Taking Granddaughters to London/Paris

Suggest you call the airline and ask what they require. It probably requires a notarized affidavit from the parents. Lucky grandchildren you have!

I think you'll need proper paperwork in the U.S. on exiting to get through passport control with a minor, not accompanied by her parents, . Check with the U.S. authorities. I understand they are careful because of child abductions and custody fights.

Friends of mine have made numerous trips from here (Israel) to various European countries with their grandchildren and have never needed anything more than passports there.

What we have is an non-notarized hunk of paper with copies of our drivers licenses and those of both parents It says that we may take the two named runts anywhere and do anything with/for them as though we were the parents. Both parents signed it.

We taken the rascals on more flights and through more borders than you can count using only their passports.

Nobody's ever asked for the stupid paper, even when we've taken them to a doctor.

The official UK Border Agency advice:

We have a duty under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. We take this duty very seriously and work to protect vulnerable children and those who may be trafficked.

If you are travelling with a child (under 18) and are not the child's parent, or may appear not to be the parent (for example, if you have a different family name), we may ask you a few questions about your relationship with the child. Before we allow children to leave the UK border, we want to find out their relationship with the adults who are travelling with them or meeting them on arrival. We will always do this as quickly and sensitively as possible. We do not want to delay your journey any longer than necessary.

What you can do
It will help if you carry evidence of your relationship with the child and/or the reason why you are travelling with the child. If you are not the parent, a letter from the child's parent or parents giving authority for the child to travel with you and their contact details.

We have taken our dd friend over the border to States via air.
Was never asked for anything. Did however have a letter from both the girls mom and dad ( they were divorced). Just a regular letter not even notarized.

I think I understand the nature of that regulation, they are trying to protect kids from being either parentally abducted or from being trafficed.

I think by simply talkig to you and child they can quickly ascertain that in your situation they don't need to delve too deep.

I took two of my three kids on one on one trips to Europe and hubby took the other. We each had letters from each other giving permission to take child .. but not once did anyone ask to see them.. we both crossed from UK to continental europe ( therefore going through passport control etc) and back again. No one seemed to give us a second look. My dd was 11, the boys were both 13 when they got their trips.

PS since they are grand daughters and not daughters I would still get a letter and a medical release form.

Get the letter notarized from both parents along with a separate statement signed by both parents stating you are getting their permission to advocate on their behalf if either kid ends up in a hospital. My friend and I have taken her 2 kids on multiple trips over the border from the U.S. into Canada and every single time they have asked for that document. Sometimes it has been quick, but a few times the border agents have had us sitting there in the car for well over half an hour. The paper my friend presents is always the same - notarized with his contact details and signed by her ex-husband stating he is granting permission for her to bring the kids over the border starting on X-Date. It's great that others have been able to get kids over borders with no such hassle, but do you really want to risk messing up your trip just to save the $20-$40 it might cost to get a couple letters notarized?

I have taken Girl Scouts and always have a notarized letter saying "Carol has my permission to take my kid and to authorize emergency medical care" or words to that effect. I am more concerned about medical then immigration.

What wonderful and helpful responses from all of you. A big "Thank You" to all of you who answered. This was definitely the place to go for information.

Ditto Carol. You need written authority to seek and authorize medical treatment for your granddaughters. Include a statement about your relationship to the girls and permission for them to travel with you. I would get it notarized.

I only took my granddaughter to Toronto but had notarized statements from parents to allow her to go with me and allow medical treatment. Just get that and it will be one less thing to worry about,in my opinion.

When we took our two granddaughters to Europe with us last June, I contacted the Rick Steves' office and they gave me information on who to contact (State Department). I received a form to fill out that needed to be signed by their parents and notarized - this included authorization for medical treatment. We were never asked for this, but we were happy to have it just in case.

Yes, do get a notarized letter from parents stating the nature of your relationships and the fact that you can travel with them and have medical emergency decision making. You could probably put both girls' names on the same letter.
My sister travels to Montreal every so often with my young nephew in tow. Almost every time, they have asked for a notarized letter wanting confirmation that the father of the child (her husband) is aware that the child is being taken out of the country. Ironically, her husband is an ICE agent.