Page 2 | Holiday - do I need fathers permission.

cannaecookrisotto · 2023-05-27T19:09:38+00:00

Hi, question I'm taking my 6 year old to Spain on 3rd June, her dad is staying at home to to work. She has her dads surname, we aren't married although do live together. Do I need to get written consent from him to take her? I've got her Birth Certificate, do I need written consent as well??

HicLocusEst · 28/05/2023 18:51

OhBling · 28/05/2023 17:29

My point is that as a way to prevent kidnapping, checking I have the right to travel with my child when I'm already on my way back is a bit ridiculous....!

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If the API had thrown up any anomaly, you wouldn't have left the country without further checks.

tribpot · 28/05/2023 19:11

But if we've been checked on the way out, what does checking on the way back in prove? If the other parent had filed a complaint in the meantime, saying the child was out of the country without permission, (a) why do random checks and (b) why not resolve on arrival in the UK? It's not like the passport officers can actually do anything surely, I've only ever heard of people being told 'next time, travel with a permission letter/birth certificate'.

(I appreciate that in countries like Canada and SA ,where it's taken very seriously, you can be denied entry, but this is after arrival and whilst returning to the UK).

Also not sure how an automated check could confirm I have permission from the other parent.

HicLocusEst · 28/05/2023 19:45

tribpot · 28/05/2023 19:11

But if we've been checked on the way out, what does checking on the way back in prove? If the other parent had filed a complaint in the meantime, saying the child was out of the country without permission, (a) why do random checks and (b) why not resolve on arrival in the UK? It's not like the passport officers can actually do anything surely, I've only ever heard of people being told 'next time, travel with a permission letter/birth certificate'.

(I appreciate that in countries like Canada and SA ,where it's taken very seriously, you can be denied entry, but this is after arrival and whilst returning to the UK).

Also not sure how an automated check could confirm I have permission from the other parent.

It doesn't. It just confirms that you ARE the parent, and as, at the moment, it's not a blanket regulation, and only a sampling of people are stopped, that would be enough for you to be waved through.

Rightly or wrongly, a woman travelling alone with a minor is far less likely to be questioned than a man, and passengers into Europe far less likely to be stopped than someone travelling with a female child into a country known for child marriages and FGM.

Ironically, given my job, I once had to provide consent for my own child coming out of an EU country, but not the non related child I was also bringing with me, as she was over 14 and therefore deemed to be old enough to not need consent from either parent according to that country's legislation.

OhBling · 28/05/2023 20:14

HicLocusEst · 28/05/2023 18:49

Your passport and that of the child have already been checked and flagged if necessary at API stage. Children's passports contain details about the parents so cross-referencing is easy.
Other countries may well check on entry. It's obviously very unlikely that a child flying to Tenerife (for example) is being abducted, but there's always a chance. It happens more than you'd imagine in cases of acrimonious divorces/separation.

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This makes no sense. If that was true, the same checking would happen on return when they scan the passport.

I don't personally mind being asked - better safe than sorry and all that- but I find the fact that I am only checked on return a bit silly.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 28/05/2023 20:49

Ginger1982 · 27/05/2023 20:27

Technically yes, but it's unlikely you'll be queried. Take it just in case.

I had to show proof of permission this weekend.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 28/05/2023 20:52

OhBling · 28/05/2023 20:14

This makes no sense. If that was true, the same checking would happen on return when they scan the passport.

I don't personally mind being asked - better safe than sorry and all that- but I find the fact that I am only checked on return a bit silly.

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Well they don’t know that you are returning or that you live in the uk. They just happen to have more stringent checks than the uk.

UCknowitall · 28/05/2023 22:01

There are 100s of threads & posts on this subject . What has been posted about a letter of consent being required is absolutely correct ... but you will still get loads of people saying 'I've travelled with my kids alone for 10 years and never been asked ... THATS IRRELEVANT !! ITS THE LAW !!

Please don't take the risk. I was with my best friend in the way to S Africa on a holiday of a life time' ... she didn't have one and arsehole ex wouldn't give permission.. immigration really tried to help.. gave him the email address .. to deal with it (he was in his office and could have done it in one minute ).. but refused. They lost their much hyped and v exciting holiday... and mum lost ££££

SavBlancTonight · 28/05/2023 22:19

UCknowitall · 28/05/2023 22:01

There are 100s of threads & posts on this subject . What has been posted about a letter of consent being required is absolutely correct ... but you will still get loads of people saying 'I've travelled with my kids alone for 10 years and never been asked ... THATS IRRELEVANT !! ITS THE LAW !!

Please don't take the risk. I was with my best friend in the way to S Africa on a holiday of a life time' ... she didn't have one and arsehole ex wouldn't give permission.. immigration really tried to help.. gave him the email address .. to deal with it (he was in his office and could have done it in one minute ).. but refused. They lost their much hyped and v exciting holiday... and mum lost ££££

You should always check the country tou are going to for their rules. Sourg Africa has v struct rules re travelling with children. Most of the EU does not appear to have the same.

Cantthinkofaname2203 · 28/05/2023 22:23

UCknowitall · 28/05/2023 22:01

There are 100s of threads & posts on this subject . What has been posted about a letter of consent being required is absolutely correct ... but you will still get loads of people saying 'I've travelled with my kids alone for 10 years and never been asked ... THATS IRRELEVANT !! ITS THE LAW !!

Please don't take the risk. I was with my best friend in the way to S Africa on a holiday of a life time' ... she didn't have one and arsehole ex wouldn't give permission.. immigration really tried to help.. gave him the email address .. to deal with it (he was in his office and could have done it in one minute ).. but refused. They lost their much hyped and v exciting holiday... and mum lost ££££

Either way though she didn’t have his permission so why did she attempt to travel?

it’s not like he would have signed a letter either, so she was taking the child out without his permission.

if he hadn’t been an arsehole it would have been sorted in seconds, as you say.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 29/05/2023 20:13

SavBlancTonight · 28/05/2023 22:19

You should always check the country tou are going to for their rules. Sourg Africa has v struct rules re travelling with children. Most of the EU does not appear to have the same.

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I have been asked for permission leaving an eu country.

Katiesaidthat · 30/05/2023 15:42

My mum was asked if she had permission when we were going to England to spend Xmas with my gran, this was the early 80s! I had to fetch my dad and bring him back to the terminal and he confirmed he was our dad, that yes, he gave his permission and then went off to enjoy his much sought peace and quiet.