Travelling abroad with a child who has a different surname is a common scenario, for example, parents may not be married or have not taken the same surname and the child is travelling with the parent with a different surname. Children also often travel with relatives or guardians that have different surnames and border officials may request to see documents that prove that the adult travelling with the child has permission to do so.
Border officials have the responsibility to check that children are not being taken abroad during a custody dispute or are being trafficked, for example. Therefore, strict checks will be performed to safeguard children crossing borders.
If you are planning on travelling for a holiday with a child who does not have your surname, taking a child to visit relatives abroad or accompanying a child on a flight when they are being met by parents at the destination airport, you should ensure that you are carrying the required documents. These include:
The Child’s Passport
This is a standard requirement for crossing borders even when travelling with parents of the same surname to confirm the ID of the child.
Your Passport
You will also require your own passport which will confirm your identity and even if this shows a different surname to the child’s, additional documents will require proof of ID to back them up.
Child’s Birth Certificate
If you are a parent who appears on the child’s birth certificate, having the certificate plus proof of ID for both of you will provide evidence of the relationship. In some cases, such as relocating abroad or if the country’s embassy requires a birth certificate apostille, you will also need to arrange this in advance of travel.
Apostilles provide verification that a document is authentic and a birth certificate apostille can be obtained relatively quickly through an e-Apostille service. It is advisable to check whether this is a requirement for the country that you are travelling to with the child.
Proof of Legal Name Change
Depending on the circumstances of a parent having a different surname to the child, relevant documents such as a marriage certificate, name change certificate or adoption certificate will show officials the reason why you have a different surname.
Consent Letter from Non-Travelling Parent
A letter from the other parent providing consent for the child to travel can give added reassurance to border officials that the child is not being taken abroad without the other parent knowing. A consent letter should include the following details:
- Child’s full name
- Both parents’ full names
- A statement confirming the parent provides consent for the child to travel with the other parent
- The travel destination and dates (including return date)
- The non-travelling parent’s signature and date of signature
- Contact details so that border officials can call the parent to confirm they consent, if necessary
Some countries may require for a consent letter to be notarised, as this verifies that the letter is genuine and it has been signed in the presence of a notary public. To avoid complications at the border, a notarised consent form is highly recommended although not always necessary.
Court Order Documents
In some cases where there have been custody disputes, the other parent may not be willing to provide a letter of consent for the child to travel. If the travelling parent has a court order that allows international travel, this should also be presented to border officials. In these types of legal situations, parents can apply to the court for permission to take the child abroad if this has not already been provided as part of the custody arrangements.
Travel Details and Itinerary
If you are travelling with the child for a short period rather than a relocation, documents that confirm your trip arrangements such as flight or ferry tickets and hotel or accommodation booking confirmation will also provide some reassurance that you will return as planned.
Which documents you require will depend on the circumstances around the difference in surname and in most cases, a letter of consent from the other parent will be sufficient along with the birth certificate.
However, if you want to make sure that you do not face difficulties when you reach border control, you can contact the airline you are travelling with for advice. You can also check the information provided by the government or country’s embassy and identify whether supporting documentation such as an apostille is required or is recommended.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting this site by buying us a virtual coffee.
