Flying with children that are not yours?

[zazas]

I am flying on my own with 4 kids on Sunday 2nd April to Geneva. Only two of the children are mine. Somebody mentioned that I might need a letter to confirm that I am allowed to travel with the other two children without their parents and to enter Switzerland. Does anyone know anything about this?

Don't know about Switzerland and it may be no problem but when I travelled with my niece and nephew to Italy and back again I had a bit of trouble leaving Italy as they said I needed written permission from their dad to leave the country. This was despite the fact that they also had UK passports (their mum is British).

Anyway they called my brother-in-law and we were allowed to leave but it was a bit hairy.

Check the rules with the Swiss Embassy before you go and save yourself any possible hassle.

would it not be easier to take a letter just in case?

I've known people fly from Switzerland to the US and Canada with their own children but passports in different names/nationalities and be questioned. They usually take a letter from husband that this is ok. I don't think this is specific to Switzerland but as it isn't part of the EU it is worth taking some authority in writing.

Canada is famously difficult about people entering with children.

I would carry a letter, to be safe. But realistically, to be useful, the letter should really be notarised or similar, and who has time to do that?

Contact the Swiss Embassy. When my sister took my DSs to France, I asked the French Embassy if I needed to send a 'permission slip' with her, and they emailed me a specific form to fill in for her to carry. I'd check to see if they require something similar.

Thanks for the replies, have 2 letters from both parents but they are not 'notarised'... DP (and their Father) will be waiting at the airport if the worse comes to worse. Should have probably rang the embassy but it has been a hectic week with 3 out of 6 ill and too much work to complete so we can have this holiday. So fingers crossed the lettters will do! NQC - it was my Canadien friend that alerted me to this as she has had problems in the past flying on her own with her son!