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Original poster

Husband taking son abroad

28 replies

H930 · 29/04/2024 23:36

My husband has booked to take our four year old son to Belgium on the Eurostar as he’s fascinated by the whole idea of it. It’s just two days and one night. I’m staying home with our baby.

It’s just occurred to me whether he will have any problems taking our little boy abroad without me? As in, do I have to somehow explicitly give permission? A quick Google has only yielded results for separated parents. We’re married and both have PR, all have the same surname etc.

Any ideas from anyone who has done this? Will it just be straightforward or will my husband be questioned in some way?

OP posts:
CadyEastman · 30/04/2024 07:15

No idea on that one sorry @H930. Hopefully someone will be along soon.

5month · 30/04/2024 09:55

I haven't needed it to fly within Europe. I am married but have a different surname and a non British passport

JumalanTerve · 30/04/2024 17:25

If they have the same surname I can't see there being any issue at all. Different surnames would be another matter I think

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mindutopia · 01/05/2024 11:16

I've travelled lots with both of my dc independently of dh. I've never had anyone question if I could travel with them. We have same surname, but until recently different passports (I only recently got a UK passport so would travel on my home country passport). No issues. If there were any issues, I'm sure they could just ring you and you could confirm your consent.

MrsSkylerWhite · 01/05/2024 11:18

I travelled alone a lot with our children (disabled husband), including on Eurostar and never had any problems.

Olika · 01/05/2024 11:31

You must get permission of everyone with parental responsibility to take a child out of the country so I always carry a letter from my DH in case I am asked. Nobody has wanted to see that letter yet and only one customs official asked me about my DD's father recently. But I much rather am prepared so I don't have to cancel my holiday plans.

mitogoshi · 01/05/2024 11:50

I got asked entering Canada but they accepted DDs word of why we were there

Original poster
H930 · 01/05/2024 21:09

Thanks so much everyone. Super helpful. I will write a letter and DH will take birth and marriage certificates too, just in case!

OP posts:
Notamum12345577 · 01/05/2024 21:11

Letter isn’t needed. You both have parental responsibility, and they have the same surname, they won’t get pulled up. If they do nothing will happen anyway as he is allowed to take him.

Notamum12345577 · 01/05/2024 21:18

mitogoshi · 01/05/2024 11:50

I got asked entering Canada but they accepted DDs word of why we were there

My sister got asked taking my daughter abroad, I didn’t even think about it so didn’t write a letter or anything! Luckily my daughter being teenage, they asked her where she was going, how they are related etc and it wasn’t a problem.

Olika · 02/05/2024 05:23

www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

celticprincess · 03/05/2024 11:52

I’m divorced but have the same surname still as my kids and ex. He has taken them abroad without and and I have without him. No one would know we were divorced to be honest.

The advice is that when only one parent is taking the child out of the country they should carry a signed letter of permission from the other parent in case they are asked. I have never been asked and neither has me ex but we have taken the letters just in case. Although to be fair, letters can easily be forged so I’ve no idea how they would
actually prove anything.

usually if you’ve a different name to your child you would also need their birth certificate which shows your name listed as a parent. I think this is where you’re more likely to be asked but seems not many people are

Mumclub · 03/05/2024 11:53

I have just been to France, Belgium and Netherlands with my 2 children (different surname) and wasn’t asked for anything

ISeeTheLight · 03/05/2024 12:28

It's best to take a letter, just in case. Technically border control can ask for this. I've only had it happen once in my 10+ years of travelling alone with DD. It takes very little effort to write a letter but they do sometimes ask for it so worth it.

Wediblino7 · 03/05/2024 13:23

I’ve only recently heard of a letter of permission here on this site. I’ve been on my own with my two since they were 3 and 1. They’re now 14 and 12. I got divorced years ago. I’ve always taken them abroad on my own, never been asked for any sort of letter, I wouldn’t worry.

Duechristmas · 03/05/2024 21:09

No, either parent can travel with their own child. It's not uncommon for the children to be asked their names or who their parents are at border control, and this year my 15 year old went through alone and was asked who she was travelling with, but if course it's ok to travel with a parent.

Velocity · 03/05/2024 21:36

I was travelling on Eurostar with 11 yr DS and was asked for a letter - first time ever and we've made the journey lots of times. We didn't have one and they phoned DH, checked his ID number etc so yes - the letter is needed just in case.

GerbilsForever24 · 03/05/2024 21:40

Technically, the other parent has to give formal permission. It is almost never enforced or asked for but a letter, with your contact details and a photo of your passport isn't a bad idea as a safety feature.

Shry · 03/05/2024 21:57

I have a different surname to DD and took her abroad many times without her Dad without any questions. The last time when we were returning to the UK from France they asked me if i had her birth certificate and i said no and that id never been questioned about it before or known.

They asked DD who we were and what our names were and she let us go through because she saw DD was comfortable with us, but asked us to bring her birth certificate whenever we travel because it lists me as the Mother on it.

Hope this helps.

CurlewKate · 03/05/2024 21:59

It'll be fine- but in an excess of caution, he could take the birth certificate with him.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/05/2024 22:35

Notamum12345577 · 01/05/2024 21:11

Letter isn’t needed. You both have parental responsibility, and they have the same surname, they won’t get pulled up. If they do nothing will happen anyway as he is allowed to take him.

Letter is needed.
he should have a signed letter from you stating dates as well as a signed copy of your passport and a copy of his birth certificate

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/05/2024 22:36

Duechristmas · 03/05/2024 21:09

No, either parent can travel with their own child. It's not uncommon for the children to be asked their names or who their parents are at border control, and this year my 15 year old went through alone and was asked who she was travelling with, but if course it's ok to travel with a parent.

Not true. You need permission from the other parent to take them abroad alone unless there is a court order in place

Outandaboutmedic · 03/05/2024 23:34

Do get him to take a letter. You don’t anyways get asked but some officials question more than others. I was asked when travelling with my daughter.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 03/05/2024 23:39

I took my dds aged 13mi and not quite 3, on my own from Oz to the Uk and back again. No one questioned us.

Original poster
H930 · 04/05/2024 08:57

Thanks all. I wrote a letter and DH has got the birth certificate, they weren’t asked on the way out but will be prepared if they are stopped on the way back!

OP posts: