Travelling With Children

This post from Mumsnet may prove useful this summer....

A quick nosey at the travel talk boards shows that being stopped at passport control and asked to prove your children are your own is far from uncommon.

If your children have a different surname from you and you're travelling without their father (or vice versa) - or, indeed, you've sent them off for a week with Granny - there's every chance you may be asked to prove their identity. 

Why does this happen?

Child protection. The idea is to safe-guard against child abduction and smuggling. Controls are getting tighter, and checks more frequent.

What can I do?

Don't panic. Making enquiries before you travel and bringing extra documents might seem a faff, but will ensure smooth passage. Before you leave you should:

• Check with your airline – they deal with this daily and will have their own specific requirements
• Check with your embassy - what applies for British children does not apply for other nationalities, regardless of whether they are travelling into/from the UK
• Check with the relevant embassy for the requirements of country/countries you'll be travelling to/through 
• Ensure you have relevant documents: passports (yes, double check), birth certificates and marriage certificates. If you're travelling under your maiden name with children of a different surname, a marriage certificate alongside your passport will 'prove' who you are
• Pack a consent letter (see below)
• Should your parenting arrangement have special terms regarding international travel, then double check with a solicitor to ensure you have the relevant supporting documents

Consent letters: everything you need to know

• Travel consent letters demonstrate that the child or children in question have permission to travel abroadfrom parents or guardians who aren't accompanying them. They're especially useful in situations in which the parents are divorced or separated, and one parent wishes to take the child on holiday. They can also be used by grandparents and other relatives
• They're not a legal requirement in the UK, but can simplify travel for UK nationals, as they may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or when re-entering the UK
• The letter needs to be signed by whomever is NOT travelling
• Getting the letter notarised is recommended, as it's more likely to be accepted as a legal document. You can do this at a local solicitor's for a small charge.
• Remember, carrying a consent letter does not guarantee that children will be allowed to enter or leave a country; every country has its own entry and exit requirements. Double-check with the relevant embassies for specifics.
• Download a template consent letter here

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