Travelling abroad when your child has a different surname

[Emmajanevictoria]

I've read various articles and forums about travelling abroad when your child has a different surname from your own. However, my circumstances are a bit different.

My son's father and I were never married, and now we are not together, but my son has his father's surname. But my son's father does not have parental responsibility and does not appear on the birth certificate (the sole reason being that he couldn't be bothered to make the journey to the register office). Does anyone know how this might affect our ability to travel abroad? Surely I wouldn't need a letter of consent from him, as he has no parental responsibility?

I am taking my dds on holiday this year without dp. Dd2 has his surname. I have taken a photo of her birth certificate to prove she is mine. I am not planning on proving I have his permission to take her. I travelled alone with them last year too and no one even questioned me on the way out. On the way home I was asked, but dp was with us (although further along in the queue, so not 'with' us).

If you have the birth certificate, or take a photo of it, then you can prove you have sole parental responsibility, if needs be.

Thank you Janek, that makes sense - I think getting any form of cooperation from the ex would be impossible, so it's reassuring to hear your thoughts and experience!

Like most people on MN in this situation (different surname from child) I've only ever been questioned on re-entry to the UK. I carry a permission letter from DH but all I've ever been asked for is the birth certificate, to prove my relationship with ds.

I would only be concerned if you're travelling to somewhere like Canada, where they are very strict on travel with minors. In that case it might worth having a solicitor's letter to confirm the other parent does not have parental responsibility.

Thank you, more useful information - I think carrying the birth certificate should be sufficient, when we do finally board a plane. A solicitor's letter would remove any doubt; I might invest in one of those too. Thanks!

I've only ever been asked once (coming back to the uk). I didn't have anything with me but it was fine. Probably best to but I always forget.

I've travelled countless times and nobody has ever so much as glanced in our direction,the same for everyone I know, so I've never understood why people make such a fuss.

Even if you get questioned there is nothing anyone can actually DO to you. I can't work out what people are actually worried about.

I've been asked several times and it's only for a birth certificate. Usually, they can tell from the way the kids are using up the last reserves of my patience after a long flight and I'm quietly hissing for them to behave themselves in the queu for the last time and giving them "the look" as only a mum can.

We always get questioned and answer the question and they let us through. Dd hates it though and gets stressed in the queue.

This time I have brought her birth certificate but that's because we're also with another child (foster placement) so I have a formal letter from the LA for her and thought it might be even more complicated with 2 dc with different names.

They waved us through on the way here. We'll see if they are any stricter on the way back to the UK.

I see this regularly asked on mn and last year I traveled to Australia with my dc who has different surname from me . I took a signed letter from his father but immigration into Australia never batted an eyelid. The only person who questioned it was on returning immigration to the uk who asked him who he was traveling with.
Have just returned from a holiday and no questions were asked