Flying with children who aren't part of the family?

I'll call VS to attempt to get a firm steer on this, but wondered if anyone had experience of this...

My wife and I, together with our daughter, will be taking our god children away on holiday.

This means that we will be travelling with, and responsible for, 2 children/youths who are not part of the family.

Was wondering whether this might lead to any complications at checkin, imigration etc?

Any help/advice welocme:D

You will need a formal letter from the parent(s) of the children authorising you to take them out of the country. It should specifically name you and your wife as 'guardians' and contact numbers of the parents in case immegration etc want to check.

I don't think this needs to be done by a solicitor but equally a note written on the back of an envelope won't do !

Is that a new rule tontybear as I always just took my kids friends with me to Florida without any letters.... :0

It does sound a sensible thing to do though. I had just not even considered it ?|

Susnhine 8D

[honey lamb]

It is advisable to do this. We have had this issue in the past especially with foster carers taking their foster children on holiday abroad. Generally speaking it is OK but we always ensured that they had a copy of parental consent or a letter from the agency granting permission or in some extreme cases, court permission to do so if requested by the authorities (which rarely happens).

One has to bear in mind that children do get abducted, even by parents and so to be safe, a letter is a safeguard - especially if it is duly notarised

I am known for meticulous planning when going on family trips and from the age of 8 the children usually brought friends along - it seems strange that it never crossed my mind to ask the parents for letters! I wonder how many do organise this in advance?

I wonder how many do organise this in advance?

Probbaly not that many - who then complain if they get questioned.

I think its more a question of belt and braces and protects the adults as much as the child.

A few years ago, my partner and I took my younger counsins to Florida. Our travel agent advised us to bring the signed and dated letter from the parent/guardian granting permission to take their children to the USA for a specified period. The letter thad to state mine and my partners names and "temporary" guardians and the specific dates it would cover.

At immigration we were asked questions but no one asks to see the letter - I felt comfortable knowing it was in my bag and should there be any questions, they could easily be resolved without complaint.

If, like me, you like to be over prepared - take a letter as a"just in case!".

I found this on Air New Zealand

Until recently i worked within law enforcement at an airport, one of the job tasks was to identify children leaving the country without permission/abduction etc.

Whilst there is nothing legally required to take the children away (unless they are a ward of court) I would obtain a written letter from the parents , giving full details of the children, and that they give you permission to take them and that you will be their temporary guardian for the period. The parents should also provide a contact number that can be verified as correct (i.e not just a mobile number that could go to anyone)

Whilst probably nothing will come of it, if you were stopped outbound it makes the job of the officers checking easier, and therefore stops you being unnecessarily delayed. y)

To Whom It May Concern:
I (We), ______________________________ (full name(s) of custodial and/or non-custodial parent(s)/legal guardian(s)), am (are) the ___________________________ (lawful custodial parent and /or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s)) of
Child’s full name: ______________________________________
Date of birth (DD/MM/YY): _______________________________
Place of birth: _________________________________________
British passport number: ________________________________
Date of issue of British passport (DD/MM/YY): _______________
Place of issue of British passport: _________________________
_________________ (Child’s name), has my (our) consent to travel with
Full name of accompanying person: _______________________
British or foreign passport number: ________________________ Date of issue of passport (DD/MM/YY): _____________________
Place of issue of passport: _______________________________
To visit ________________ (name of country) during the period of ___________
(dates of travel: departure and return). During that period, __________________
(child’s full name) will be residing with _______________________________ (name
of the person where the child will be residing in foreign country) at the following address:
Number/street address and apartment number: ______________
____________________________________________________
City, province/state, country: _____________________________
____________________________________________________
Telephone, mobile & fax numbers (daytime and evening): ______
____________________________________________________
Any questions regarding this consent letter can be directed to the undersigned at:
Number/street address and apartment number: ______________
____________________________________________________
City, province/state, country: _____________________________
____________________________________________________
Telephone, mobile & fax numbers (daytime and evening): ______
_____________________________________________________
Signature(s): ___________________________________ Date: _____________
(Full name(s) and signature(s) of custodial parent, and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s))
Signed before me, _____________________ (name of witness), on _________ (date) at ___________________________ (location).
Signature: ____________________ (name of witness)

Some excellent advice here, thanks a lot everyone.

A signed letter and birth certificates it is then, with verifiable landline number.

Really appreciate the advice, and it's good to know that others have done it.

V-Flyers know the answers, again:D

I agree this makes a great deal of sense but looking back I used to regularly send my children as unaccompanied minors to my sister in France. Apart from giving the name of my sister who would be meeting them, all that was required was that I turned up at the airport with their tickets and passports and their Aunt gave the the correct name when she collected them from arrivals in France. I'm beginning to feel really guilty!

At one point, this was also an issue for children travelling with a lone parent. I had to obtain a "notorised" letter when taking my daughter on holiday to Mexico after my divorce from her father. Suppose this was meant to prevent children being taken permanently out of the country by a parent against the directions of a court.

Regards
R3dV

[honey lamb]

At one point, this was also an issue for children travelling with a lone parent. I had to obtain a "notorised" letter when taking my daughter on holiday to Mexico after my divorce from her father. Suppose this was meant to prevent children being taken permanently out of the country by a parent against the directions of a court.

Regards
R3dV

Ooh, you reminded me of my run in with the authorities. I took my son to South Africa to my brother about fifteen months after his father had died. I was asked where his father was and I explained he was dead (still feeling a bit raw at having to say so) The immigration looked at the five year old standing beside me and said, "He's a bit young isn't he? Are you sure his father's dead?" :0 My response? I told him I didn't realise he had to be a certain age before his father was allowed to die and then burst into tears. The passport was stamped.

We took Dragonbaby's friend away with us a few years ago and VS suggsted we get a letter from her mother (who is a lone parent) to confirm that we would be responsible for her (in absentia) as she was under 16.
We had no problems but the letter also stated we could give consent for any medical emergencies that arose.
DL

Ah, very good point there DL - need to think about that as well, especially in the USA...

HL - that's an appalling tale, I sincderely hope that oficer felt as bad as he should have done - how insensitive...

We took our son's friend to Florida and also the Caribbean with us many years ago(1999 and 2000) and got his parents to write a letter of permission, naming us as temporary guardins. It also gave us permission to agree to and obtain emergency medical treatment if required.

No-one questioned us at any stage and the letter was never needed. But we wouldn't have taken him without it.

may depend on age we took out niece and nephew to Florida last year aged 7 & 9, we had a letter of authority along the lines of the above which was witnessed and sealed by a UK notary. We were advised to do this by USA embassy in UK and when questioned as to who the children were by US immigration we produced the form and were told - excellent this makes life much easier have a good holiday, we were also questioned by UK immigration on return to the UK and produced the same form which saw us passed with a that's OK then.