Help regarding travel for kids with grandparents not parents

hrs2004 · 22nd August 2008, 17:48

Hi
I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. My parents are planning to take my daughter and her cousin to Tenerife for a week (hurrah!), but I suspect that there may be some legal issue as the kids are travelling without their parents. Does anyone know if this might cause a problem and, if so, what we can do to sort it?

They are coming out in October, so we have a little bit of time. All have the necessary passports / travel insurance, so just this one bit of concern.

Many thanks!
Helen

jewels · 22nd August 2008, 17:51

as long as they are travelling with adults you shouldnt have any problems just to be sure check with the airline.

HELSBELS · 22nd August 2008, 19:49

As long as the children have passports there are no legal requirements , just lots of pro plus tablets , enjoy .

monster · 22nd August 2008, 22:31

children need the consent of both parents to travel....I know this as my daughter has to get a letter signed by her own daughter's father to be able to take her out of the uk. I think this is a new ruling due to child abductions.

dede · 22nd August 2008, 23:25

No i dont think so i take my grandson everywhere with us and have never had a problem in fact we have just come back from mainland spain with him and never encountered any problems.

monster · 22nd August 2008, 23:39

my sister had the same problem leaving canada to come on holiday with her two kids and she is actually married to their father...it can be a real problem as if you are asked to produce this proof and you do not have it they can refuse your travel. In fact I believe that the authorities actually telephoned my brother in law to check it was ok for her to take the kids.

Jackie B · 23rd August 2008, 11:23

To be on the safe side I would give them a letter from both childrens parents stating that you give them permission to take them out of the country and all the necessary contact details.

It is not a new thing due to child abduction, 35 years ago I went travelling with a family friend and her parents and at every border we had to show consent from my parents for me to be with them, also my son had two friends who travelled here from England last month, one of them is not 16 yet and he had to show written permission from his parents stating who he was staying with etc. before they let him leave the UK

Better to be safe than sorry and ruin a holiday

monster · 23rd August 2008, 11:38

wether new or old as you say better to be safe than sorry, my sister was amazed at the time though given that they were actually traveling with one of the parents, she had no idea that they would even question her.

hrs2004 · 27th August 2008, 23:29

Hi folks

Thanks for your replies. Today made a pointless trip to the consulate in London, taking her and our passports as told on the phone, only to be met by the most officious official I have come across, who insisted she had been too busy with people to answer the phone all morning, but later said she had had no one in before 11am...
Anyway, her advice, although I'm not sure I believe her entirely, is that we need to send in by post (or bring in person) a parent passport and photocopy, the child's passport and photocopy, the child's birth certificate and copy, £22 in postal order and a pre-paid registered delivery letter. We also needed to fill out a form, which is in Spanish and she couldn't be bothered to help us with. Funny, as my mum had phoned both their office and the Manchester office a couple of days back and been told purely to bring in the child's and parent's passport and it would all be sorted.

Question for Dede - does your grandson have the same surname as you? My daughter and her cousin both have different surnames ti my parents, and are only 4 and 5, and I'm thinking that they will be so conspicuous that they will be challenged.

Anyhow, looks like we are going to have to try again, although I'm going to phone Manchester before we send this all in, as I can see this delightful woman waiting to get it all by post and then announcing that we need to come in in person. Will let you know how I get on!

loobie · 28th August 2008, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrs2004

Hi folks

Thanks for your replies. Today made a pointless trip to the consulate in London, taking her and our passports as told on the phone, only to be met by the most officious official I have come across, who insisted she had been too busy with people to answer the phone all morning, but later said she had had no one in before 11am...
Anyway, her advice, although I'm not sure I believe her entirely, is that we need to send in by post (or bring in person) a parent passport and photocopy, the child's passport and photocopy, the child's birth certificate and copy, £22 in postal order and a pre-paid registered delivery letter. We also needed to fill out a form, which is in Spanish and she couldn't be bothered to help us with. Funny, as my mum had phoned both their office and the Manchester office a couple of days back and been told purely to bring in the child's and parent's passport and it would all be sorted.

Question for Dede - does your grandson have the same surname as you? My daughter and her cousin both have different surnames ti my parents, and are only 4 and 5, and I'm thinking that they will be so conspicuous that they will be challenged.

Anyhow, looks like we are going to have to try again, although I'm going to phone Manchester before we send this all in, as I can see this delightful woman waiting to get it all by post and then announcing that we need to come in in person. Will let you know how I get on!

Sorry... buttt what a load of poooooo!! I've taken my grandson round the world (under a different surname to me) and never have I been asked who are his parents

Sorry I have a little insight and when they ask to confirm a name... a phone call will do!!!!!

Maybe I may be wrong but that is UK rules