Hello, Traveling in 2 weeks from the US to England with my 11 year old son. I have the passport and the ETA complete. Will I need a signed letter from his dad for entry or exit? I’ve searched and searched and can’t find a clear answer. Has anyone else needed this?
Posted by
Coeur d'Alene
382 posts
Here is some info on what you should have regarding consent from the non-traveling parent:
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
78 posts
Hi, I can't speak to your exact example, but my husband and I take it in turns to take our daughter on trips, some of which have been abroad (someone has to mind the dogs at home). The first time, I went to Germany and while I had her birth certificate, I did not have a letter from my husband approving the trip for her. I had the certificate as my surname is different to hers and the birth certificate proves the link between us. The border official asked me what Dad thought of the trip and where he was, and while I was able to answer him to his satisfaction, it made me determined to have the right documentation just in case. You can never tell when you are going to meet a tough officer. Nevertheless, it has not been a problem since that time, of course because we are prepared and take all the right paperwork!
Lavandula
Posted by
Surrey, UK
280 posts
See the UK Government page here: https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad.
A letter is may be requested at the border.
I do personally know someone who initially had a serious problem when travelling with child, separately from father.
Luckily they were able to make phone contact with the father (who was a lawyer) and were allowed to travel.
Posted by
UK (London - Chelsea Harbour)
285 posts
We have good friends who live near Brighton and have a second home in the States. She frequently takes their grammar school-aged son to the States to visit family without her husband.
A couple of years ago there was no hassle. Now, she brings a notarized letter from her husband and a notarized copy of the kid’s birth certificate (along with passport and associated ETAs, of course). And she has their lawyer on speed dial.
Dad is brown, so kiddo is brown, and so that is an extra wrinkle… but our friends agree that you can’t be too safe.
So I would follow the applicable policies to the letter, and then some. Better safe than sorry.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
9232 posts
Hi, elizabeth, I would suggest bringing a notarized letter signed by your husband that you are authorized to take your child out of the country (give specific countries and dates), and that there are no divorce proceedings pending (or final). Make a digital and physical copy.
FWIW, you probably won't need it - I recently took my two grandkids to England and had a notarized letter signed by their parents authorizing me to take them there and giving me the authority to make emergency medical decisions for them. I was never asked for it, but I'm still glad I had it. I'm a retired attorney so it was relatively easy to draft, but if you google it, there will be hundreds of options. Anyone of them would be fine - just make sure it has the kids dates of birth, your husband's contact information and what I put above.
Have a wonder trip!
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
931 posts
YES! You need a notarized document from the child's father authorizing the trip. Every detail should be included: the child's full identifying information, along with yours and the father's; dates of travel; destinations. If you are not together and your parenting plan includes a provision that either parent can take the child out of the country without permission, then a notarized copy of that document might suffice, but I would only rely on that if the father will not sign a specific authorization for this trip. Like the others, I hope you will not need any of this, but better to have it than not.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11536 posts
I’ve travelled alone to Europe with my daughter when she was 11 my son when he was 13 two separate trips both times we simply went to a notary and got a letter. We just wrote the letter ourselves and had it notarized. Cost us. I think 80 bucks I wasn’t asked for it either of those times but it’s good to have saves a lot of hassle.
Also, we have travelled with our my husband son, which was my stepson when he was 11 also and he doesn’t even have the same name as either of us so we also got the letter we just he, my husband and my stepson‘s mom went and got the notarized letter. It’s really not a hassle. It takes like 10 minutes and it’s worth it.