Permission to take kids abroad on holiday

[anotherdisaster]

Hi All, I've read other threads on this. The consensus (and on official gov site) is you should have written permission from the other parent. My worry is that my ex is very unpredictable and I'm not 100% sure I will get it.

@HicLocusEst

Ok. Can you reference the case?

Yes, a man travelling alone with a minor will almost always be questioned.

It's literally my job.

That is very useful to know!

@MadeInChorley
It's actually nothing to do with surnames as to whether passengers are questioned. It's only to do with the fact that there is a child without both parents.
The different surname criteria is a reference point, but only a very minor one.
Years ago, when Mumsnet wrote an article about travelling abroad with minors and consent, they heavily emphasised the different surname thing and their article implied that you'd only be questioned if different surnames were the case. I contacted them to say their wording needed to be changed.

You can also apply to the courts for a letter confirming that you have no contact with the other parent, or that the other parent is withholding consent maliciously, in which case, the court would probably override the non consent.

Hope you sort it out.

That's interesting. So why has noone ever said anything to me? Is it just luck? Or that my child is fairly obviously mine or something else entirely?

Tbh, both of those things.
It's not a perfect system, and definitely some categories of traveller are more likely to be questioned because statistically they are more likely to be abducting their own child or removing their child (or another) for whatever reason.

I've been stopped numerous times, and not stopped numerous times. The funniest probably being when coming home from Italy with DD and her friend. I didn't need consent to leave Italy with the friend because the friend was over 14 (I did need it to leave the UK with her though) but I did need it to take my own daughter.

(Btw, also check the law in the country you're travelling to- as consent legislation may be different)

Believe me I've scoured the internet for government rulings on this as I have a child who is court ordered not to see parent.

There is no legal requirement to have a letter, however it is advised as it is easier to explain the situation.

I have a child arrangement order which means I am allowed to take my child out of the country for 28 days. However the original solicitor has gone bust, I'm not sure the real documents exist anymore. I have notarised documents for a previous holiday I am going to use. But believe me I've read every GOV page going, letters are advised but not essential and there is no clear expectation to notarise court documents.

So take as much documentation as you can like birth certificates etc. as for the letter, if you can get one if not don't worry:

I've been asked for one for my DS and niece when I took her on holiday with me. It might have looked suspicious because all 3 of us had different surnames. My sister wrote me a letter and a copy of my nieces birth certificate and I wrote myself a letter from exh saying I had permission to take DS on holiday. I don't speak to exh and even though he knew DS was going on holiday I didn't want to ask him. He did give DS £20 to spend on holiday so I took that as consent.

@HicLocusEst appreciate your insight :)

@HicLocusEst

So it's easy for you cite some relevant cases? They will spring to mind for you.

I have been asked when returning from France as my daughter had a different surname at that time. I did have a letter from my ex thankfully but if he'd refused you can get a court order if you're worried. Not been asked since but always travel with her birth certificate, that letter and passport since then.

I have been asked to show permission at passport control upon leaving an eu country. I had the letter so don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t.

I used to just print out a letter that he just had to sign, and sent it with dc when they saw him, on one occasion he was difficult and I passed it to his mother who asked him to sign it.

I've never been asked to show it, even entering USA, however DC has been asked questions several times and I wouldn't have wanted to not have the letter as back up. I always include exH's mobile number on the letter.

To add, we have the same surname and dc looks like me.

I've holidayed abroad as a single parent for 16 years and never once been asked for proof that my ex agreed.

I've holidayed abroad as a single parent for 16 years and never once been asked for proof that my ex agreed.

That means nothing though. I've got the same surname as my children and I've been asked.

Some of it probably depends on where you are going.

Years of travelling with my Ds who has a diff surname. I took copies of birth certificate and my marriage certificate (to new DH) to show my old surname that matched up with birth certificate. Never had an issue where a letter was needed.

I even had to do this when he was 16/17, even though he could travel on his own, take flights on his own, which he often did, I would need to produce the certificates if we were travelling together which always seemed a little bizarre.

It's all for the greater good so I never grumbled and they were always polite and speedy with the process.