Travelling with different surname

[MermaidSwimming]

Wanting experience from those who have travelled with DC who have a different surname. I see it said on here often that you may be stopped but how often does it actually happen? I'm traveling with extended family next week and one DC in the group has a different surname to everyone else. They have a signed letter from other parent with permission and will take copy of birth certificate. Any experience welcome thanks

I've been asked every time I re-enter the UK with my ds, never on the way out or when crossing other borders. I take both a permission letter and a copy of the birth certificate but am only ever asked for the birth certificate at most.

I've been asked once.... oddly only interested in one child, and we had the same surname. They can ask any single adults with children.

DD was asked who I was and a very confused 6 year old looked to me before answering this complete stranger. I live in the Netherlands and I just carry a copy of an extract from the custody register, which gives my name and DD’s father’s name and states that I have sole custody of DD. I just pop along to the court and request a printout a few days before travelling with her.

The paperwork you have sounds fine but add a signed copy of the absent parent's passport. I didn't have it and the passport control official said that my other paper couldn't be verified: I could have signed it myself or got someone else to. Luckily he let us through but he was extremely stern and DD8 was scared. I'd bring it just to avoid that again!

Btw it wasn't because of the surname being different that the documents were necessary, it was because I was alone with the kids and they were checking I wasn't kidnapping the kids (The Hague Convention and all that stuff). We're actually one of only a few countries where the wife's name changes in her passport upon marriage with no mention of the maiden name. Muslim women (so a massive group of travellers) do not change name upon marriage either. The issue is primarily travelling solo, not the name.

Thank you all, will suggest a copy of other parent passport be added to documents

It’s not about surname you have a permission letter so don’t need to worry about anything

I divorced when my daughter was 7 and took her on holiday on my own ever since, have never once been asked if I had her dad's permission to take her.

It's fine, copy of birth certificate proves parentage. The signed letter is totally randomly applied - I've never been asked for eg - but they could ask so be prepared. However if you were to say that the father disappeared and couldn't be contacted there would be bugger all they could do about it. It's a nominal law that is only ever applied when there is an order in place preventing a child being taken out of the country.

Never had a serious issue, and I’ve travelled a lot. I do get asked about surnames, I explain it was for religious reasons, staff ask DS questions, they say we can see he is my son, and let us go (but do mention to carry birth certificate).

I always get asked on the way back into the UK, and once on the way into Spain. It’s not an issue though. I just take the documents.

I have never been asked , within my own child or my niece.

I’ve never been asked, but they do sometimes talk to Ds. He likes a natter thank god so isn’t bothered by this. The first time I travelled I had birth cert and signed letter of permission from his dad, but I’ve not taken them in years. I might start again now as it seems more common from this thread than I realised!

We've been questioned at Dover when we've taken the DCs' cousin on hols with us. We always take a letter from her parents with us.

It was always coming back from the overseas country that's been the problem, especially in the Netherlands/Germany.

I’ve never been asked for it but always carry his birth certificate. Once on reentering at Manchester they asked “Is this your mum?” to DS. He nodded and on we went. Now he’s a bit older he jokes he’ll say no and have me thrown into a room for questioning