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Original poster

Consent for DS friend?

21 replies

Thunderpunt · 20/06/2022 06:21

Reading a thread this morning about consent required for a non-resident parent to take their own child on holiday, I am wondering if we need to get some kind of letter/consent?
We are due to travel to Europe this summer, and we are taking DS friend with us. Should I ask friends mum to provide some kind of letter of consent in the event border control ask why we are taking an unrelated child out of the country?

OP posts:
Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 20/06/2022 06:21

Yes you will need to.

SBAM · 20/06/2022 06:35

You will need a letter.
years ago I went on holiday with friends after our a-levels and we were advised by the travel agent to have a letter from her parents as one friend was a couple of weeks off her 18th and the rest of us were over 18.

Mindymomo · 20/06/2022 06:35

it would be a good idea, I think you can find template somewhere online, that says the parents give you authority to make medical decisions on their behalf and that they have given consent to you taking their child away on holiday. We took a friend of my sons on a cruise one year. I asked the cruise company if anything was needed and was told no, as if anything happened they would handle it.

SapereAude · 20/06/2022 06:44

It's not to do with making medical decisions, it's to do with child abduction. The letter just needs a few sentences saying the other child's parents give you permission to take X to Y for 7 days. They will be staying at Z hotel and returning on suchadate.
Both parents of the other child should sign consent and a copy of their passports and contact details, plus the child's b/cert should be enough.
Check entry requirements for the other country. Most European countries are fine with that, but the US and Canada for example (iirc) need the docs to be officially witnessed by a solicitor.

As ever you may not be stopped and asked. That doesn't mean nobody is stopped and asked. It works like customs checks. A sample of passengers will be stopped. A (seeming) family unit, less likely than a minor travelling with one adult. But it is a requirement to have written consent even if nobody asks for it.

Hoppinggreen · 20/06/2022 06:50

We took DD friend away with us last year when they were both 15.
I had a signed letter from his parents with their passport numbers etc on, I think they used a template from The internet. DH thought I was being daft but when we arrived in Portugal and handed over the passports the man asked who the friend was. I said he was DDs friend and we were asked if we had a permission letter. The man took it and checked the details and told us it was a good job we had it or we would have had a “big problem”.

Original poster
Thunderpunt · 20/06/2022 07:01

That's great thank you all so much. Glad I saw that thread this morning!

I'll get friends mum to do the letter and get both parents to sign etc.
thanks again all - really helpful.

OP posts:
MsTSwift · 20/06/2022 07:04

Yes friends took a friend for their Dd mid teen and they were questioned at the ferry port

Ducksurprise · 20/06/2022 07:05

Get a copy of the parents passport the advice Aude gave is excellent.

I've been stopped a few times and always v relieved when I have the paperwork

Plantstrees · 20/06/2022 07:09

I have been stopped at customs with my own DC but luckily I always carried the nececessary papers to prove I wasn't abducting my children. Just be prepared for hold ups as it can take time to process (US/Canada).

tribpot · 20/06/2022 07:10

Just a note that it's not to do with consent for a non-resident parent. Any parent taking a child abroad needs consent from anyone else with parental responsibility.

RockinHorseShit · 20/06/2022 07:19

Yes, you will need this. We took DDs friend to Disney Paris with us & we had to show letters etc & were generally treat like child abductors/people traffickers 🥴 & had to show it several times

RhubarbFairy · 20/06/2022 07:20

I went on an 18-30 holiday when I was 17 (the month before my 18th). I has to have a letter from my mum giving me permission to go as did the two other 17 year olds in the group. We were a mix of 17 to 20 y.o. Though back then, I only remember showing it to the travel agent. I wasn't checked at either airport (this was 2000). Possibly because I was travelling with friends of similar ages rather than 'adults'.

Skyeheather · 20/06/2022 07:24

Don't you have to have the letter signed and witnessed by a solicitor?

Otherwise what's the point? Anyone wanting to abduct a child could type up a letter and fake two signatures. How do the Authorities know the letter is real?

Hoppinggreen · 20/06/2022 07:27

Skyeheather · 20/06/2022 07:24

Don't you have to have the letter signed and witnessed by a solicitor?

Otherwise what's the point? Anyone wanting to abduct a child could type up a letter and fake two signatures. How do the Authorities know the letter is real?

The parents who’s child we took with us just had a neighbour witness it.
I have no idea how they knew the letter was genuine

Newnormal99 · 20/06/2022 07:31

I was stopped in a recent European holiday. Luckily I had asked ex to prepare a letter in case! I really wasn't expecting to actually need it.

Ducksurprise · 20/06/2022 07:36

Skyeheather · 20/06/2022 07:24

Don't you have to have the letter signed and witnessed by a solicitor?

Otherwise what's the point? Anyone wanting to abduct a child could type up a letter and fake two signatures. How do the Authorities know the letter is real?

This is why I've always photocopied the passport and had the letter printed on the back of the photocopy. This has always been accepted.

SapereAude · 20/06/2022 07:37

Skyeheather · 20/06/2022 07:24

Don't you have to have the letter signed and witnessed by a solicitor?

Otherwise what's the point? Anyone wanting to abduct a child could type up a letter and fake two signatures. How do the Authorities know the letter is real?

For most places, no, it doesn't need to be witnessed by anyone. If the BC officers have any doubts, they simply contact the parent who isn't there and make the necessary enquiries.

It's not a failsafe protocol, no. I think as time moves on, then the rules will become more transparent. It's only been in the last few years that the gov website specifies about consent. And I remember contacting Mumsnet some years ago when they had an article up, the wording of which inferred that you'd only be asked for consent if your surname was different to your child's, which is not the case.

Be aware, as I've said, that it's important to know what the second country requires in terms of consent.

And, yes, @tribpot 's note needs to be remembered. It's not to do with residence or non residence. It's to do with a minor (any minor) being taken out of the country WITHOUT both parents travelling with them.

I live with DD and her Dad. I travel often just with her. I still need his consent.

savehannah · 20/06/2022 07:41

Skyeheather · 20/06/2022 07:24

Don't you have to have the letter signed and witnessed by a solicitor?

Otherwise what's the point? Anyone wanting to abduct a child could type up a letter and fake two signatures. How do the Authorities know the letter is real?

@Skyeheather my understanding was you need a copy of parents passport too. Not the same but when my 15 flew to France on her own I had to fill in a form giving consent and attach a copy of my passport. She got stopped coming back and asked where her parents were though going out nobody asked.

greenacrylicpaint · 20/06/2022 07:45

you need 2 letters of authorisation.

one for the border officials and one for medical emergencies.

vivainsomnia · 20/06/2022 10:12

We took a friend of my DD abroad flying and they didn't ask for anything (we had a note from her mum). My DD then went on to see another family member so my oh and I flew back with just the friend and nothing was asked again.

DD then flew abroad with another friend and again nothing was asked. Better safe than sorry though.

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