Child going abroad with Grandparents

Need_More_Money_2

Can anyone tell me what is required to show parental consent for a child to travel abroad with his Grandparents but without his parents? Child has his own passport but I understand that the Grandparents have to be able to demonstrate they have parental consent. Is this correct? If so, how do they do this? A letter from the mother? Is there anything specific it should say? How would anyone know it was a genuine letter?

Thanks

terrierlady

we took 9 grand children to Florida and had letters of consent as some had same surname as us others did not, no one asked for any letter although we did have one from each group of parents

Need_More_Money_2

terrierlady wrote: »

we took 9 grand children to Florida and had letters of consent as some had same surname as us others did not, no one asked for any letter although we did have one from each group of parents

Thanks

I've heard that such a letter is recommeded but I don't understand the point. How would anyone know it had been written by the parent?
I emailed the passport office at the same time as posting on here, and amazingly they replied within 30 minutes! They said they don't require anything with regard to taking the child out of the UK, but it is worth checking with the airline and the country visiting in case they have any requirements

BernadetteN

If you are a family of British citizens, it is very useful for grandparents to carry a letter for parental consent. There is no "correct" format. However, as someone who regularly asks grandparents for proof of connection between themselves and accompanying children. I would suggest :

letter containing travel details, relationships and address and contact telephone numbers for the parents,
copy of parents passports,
copy of full birth certificate of child (if a child has a different surname to the grandparents or parents - useful even when parents are travelling with their children and they do not share surnames).

BernadetteN

Need_More_Money wrote: »

Thanks

I've heard that such a letter is recommeded but I don't understand the point. How would anyone know it had been written by the parent?
I emailed the passport office at the same time as posting on here, and amazingly they replied within 30 minutes! They said they don't require anything with regard to taking the child out of the UK, but it is worth checking with the airline and the country visiting in case they have any requirements

A parental consent letter is recommended because of :
child abduction by parents who are contesting custody,
child trafficking which is frighteningly common.

There is of course no way of knowing who has written the letter but that is why I have sometimes had to stop and phone parents up when I have had the slightest concern for children without parents and I could not have done this without a letter containing their contact details.

Need_More_Money_2

BernadetteN wrote: »

A parental consent letter is recommended because of :
child abduction by parents who are contesting custody,
child trafficking which is frighteningly common.

There is of course no way of knowing who has written the letter but that is why I have sometimes had to stop and phone parents up when I have had the slightest concern for children without parents and I could not have done this without a letter containing their contact details.

Yes I realised the intention of the letter, I just wasn't sure how it would serve that purpose since there is nothing to stop someone forging a letter (perhaps even with fake contact details as well).
But I will take your advice and give them such a letter

BernadetteN

Need_More_Money wrote: »

Yes I realised the intention of the letter, I just wasn't sure how it would serve that purpose since there is nothing to stop someone forging a letter (perhaps even with fake contact details as well).
But I will take your advice and give them such a letter

No there is nothing to stop someone forging such a letter. However, it's rather like someone presenting a forged passport - often it's the person or the situation that gives the forgery away first and then you have to figure out what is wrong with the forged passport, so a forged parental consent letter would be likely to be picked up by having suspicions about the passenger first. I've never personally come across anyone forging a parental consent letter, but have picked up loads of other forged documents such as tickets, invitations to weddings, job offers etc.

Have a nice trip anyway.

gladys_3

Hi dont know if this will be helpful , get your son / daughter to write to airline that you are going to fly with, included with the letter home telephone number, works telephone , of your son / daughter. also company that they work for, and managers ext. written permission that you can take your grandchild out of the country, take a copy of this letter to airport .

aimex

you should probably phone the british embassy in the country you are going to - its ok getting out of the uk but the difficult part may be getting into that country. I thought you had to have a letter signed by a Notary Public.
xx

Need_More_Money_2

gladys wrote: »

Hi dont know if this will be helpful , get your son / daughter to write to airline that you are going to fly with, included with the letter home telephone number, works telephone , of your son / daughter. also company that they work for, and managers ext. written permission that you can take your grandchild out of the country, take a copy of this letter to airport .

Just to clarify - it is my son that is the child and my parents that are taking him on holiday.
I've suggested to them that they contact the travel company and ask if they require anything specific, but will provide a letter with contact details anyway

dzug

It's the immigration authorities in the country you are visiting that are the main worry. Some have very specific requirements, others not.
Their Embassy might be the best place for reliable information.