first flight alone from Dublin to Manchester in the summer at 17. It didn't occur to me at all that he might need some sort of permission letter and in fact no one asked for one. Now that I reflect on it, technically yes maybe some one should have asked. In my case I'm glad they didn't. But as a general principle perhaps they should have, yes

My 17 and 19 year old went travelling for a month and no one questioned them. My eldest took her younger sister (13) on a weekend away and no one checked.

I have done this and was asked to show the letter. I was told it should really be notarised and to make sure I do this in future.

YANBU OP. My DS was challenged at border control when travelling as a minor and a visitor from an EU country was also pulled over and checked. You provided exactly the right paperwork — you don’t need a notarised document but just a signed letter according to government guidelines. It’s odd that your DC wasn’t checked.

This child was already living in Italy.
The UK passport control officer waved them through first in the group and asked for no parental consent form.

Wow I had a get something notarized for my wedding in 2010 and was £100 each then

You’re acting like they couldn’t easily just forge a letter. What does a letter prove? 😂

They won't ask every 17 year old. They will ask depending on routes being travelled, does the 17 year old look happy and relaxed or tense and sad, and who they are travelling with i.e. nationality, family or a couple of men, family who only ever leave UK for a couple of weeks holiday.

It's good practice to give a letter because your 17 year old could be having a strop and look unhappy, and that might raise suspicions. But it's like security, they don't do further searches on everyone. They have warning signs that mean some people will get a further search.

You have a contact number they can phone. They can check name and addresses match with public records.

My daughter recently flew alone from Asia after spending time with her dad who lives there (he was with her on the flight out). She was 17 not far off 18. She had to take an inter connecting flight as well half way through. Her dad was asked to provide information (I don’t know exactly what but DD told me there was a bit of a hold up) and a letter when he took her to the airport so they can be quite strict in certain countries.

We used to take (my) step children with SWMBO who was their mother but had diffent surnames so we used to have letters to confirm that everything was ok. We were never asked for the paperwork or to prove anything and the kids were between 8 and 15

My youngest son last summer (2025) same surname last year wanted to fly to our appartment in Bulgaria at 17yo but could not fly with Ryanair, easyJet, jet2 or the usual suspects as he was under 18. He had to fly with his friends with Wizzair as theirs was the only airline that would let them fly under 18yo So it does absolutely does matter depending on the be airline.

Security analyse a lot of things, including body language and facial expressions. Assuming your child was happy chatting, laughing etc and able to wander alone - eg to the loo or into duty free - not constantly accompanied by an adult unnaturally, would highlight no coercion.

She can travel there, but she still wouldn’t be able to get married.
Residents of England and Wales are not allowed to marry in Scotland until they’re 18.