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Original poster

Taking DS abroad - different surnames - permission needed?

18 replies

Judez99 · 28/02/2012 12:53

Hello, I am a Talk newbie and have a question. I am flying abroad with DS next week and we have different surnames as I haven't changed my name. My DH isn't flying with us. Do I need to get DH to write a letter of permission for me to take him out of the country? Or do i just have to show his birth certificate at immigration? Or is there a more formal procedure?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

OP posts:

BoattoBolivia · 28/02/2012 12:57

Not sure what the official line is, but i have twice been questioned at Zurich airport when lining up with dd, as we have different surnames. Each time I pointed out the she has my name as a middle name and dh is in the next line, and they have been happy. It wouldn't hurt to take a birth certificate, just to save the hassle.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 28/02/2012 13:02

I've flown a couple of times on my own with the DC (they have DH's surname). The first time I was ultra paranoid and took my marriage cert, but nothing was said. This was flying in Europe.

I think the passport woman did say something like 'is this your mummy' to DS when we were coming home last time. Of course he was knackered and grumpy and just looked at her blankly...

Original poster

Judez99 · 28/02/2012 13:26

OK thanks both. We are flying to New Zealand with a stopover in Hong Kong. The airline (Cathay Pacific) recommended taking his birth certificate, so I'll do that. If they try asking him if I'm his mummy they're going to get very blank/grumpy looks!

OP posts:

supernannyisace · 29/02/2012 11:46

Ihave been questioned a few times when travelling with my son. We have different surnames (i remarried) and he is mixed race, I am white. After the last quizzing at the Eurotunnel Customs last summer - I vowed to carry something with us for the future. We travelled abroad a couple of weeks ago, and I took a photocopy of his birth certificate and my marriage certificate.

We do plan to visit the USA in summer - and I think for that I would take soemthing more 'legal'. Especially as his 'other parent' isn't travelling with us. I hear that it can be a good idea to have something more formal giving permission from the absent parent for you to take the child abroad ??? Pshawww.. permission my arse is my immediate thought - but I don't want to have to argue with a US immigration official after a 12 hour flight...

AndiMac · 29/02/2012 11:53

I've flown Europe and to Canada with my daughter without the same last name. Europe really didn't care. At Canada Customs I showed the letter my DH had written and signed (providing also his email and phone numer) to say we had permission to travel. The Customs agent said the letter should actually be notarised and to make sure it was next time. I just nodded and stopped myself from throttling him, but I would probably go to the trouble of getting my friendly notary to sign and stamp it next time.

Check where you are going and what they say, but I would say a signed letter at the very minimum is key. It's not so much the different last names, it's more the travelling without a spouse that's the thing.

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 29/02/2012 11:57

we travel a lot between uk and europe and I have a copy of the birth certificate in the dc's passports. immigration of france/poland have asked to see it.

Original poster

Judez99 · 29/02/2012 13:08

OK better to play safe I guess and get a letter from DH. Getting it stamped and notarised however is another matter!

OP posts:

AndiMac · 29/02/2012 13:13

Yes, I wouldn't normally, but I have a tame notary I can use for free, which is the only reason I would.

Original poster

Judez99 · 04/04/2012 10:29

Just as an update, we flew to NZ, via HK, and back and were not asked once about our different surnames, nor did I have to produce his birth certificate/the letter that my DH wrote. But it was worth taking them just in case!

OP posts:

totallynaive · 10/04/2012 05:35

Oooh, I guess I'm hijacking here, but I'm new to all this. Does this mean I'll have problems? Me and the dad are not married and DS has his father's surname. Will I be ok with just a copy of DS's birth certificate, or do I need his father's permission every time he travels? And what would be the consequences if his dad didn't provide a letter giving permission?

Fraktal · 10/04/2012 06:10

I have only once been stopped at French immigration - DS is French, I am not - and that's about 10 trips in a year? And they stopped me because of where he was born I suspect.

I always carry his birth cert (French), the marriage cert (British), the livret de famille showing both and a stamped, signed letter from DH in both languages.

So based on my experience 10% of the time. I'd I hadn't had them I do think they would have prevented us from travelling.

Fraktal · 10/04/2012 06:11

Oh and I have a blanket letter of permission which we will renew yearly. Writing one every time wouldn't be possible - I may have to travel on short notice and DH could be deployed.

Ploom · 10/04/2012 06:18

I was never stopped with the dc before we were married & had different surnames. But we only flew in the EU.

But my IL's (same surname as dd) have just flown to Africa last week with her and were asked for permission. Thankfully I had given them a letter and a copy of my passport. Better to be safe than sorry.

Leilandri · 10/04/2012 09:59

My parents (diff last name to DS) will be taking him to France in a few weeks, travelling by ferry. HE looks completely different to his passport photo, he was 3months old when taken, now nearly 3yrs old!

They will have his passport (obviously) and a signed letter from myself and DH allowing permission. Will they need anything else? Copies fo birth certificate? Copies of our passport?

Also I was going to write a letter giving full consent to act in his best interest in the event of an emergency, would that be accepted should something happen?

Ploom · 10/04/2012 10:16

Think copy of your passport is a good idea as it has your signature on it. Otherwise anyone could have written the letter. Seems easier than going to a solicitor to have the letter formally notarised.

jkklpu · 10/04/2012 20:38

It depends on the country - there are lots of threads on this. Check www.fco.gov.uk/travel

sunnyday123 · 10/04/2012 21:03

i have the same surname as my husband/kids but my passport is still in maiden name as i have 4 years left on it (married 6 years) so i just book holidays in maiden name - noone has ever stopped me with either kids.

Tina2003 · 12/04/2012 23:04

I travel often with my children and both have different surnames. I always get asked here in UK and abroad about my relationship to them. It is better to have a birth certificate at hand. I was never asked to produce it but always have it together with my docs. The immigration personnel here in UK do ask them both every time, their name, who am I and what is my relationship to them. Just to see how they react. It is at times a bit uncomfortable but as I told the officer last Tuesday I rather they ask than not! Have a nice trip:)

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