Travel consent needed?

[Sparklemummyx0x0x]

Hi
So I’m travelling to Tenerife with my son in May. Also with my parents.

My son has his dad’s surname.
5 years ago we went and apart from a staff member briefly asking/checking if he was mine, I had no issues going through passport control both ends.

Now my mum has mentioned I will need written consent from his dad to go as it could be a problem. I’ll take his birth certificate just in case, however is this something I will definitely need?
It won’t be an issue getting some paperwork from his dad, but what sort of documentation will I need or does he need to sign?

Thanks.

You do need permission, yes - www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

I just used this template

www.lawdepot.co.uk/contracts/travel-consent-uk/

Technically anyone taking a child abroad not accompanied by everyone with parental responsibility needs consent. In reality you tend only to get quizzed about this if you have a different surname from the child (and in my experience only ever on the return to the UK, which is always a bit weird).

I always travel with a consent letter from ds' dad - we've never been asked for it, only his birth certificate. I think when I first wrote it I used the Mumsnet template.

As you won't have any issues getting the consent letter, I would do one just to be on the safe side, but the birth certificate is much more likely to be asked for, if anything is at all.

Quick replies, thankyou.
I’ll sort out a form then. Those templates are great thanks.
No doubt his dad will also think it’s stupid if I’m taking his birth certificate but better to be safe than sorry if we get pulled up.

So he won’t need one from me then will he, never needed one before, as they’ve got the same surname and his step mum has the same surname too. They’ll just presume he is her son typical!

Thanks for the confirmation. Much appreciated.

I wouldn't tell him he's less likely to be stopped - technically he has to follow the same rules that you do.

I took a consent letter signed by my ex due to my DD having his surname. I ended up getting it notarised after he caused some difficulties. We were never asked for it. No problems going out (we went to Lanzarote) but coming back to the UK at passport control they asked my DD who I was. When she said "Mummy" it was all fine.

Technically, customs and immigration should be stopping every child travelling with a single adult as the regulations clearly state that you need permission from everyone with parental responsibility...