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Original poster

Letter of consent for travel to Rhodes

47 replies

Itssnotunusual · 29/05/2025 17:16

I'm taking my three year old son abroad with my DP (not the child's father) and DPs parents in July. My ex is fully onboard with this and very excited for our little boy never having been abroad himself and has agreed to sign the letter to say he can take him abroad.

Can't anyone help with whether the letter needs to be notarised as the Mumsnet template suggests or can it be witnessed by someone if good standing/ a professional (lots of friends who are teachers, doctors ect so not an issue).

Any thing else I might need to arrange for travel to Rhodes since I'm travelling without the other parent? Just don't want any issues as it's my first foreign holiday with my current partner, and my first holiday with his parents!

OP posts:
Nothankyov · 30/05/2025 01:27

Ok - so this is probably not helpful but I have traveled on my own with the kids since my eldest was 5 months old and not once was I ever asked anything by border control. The only difference is I’m married to my children’s father.

garlictwist · 30/05/2025 05:07

I also don’t see why you need a letter. I take my nieces abroad all the time and I am not even their parent and no one has said anything. How would they even know your ex has written the letter himself?

mumzof4x · 30/05/2025 05:12

Ive taken my 4 dc abroad repeatedly year on year with their step father and now my dh. Admittedly they aren’t 3 but used to be.
Birth father has refused all contact since I divorced him 10 years ago
never crossed my mind tbh they don’t even know him and he wouldn’t give a fig but equally would point blank refuse to sign anything like he did the divorce papers

OneForTheRoadThen · 30/05/2025 05:32

You can get just about anyone to sign it - my ex’s brother does his. Take a photo/scan of your son’s birth certificate too. We’ve only been asked once (and it was on the return to the UK) but that’s what they asked for.

tommyhoundmum · 30/05/2025 17:56

Itssnotunusual · 29/05/2025 17:16

I'm taking my three year old son abroad with my DP (not the child's father) and DPs parents in July. My ex is fully onboard with this and very excited for our little boy never having been abroad himself and has agreed to sign the letter to say he can take him abroad.

Can't anyone help with whether the letter needs to be notarised as the Mumsnet template suggests or can it be witnessed by someone if good standing/ a professional (lots of friends who are teachers, doctors ect so not an issue).

Any thing else I might need to arrange for travel to Rhodes since I'm travelling without the other parent? Just don't want any issues as it's my first foreign holiday with my current partner, and my first holiday with his parents!

I doubt you need a letterbut if you do no need for extra signatures

Dartsplayer · 30/05/2025 18:19

Some incorrect information here. Although people have taken children abroad without permission and not been stopped it is the law that both parents with PR give consent:

In the UK, a parent needs permission from all individuals with parental responsibility to take a child abroad, unless there is a court order allowing the parent to do so. Taking a child abroad without this permission can be considered child abduction. If a Child Arrangement Order specifies that the child lives with one parent, that parent can take the child abroad for up to 28 days without the other parent's consent, unless the court order restricts it.

Nicolexoxo91 · 30/05/2025 18:37

My mum took DS 12 and DS 9 to Paris last year and got stopped on the way back, luckily she had the letter me & DP wrote before they left. She also got stopped when she took DS12 away when he was 3. Just add a contact details for your ex.

hsvsupp · 30/05/2025 18:51

I’ve taken my niece and also my son without his dad. I have been asked twice about both children on separate occasions as neither share my last name. I’ve quickly showed the letter and been sorted quickly.

Obviously you’re not always asked but helpful when you are.
never been witnessed.

GiveDogBone · 30/05/2025 19:22

Contrary to other posts, you must get permission to take children out the country from the other parent, otherwise it’s kidnapping. https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

Yes, it is hardly ever checked, but it is a requirement, and with good reason.

No, it does not need to be notarised or witnessed. There are plenty of templates on line, and they would include contact details for the other parent if anybody needs to check (at least the ones I used did).

Wishiwasatailor · 30/05/2025 19:26

I was on a flight where mum and daughter were denied boarding as they had different names. Since then I carry a letter from my partner and a copy of the birth certificate. Wasn't notarised and hasn't been checked but better safe than sorry.

BlueYazoo · 30/05/2025 19:59

My son is 14 and does not share my last name. I always get asked when returning home by border control whether I have permission to take him abroad. His father who does share the same name never gets asked, neither does my husband when we go away with my step children. I don’t know why they can’t link passports to parents until the age of 18. Just another thing that men don’t have to think about as much as they rarely change their names and it does boil my piss to be honest

cheeseomelette · 30/05/2025 20:20

This is the main reason I didn’t change my name when divorcing. I’ve taken my two abroad numerous times and never been asked for anything. Xh has also taken them all over the world without me ever giving written permission!

Mumoftwoandcats · 30/05/2025 21:33

My husband is not my sons biological father, we have been on holiday as a family numerous times and I have never even considered asking my sons biological father for any permission. Nor have I been asked for it hope you all have a great time, Rhodes is a beautiful island. Enjoy 😉

Picoloangel · 30/05/2025 21:57

I took my 12 yo to US and she has a different surname to me. Experiences vary re whether or not any form of letter is needed but I paid for one to be notarised. Seemed a better option than taking a chance.

Imcomingovertoyourplace · 30/05/2025 22:03

I was asked last week! Second time in eight years! I bring the birth certificates every time now, after I nearly wasn’t let into Switzerland. You need the originals with the parents names on it.

howrudeforme · 30/05/2025 22:35

Traveled with ds who has a different surname to me (and from different countries). Did the letter thing bit no one asked for it. However bring his birth certificate so links him to you). No problems leaving the country (like Cherio, don’t come back). Arriving back in UK always had issues. Hence birth certificate.

perhaps since Brexit things tightened up?

PIPERHELLO · 30/05/2025 22:39

BlueYazoo · 30/05/2025 19:59

My son is 14 and does not share my last name. I always get asked when returning home by border control whether I have permission to take him abroad. His father who does share the same name never gets asked, neither does my husband when we go away with my step children. I don’t know why they can’t link passports to parents until the age of 18. Just another thing that men don’t have to think about as much as they rarely change their names and it does boil my piss to be honest

The patriarchy at its sexist finest.

ConflictedBeagle · 31/05/2025 00:22

I always get a letter of consent signed by my ex, never actually been asked to see it though! I do know someone however who was traveling with their nephew (different name) and was asked for the letter of consent which they didn't have and it caused big problems!

Ihateslugs · 31/05/2025 00:31

Picoloangel · 30/05/2025 21:57

I took my 12 yo to US and she has a different surname to me. Experiences vary re whether or not any form of letter is needed but I paid for one to be notarised. Seemed a better option than taking a chance.

When my daughter was in the US visiting her aunt ( my sister in law, ie ex husbands sister) they went to Mexico for a skua diving holiday. I had to provide a notarised letter giving permission and explaining the relationship. It cost quite a lot and was a faff as I struggled to find a Notary!

It’s a good job I had it as they were all stopped on returning back to the UK and my daughter, age 14, was taken away for questioning in one room and her aunt in a different one. It was more serious to border control because my daughter was on a British passport whereas my SIL has taken US citizenship having lived there for 40 odd years.

After over an hour, it was all sorted but they made my daughter go through a different passport control on her own and all in all it delayed them by several hours. Luckily they did not have a connecting flight to catch!

shuffleofftobuffalo · 31/05/2025 06:17

my DD has my last name and I still used to get stopped by UK border staff returning to the UK because her eyes are a different colour than mine. Other than that she is a mini me! I was never stopped by immigration in any country we went to (several European countries).

Her dad has a different last name and has had all sorts of trouble at the UK borders with her. He always carries a letter from me and a copy of her birth certificate to prove the relationship. we’ve never got them notarised though and never had a problem.

She is able to use the e gates now coming back to the UK so no issues anymore.

So - going to Rhodes with a young child on your own - if surnames are different carry a letter and birth certificate. I’d not bother getting it notarised for Europe though.

bc73787 · 31/05/2025 06:35

I would absolutely take one. I was stopped once and managed to wrangle my way out of it with Border patrol at Portugal because I had my kids names and mini portraits tattooed on my arm 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I just took a copy of their birth certificates personally. Was only ever asked again in America and returning to the UK from a couple of European holidays.

Picoloangel · 31/05/2025 07:31

I don’t think it’s just because of a child having a different name, I think many countries need the consent of both parents for a child to travel. Although my DD has the same name as my DP they could still be stopped and a letter from me required. Obviously the older the child is the less of a problem it becomes because they can speak for themselves. It seems to vary hugely whether people are stopped and questioned or not but I wasn’t going to mess with US immigration when they are renowned for being difficult! DD had been looking forward to the trip so much I would have felt terrible if we’d had a nightmare as soon as it’d begun.

Mumneedstea · 31/05/2025 08:18

I have always carried my DCs' birth certificates as we don't have the same last name. I've never been asked for it, but this is something I've done thanks to Mumsnet. Also, on a recent trip to Portugal, I also got DH to sign a letter of consent as I read online that Portugal requires it. And they did ask me for a consent letter and the birth certificates at passport control in Portugal - so I'm glad I had these with me.

Roseglass · 31/05/2025 08:33

I have been asked a couple of times on return to the UK and on one occasion my son was asked to confirm who my husband and I was. I showed my marriage certificate, birth certificate and my son’s birth certificate. No request for a letter but I had one in case (that I drafted and signed)

Madmother63 · 31/05/2025 08:42

I remember writing a letter of consent, when my daughter travelled at 17 with her boyfriend, who was 6 years older than her. She wasn't stopped though, but we felt happier, her having a letter with her