islandmom

Hi,

I'm looking for a website with the law and paperwork information for entering France with my children on vacation without my husband. Thanks!

nytraveler

The issue is not entering France. The problem is getting out of the US.

Due to numerous instances of non-custodial parents kidnapping children and taking them out of the the US many airlines require that you have a notarized letter from the other parent okaying the trip before they let you on the plane.

They'll ask for it the same time as they ask to see you passport. Now - they can't admit you to the foreign country - but they don't want to have to fly you back - so they make sure you have a passport before you get on the plane. The same with the letter showing OK of both parents. They don;t want to be sued if they make a mistake.

gregeva1

Here's a website that has a letter of consent to travel that I used and had notarized when I took my son to Europe by myself last year. No one ever asked me for it but it was better to have...

http://cruisediva.com/permission_ltr.htm

Hope that this is helpful.

StCirq

Also make sure you have a notarized letter from H allowing you to administer medication and take kids to appropriate medical facilities.

crepes_a_go_go

I have taken my sons to France and England yearly since 2002 and have never had a problem, been asked for anything other than their passports.

nytraveler

This is something the governmnet is pushing onthe airlines. And depending on the airline, the departure city - and perhaps even the check-in agent - enforcement of the rules may differ.

The point is that they CAN ask - and you're not sure if they will or not until you get there. When it's something so easy to do - why take a chance of having a problem boarding your flight?

carolinabelle

I've taken 3 student groups to Europe and never had a parental permission form nor were we asked. Then again, things might be different as I wasn't the parent of any of them, they were all over 16 and we were obviously part of a tour group.

crepes_a_go_go

carolinabelle, I didn't even think of that situation. I took a student tour group last year and am taking another group next week. Like you, I have no parental permission paperwork and would not have even thought of getting it for something like this.

odie1

My best friend just flew with our four year old daughter from JFK to Brussles and on to Nice to join us. American Airlines told me she needed nothing in order to do this. I was concerned and still wrote letters, had them notarized, copied all our passports etc. and she was never even asked a single question.

Once the kids have a passport it seems as though they are good to go.

WillTravel

Northwest Airlines has a different perspective than AA, in that case:
http://tinyurl.com/32bwms

The AA site actually says this:
Consent For Minor Traveling Without Both Parents/Guardians
Minors under the age of 18 who are traveling with only one parent may be required to have additional documentation if leaving their country of residence. Please contact the nearest Consulate of the country to which you are traveling for additional information.

odie1

WillTravel-

That is so interesting because not only as I mentioned I called and spoke to someone who told me she needed nothing but again, because I was so nervous about it, when my husband and I checked in for our flight to Nice, a week earlier, I asked the agent to make a note in our daughter's record that we knew she was going to be travelling without us, etc and she informed me that that would not be necessary because again all she needed was her passport.

It's scary to think there is no set procedure for this sort of thing!

travelbunny

re letters/permission- I took a group of kids (8-20) on a choir tour. Our legal eagle insisted that each kid had a letter giving 2 of us POA if an injury or illness. In dire emergencies they would have proceded without parental permission but for a fractured limb laceration there may have been delays otherwise. In addition, we had to have permission from the noncustodial parent (and in one case of a nasty divorce a copy of the agreement re custody) for the kids whose parents were "split". We didnt need this but we took his advice. I would think that anyone travelling with a group would seek this info. I did have an odd thing happen to me. At the time I had 2 kids (my third hadnt come along yet). I had dropped my eldest with my mother for a visit and returned with my toddler. He had his passport. However, we have different last names as I use my maiden name. I did not have his birth certificate (which has my name on it as well as his father's) with me. Whe I landed imigration was quite concerned that I could proove he was my child. Fortunately we were met by his Dad at the airport who confirmed my identity and of course had a driver's license with his name which matched our son's (and besides they are carbon copies of one another!!). Until my kids were about 11 I continued to carry copies of their birth certificates!

ShelliDawn

I don't have children so don't have to worry about this, but this topic has made me curious, especially travelbunny's comment.

How do people prove that they are their children's parents and/or legal guardians. I guess I was assuming that the parents'/guardians' names would be on the passport, but that seems not to be the case. Should one have a notarized letter stating that is the case? How do officials know these letters aren't faked?

I also thought about the case of widows/widowers. Would they have to provide a death certificate to prove they are the sole guardian? Can't get a letter signed by a dead person.

WillTravel

Yes, I have read that if one parent is dead, you should take along the death certificate.

nomadwoman

Hi islandmom, Just got back from Amsterdam/France last week with my 16 y.o son .I flew KLM and Air France and was never asked for any letter when I left the country at Newark airport. You are suppose to have a notorized letter from your spouse giving you permission for you to take your child out of the country. I would look on your airlines web site or call the airlines to get the info that you need specific to them. More then likely you will not be asked for the letter but You need to have it if they ask you or you probably would not be able to take your children out of the country.Good Luck.

MelJ

My daughter took her two minor sons with us to the UK and France in April. She had the notarized letter from her ex, but no one in any country asked to see anything, even though she has a different last name from her children.

It was absolutely reassuring, however, that the letter was handy, so I wouldn't even consider going abroad without it.