Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Aussie and NZ Mumsnetters

Welcome to Aussie & NZ Mumsnetters - discuss all aspects of parenting life in Australia and New Zealand, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Unaccompanied minor travelling to Australia

10 replies

Addyourmessagehereandhere · 04/12/2024 00:40

Hi, I hope someone can help or point me in the right direction.
My child is travelling to Australia by themself next week, and has an evisitor visa (EU passport). (Subclass 651)
I'm trying to find any firm information about whether they need any additional documentation such as a consent to travel, etc.
Does anyone know anything? Thanks :)

OP posts:
Dustyblue · 04/12/2024 03:20

Sorry, I've no info on this. All I know is that all the airlines that fly into Australia have their own process for unaccompanied minors.

A friend in the UK did it years ago via Qantas & they had their own procedures. It turned out fine, apparently the staff were great and saw him off the plane, through customs and waited until the nominated person (a Grandparent) was there to receive him.

How old is you DC?

Codlingmoths · 04/12/2024 03:29

I think the airline are the key factor here, not letting them into oz , but the ones I know are all citizens so may not be the same.

TheaBrandt · 04/12/2024 03:40

Dds friend aged 15 with her slightly younger brother have flown to US on virgin unaccompanied. They are a money no object family though. But shows it’s possible in some instances.

Cormoran · 04/12/2024 16:02

From France, they need a special form from parents and a copy of parents’ ID. This is however more from the French side than coming into Australia. Without this form, they can’t leave.
have your child look at the incoming card https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-leaving-australia/files/ipc-sample-english.pdf and how to fill it. Make sure they have a pen and drill it into their head not to have any fresh food, not even a half eaten burger in bag

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-leaving-australia/files/ipc-sample-english.pdf

Addyourmessagehereandhere · 04/12/2024 23:07

Cormoran · 04/12/2024 16:02

From France, they need a special form from parents and a copy of parents’ ID. This is however more from the French side than coming into Australia. Without this form, they can’t leave.
have your child look at the incoming card https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-leaving-australia/files/ipc-sample-english.pdf and how to fill it. Make sure they have a pen and drill it into their head not to have any fresh food, not even a half eaten burger in bag

Thanks, this is really handy too.

OP posts:
TheSandgroper · 05/12/2024 07:13

Further to @Cormoran , explain about the red route (something to declare) vs the green route (nothing to declare) re quarantine If they go the red route anyway and just say they want to be sure they are doing the right thing, they will be helped.

Going the green route and having the bags being marked by the dogs along with the ‘allo, ‘allo discussion would be the more distressing.

Make sure your dc is there to pack the suitcase and cabin bags. That way, if anything looks odd and they get pulled aside, they can be confident. I was pulled up once over a glass paperweight wrapped in tissue paper because they couldn’t think what it was.

TerrorAustralis · 12/12/2024 12:32

How old are they and which airline are they flying? Generally booking as an unaccompanied minor, you should have been given all this information at booking. But some airlines consider kids over a certain age capable of taking care of themselves.

To travel as an unaccompanied minor you normally have to tell them who is dropping the child off and who is picking them up. You need to hand them over at check-in and a staff member will stay with them until boarding. UMs board last and if there’s more than one they will sit together. They’re the last to disembark and will be accompanied through until the identified person picks them up. The person picking up needs to show ID.

It seems odd that you’ve been able to book this and don’t have this information.

Addyourmessagehereandhere · 21/12/2024 15:33

TerrorAustralis · 12/12/2024 12:32

How old are they and which airline are they flying? Generally booking as an unaccompanied minor, you should have been given all this information at booking. But some airlines consider kids over a certain age capable of taking care of themselves.

To travel as an unaccompanied minor you normally have to tell them who is dropping the child off and who is picking them up. You need to hand them over at check-in and a staff member will stay with them until boarding. UMs board last and if there’s more than one they will sit together. They’re the last to disembark and will be accompanied through until the identified person picks them up. The person picking up needs to show ID.

It seems odd that you’ve been able to book this and don’t have this information.

That service costs £50 per leg with Emirates. Children above 12 don't have to be accompanied.
The airline doesn't give information on specifics for what documentation is required to get into any country.

OP posts:
Addyourmessagehereandhere · 21/12/2024 15:36

Hi all, just to update and in case anyone else with the same questions comes across this thread .

  • My child made it there fine. There was a delay for the plane leaving from the UK which meant that the connection was lost. But it was rebooked and all went smoothly. (It was a change at Dubai.)
  • No documents were asked on arrival at Australia, although we had got the Form1229 filled out and notarised, along with their birth certificate, our passports, and another generic letter stating we allow them to travel.
  • On arrival, my child was asked for the phone number of whoever was picking them up and the Immigration person called our relative to check/update them.
  • I called Australian immigration and they were not very useful. They said that if the visa was granted then as far as they were concerned nothing more was needed, but they don't know what Customs might ask and Customs may or may not need a form, and they can't comment or provide any contact to be able to check with Customs.
  • The Check twice submit once page was useful (notwithstanding the above).
  • Also very useful and shared with me in this thread was this copy of the Embarkation Card.
  • Overall, all the information about unaccompanied minors seems to be for a child travelling with one parent and needing the approval of the other. But when the child is completely by themselves they seem to need less documentation somehow.

Immigration and citizenship Website

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/check-twice-submit-once/visitor-visa

OP posts:
Cormoran · 21/12/2024 16:24

Great news. Thanks for updating us.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread