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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Travelling with my child with different surname

25 replies

CrazyDiamond30 · 05/08/2024 11:37

Hi, wondering if anyone can give any advice or experiences...

We are travelling abroad next week (from the UK)

I have the same surname as my child however my passport is in my maiden name (therefore booking is in maiden name). My name on her birth certificate is my married name.
So booking is in 'A', child's surname and birth certificate is 'B'.
I am not travelling with her father, so it effectively looks as though she is travelling with nobody with same surname.

I am going to take her birth certificate (which shows my married name which I will not be travelling under) and my marriage certificate, but is there anything else I need to do?

Thanks!!!

OP posts:
BumBumCream · 05/08/2024 11:38

I don’t have the same surname as my child and it’s never been a problem.

mikado1 · 05/08/2024 11:41

BumBumCream · 05/08/2024 11:38

I don’t have the same surname as my child and it’s never been a problem.

Same, no problem in May of this year.

Original poster
CrazyDiamond30 · 05/08/2024 12:37

Thank you both for your replies! Did you get through without having to provide any birth certificates?
And we're you travelling with nobody else with the same surname as your children?

OP posts:
violetcuriosity · 05/08/2024 12:39

I've been stopped a couple of times and they've just asked her who I am!

belindaah · 05/08/2024 12:40

I just take birth certificates with me and it's always been fine.

HumanbyDesign · 05/08/2024 12:43

My partner just took our ds abroad - he has my surname - and they didn't get questioned 🤷🏼‍♀️

Was to Spain.

Original poster
CrazyDiamond30 · 05/08/2024 12:52

Ahh this makes me feel much better, thank you all!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/08/2024 12:57

Could you take a letter from her father giving his details and permission for the travel to take place (strictly speaking you should be doing this anyway as all those with parental responsibility are supposed to give permission for the child to go abroad with 1 parent)

mikado1 · 05/08/2024 17:20

I was a bit worried myself but asked a friend in a similar situation that has travelled a lot and she said she's never been asked. I suppose two comfortable children and a return flight date clearly on a summer holiday doesn't bring concern.

Whatacarrion · 05/08/2024 17:34

In my experience it's not so much about your names but where you are going. If you are going to a tourist destination in the summer holidays with return flights and a bucket and spade in your luggage then they are less likely to be looking at you.

I taught my dc what to say after we were hauled off for an interview somewhere in Asia.

ItWasntMyFault · 05/08/2024 17:37

I never had any problem having a different surname to mine. They asked them who they were with and were happy with 'my mummy' as an answer.

DelilahBucket · 05/08/2024 17:38

It's wise to take a letter of permission with you from the other parent. That said, in 12 years of travelling abroad with DS and different surnames, only once have I had to produce his birth certificate, and that was coming back into the country at Heathrow. Once he was asked who he was travelling with at Manchester, again upon return. We've mostly been within the EU, with one trip in Europe but out of the EU.

Roundaboot · 05/08/2024 17:41

I have a nearly 17 year old with a different surname from me and have never had an issue travelling, and yes, we've travelled with several members of my family so he was the only one with a different name and still no problem. No one's ever even asked, even when travelling to the US where immigration personnel can be a bit intense!

atomicnotsoblonde · 05/08/2024 17:50

I've been stopped a couple of times. Had birth certificates and CAO with me. The once they asked my youngest who I was - he took a long pause to think about it before answering 🙈

atomicnotsoblonde · 05/08/2024 17:51

Should have said was stopped both times on entering the UK, not leaving it.

Kitkat1523 · 05/08/2024 17:53

My DD arrived in Heathrow recently from Australia…..was asked to provide copy of their dads passport ( which she had as a photo)..,,parents are together but dad returned home early….children both have his name

Ducksurprise · 05/08/2024 17:57

Most people don't get stopped but I promise you if you do you will be glad you went overboard and had everything covered.

If your DH has a passport photocopy that and get him to write on it that he allows you to take DC away and the dates that you are away. If no passport a driving licence.

Yes to taking a copy of birth certificate and marriage certificate.

I had a very scary experience that as soon as I got out the paperwork became fine.

99% time you won't need it but you will be grateful if it's the 1%

garlictwist · 05/08/2024 18:46

I take my nieces abroad every year and they have a different surname to me. No one's ever batted an eyelid.

garlictwist · 05/08/2024 18:47

DelilahBucket · 05/08/2024 17:38

It's wise to take a letter of permission with you from the other parent. That said, in 12 years of travelling abroad with DS and different surnames, only once have I had to produce his birth certificate, and that was coming back into the country at Heathrow. Once he was asked who he was travelling with at Manchester, again upon return. We've mostly been within the EU, with one trip in Europe but out of the EU.

How would they know a letter was genuine?

Original poster
CrazyDiamond30 · 05/08/2024 20:27

Thank you all for your replies. In reply to the above, this was my concern - there is no official/legal document to use. I called Jet2 and they advised to take a letter of consent from dad along with copy of his passport.

Hoping from the most of the replies that I'm not going to be asked!

Is there any issues flying in maiden name? Booking/passport is in maiden name I mean. TIA

OP posts:
S00LA · 05/08/2024 20:37

I’ve done this many times and have never had a problem but

children were school age , so able to answer if asked
I was going to European countries for short stays and had return tickets
we were all Uk nationals
children have my surname as a middle name

I don’t know what you mean about “ flying in maiden name “? No one cares what name you use as long as it’s the same on your passport and your ticket. It can be your name, your mothers name, your cats name , whatever, just as long as it’s the same on both and it’s your legit passport.

BumBumCream · 06/08/2024 07:10

CrazyDiamond30 · 05/08/2024 12:37

Thank you both for your replies! Did you get through without having to provide any birth certificates?
And we're you travelling with nobody else with the same surname as your children?

Arrived back in the UK last Friday with just my child who has a different surname and no other paperwork.

AnneElliott · 06/08/2024 07:31

I'd agree you should take both documents and a letter from her dad if that's doable.

I used to work for immigration and we would often ask the children who they were with. Several small children confidently told me they'd never seen the adults they were with before and they weren't their mummy and daddy. The look of horror on the mums face was normally enough to reassure meGrin

honeylulu · 06/08/2024 08:08

Birth certificate, marriage certificate and a letter from father should cover it. I've seen another poster has suggested a photocopy/ screenshot of his passport too. That should cover it though it's pretty unlikely you'll be challenged.

I have twice been stopped and asked though and my kids have a double barrelled name including my surname. The first time I was in a real panic as I'd been called through for a random bag search at the airport in Trieste. I took my toddler with me (husband stayed behind to finish his coffee which we'd only just bought). They started asking me if he was my child and why he had a different name and if his father knew I was travelling with him abroad. I've I explained his father was in the airport and suggested they call him through they said that wasn't necessary and were all smiles.

Second time was about 15 years later at UK passport control. Youngest had the beginning of an ear infection and being on the plane had aggravated it. She suddenly burst into loud tears as we were about to go through and border official came over and started asking her if she was OK and if she knew this person (me) and why she was crying. They wouldn't let me speak, they wanted to hear it from her and gave our passports a good scouring and again asked if her father had parental responsibility and if he knew where she was. Fortunately he was just ahead of us in the queue.

I was freaked out both times but I guess it's reassuring that they are looking out for the welfare of vulnerable children who may be trafficked.

sofasofa42 · 06/08/2024 10:57

I have always taken birth certificate and been questioned many times, about 50% .
My daughter got questioned once when she was about 5 and asked who I was and instead of saying mummy she said my name. So awkward- I quickly grabbed all the documents before she was taken away from me . Take whatever you have. It's take one over zealous border control person and you can be delayed or worse.

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