Child's Australian Visa - Consent from other parent?

[MrsParker]

Hi. My dp's parents have booked our flights to come visit them in April 2009. Have been looking into visa's.
I have a dd, divorced from her father. He has little contact, and actually withdrew an application for contact with her in 2006. Thing is says I need to have sole custody or consent from ex-husband for her to get a visa?
Do not have sole custody, I have residency. Unsure of a way round this.
Spoke to solicitor who did divorce, she said send off what i've got and see what happens.
This happened to anyone else?Anyone got any ideas?

i think it depends whether or not he has parental responsibility. If he has then they may ask for a statement from him saying that he consents to you taking her out of the country.

I think you need a letter from your ex giving permission. If he refuses, you may need to take legal action, either to get the visa, or to get sole legal custody so that this doesn't come up again.

My sister in Australia had to take her ex to court when she wanted to take her children overseas on holiday. The process was easy, but time consuming and obviously costly because of barristor fees. Assume it would be vaguely similar here. But you need to get onto this ASAP!!!!

From memory the only information needed to apply for the holiday visa to Australia (which can be done on line) is names and passport numbers. No question of parental permission but I can't remember.