Children traveling with only one parent...

Ninike · 09-28-2006

Hi,
I would like to know if somebody can help me about a "technical" and "legal" matter...

Me and my husband are gonna travel with our 2 children, but my husband is not my daughter's natural father. Her natural father sign for the passport and a consentment letter but Air Canada, told us that it's not anough and we will probably be stop at the custom and send back in the next flight for Montreal. They told us that custom in Mexico are asking a "legal letter" and they are not flexible.

By the same time, we asked people about their experience and everybody said they could travel without letter and they found no problem with the custom.

What do you think???

Buckly · 09-28-2006

I traveled with my daughter, who has a different last name then mine, and her friend. They are both 9 and neither had a passport. I called the airline and they told me that all that is needed for anyone under the age of 18 is their birth certificate. I didn't even have a photo I.D. for my daughter. They didn't even look twice at me. It was business as usual and actually didn't even make me hit the red/green light. They just let me through. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if you have a passport. They "legal" father has to sign for that in the first place. That is given you permission to travel with your child.

**Shammy** · 09-28-2006

Nooo, unfortunately all gates agents are created unequally. Some will say you need the letter, some will say you don't, etc. The fact is that it will ALWAYS be best to take a NOTARIZED letter of consent signed by the parent(s) who are not traveling when taking a minor child out of the country. Not just a passport, not just a birth certificate, not just any 'ol signed letter. It must be a NOTARIZED letter of consent. There are standard letters that can be printed off the internet, filled out and then taken to a notary public. As long as you have this, there should be no further problems with going in and out of the country.

rainyday · 09-28-2006

Sample letters can be found at the Government of Canada website in both English & French. I'll try a link:

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/consent_letter-en.asp

**Shammy** · 09-28-2006

I sent one via PM as well.

Ninike · 09-28-2006

Thanks a lot for the information. I will try to have the notarized letter. It might be okay just with the simple letter, but I prefer not take the risk to miss my trip.

Thanks again for the info.

Tony&Cheri · 09-28-2006

I had an experience similar to Buckly a month or so ago. I flew to Sacramento from Playa to pick up my 13 year old nephew (different last name than mine) and bring him back to Playa with me. He stayed for a week & then we did the same in reverse. All he had was a birth certificate. No one ever asked for anything else at any point. But, I'd take Shammy's advice just to be safe & be prepared (she oughta know in her bizness!).

--Cheri

kcw102 · 09-29-2006

When I was a child we lived in Mexico for a year. My mom took me back to the states without my father once and got stopped in Mexico because she did not have a letter (she even had my same last name and we both had passports) from my dad. That was about 20 years ago, so I would guess if anything they are now more strict now. However, it was the Mexico City Airport, so maybe that makes a difference. As you said, better safe than sorry!

ANDY · 09-29-2006

Any child under 18 coming from the UK and not with both birth parents needs a notorised letter

BeachyKeen · 09-29-2006

When we travelled to Mexico in 2004, with my husbands kids from his first marriage, we got a notarized letter from their mother and were asked for it in both the Minneapolis and Cancun airports. You never know what the ticket agent will do so it's better to be prepared. If you do get the letter notarized, chances are you'll never be asked for it.

Dixie B · 09-29-2006

The bottom line is that the rules require it -- whether you are ever asked or not is up to the individual agent at the time. If you don't have it, you will probably be asked. It would also be a good idea to add consent for medical treatment as well -- just in case of emergency.

Dixie B · 09-29-2006

Another point of information -- if you are traveling with a child whose parent is deceased, be sure to have a copy of the death certificate. Again, it's something that might not be requested, but who wants to risk it?

penalipee · 09-29-2006

If you're coming out of Canada..you Must have a notorized letter from the absent parent. Just needs to state that they are aware that you are leaving the country for X amount of time with their child and that they agree to letting you go. I have always been asked for it in Vancouver when we leave but when we leave Mexico, they seem more amused reading it than anything. They've never asked me for it, I've just always offered it when we get to the counter.

09-28-2006	#1 (permalink)
Ninike lost on fifth Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 16	Children traveling with only one parent... Hi, I would like to know if somebody can help me about a "technical" and "legal" matter... Me and my husband are gonna travel with our 2 children, but my husband is not my daughter's natural father. Her natural father sign for the passport and a consentment letter but Air Canada, told us that it's not anough and we will probably be stop at the custom and send back in the next flight for Montreal. They told us that custom in Mexico are asking a "legal letter" and they are not flexible. By the same time, we asked people about their experience and everybody said they could travel without letter and they found no problem with the custom. What do you think???

09-28-2006	#2 (permalink)
Buckly beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central Illinois (icky) Posts: 490	I traveled with my daughter, who has a different last name then mine, and her friend. They are both 9 and neither had a passport. I called the airline and they told me that all that is needed for anyone under the age of 18 is their birth certificate. I didn't even have a photo I.D. for my daughter. They didn't even look twice at me. It was business as usual and actually didn't even make me hit the red/green light. They just let me through. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if you have a passport. They "legal" father has to sign for that in the first place. That is given you permission to travel with your child.

09-28-2006	#3 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,474	Nooo, unfortunately all gates agents are created unequally. Some will say you need the letter, some will say you don't, etc. The fact is that it will ALWAYS be best to take a NOTARIZED letter of consent signed by the parent(s) who are not traveling when taking a minor child out of the country. Not just a passport, not just a birth certificate, not just any 'ol signed letter. It must be a NOTARIZED letter of consent. There are standard letters that can be printed off the internet, filled out and then taken to a notary public. As long as you have this, there should be no further problems with going in and out of the country.

09-28-2006	#4 (permalink)
rainyday toe in water Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: bc Posts: 50	Sample letters can be found at the Government of Canada website in both English & French. I'll try a link: http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/before/consent_letter-en.asp

09-28-2006	#5 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,474	I sent one via PM as well.

09-28-2006	#6 (permalink)
Ninike lost on fifth Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 16	Thanks a lot for the information. I will try to have the notarized letter. It might be okay just with the simple letter, but I prefer not take the risk to miss my trip. Thanks again for the info.

09-28-2006	#7 (permalink)
Tony&Cheri livin' the dream Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 2,226	I had an experience similar to Buckly a month or so ago. I flew to Sacramento from Playa to pick up my 13 year old nephew (different last name than mine) and bring him back to Playa with me. He stayed for a week & then we did the same in reverse. All he had was a birth certificate. No one ever asked for anything else at any point. But, I'd take Shammy's advice just to be safe & be prepared (she oughta know in her bizness!). --Cheri

09-29-2006	#8 (permalink)
kcw102 lost on fifth Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philly Posts: 22	When I was a child we lived in Mexico for a year. My mom took me back to the states without my father once and got stopped in Mexico because she did not have a letter (she even had my same last name and we both had passports) from my dad. That was about 20 years ago, so I would guess if anything they are now more strict now. However, it was the Mexico City Airport, so maybe that makes a difference. As you said, better safe than sorry!

09-29-2006	#9 (permalink)
ANDY añejo Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In the midst of chaos Posts: 6,087	Any child under 18 coming from the UK and not with both birth parents needs a notorised letter

09-29-2006	#10 (permalink)
BeachyKeen life=playa Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomington, MN Posts: 638	When we travelled to Mexico in 2004, with my husbands kids from his first marriage, we got a notarized letter from their mother and were asked for it in both the Minneapolis and Cancun airports. You never know what the ticket agent will do so it's better to be prepared. If you do get the letter notarized, chances are you'll never be asked for it.

09-29-2006	#11 (permalink)
Dixie B very sparkly Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Wayne IN Posts: 36	The bottom line is that the rules require it -- whether you are ever asked or not is up to the individual agent at the time. If you don't have it, you will probably be asked. It would also be a good idea to add consent for medical treatment as well -- just in case of emergency.

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09-29-2006	#12 (permalink)
Dixie B very sparkly Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Wayne IN Posts: 36	Another point of information -- if you are traveling with a child whose parent is deceased, be sure to have a copy of the death certificate. Again, it's something that might not be requested, but who wants to risk it?

09-29-2006	#13 (permalink)
penalipee añejo Join Date: May 2004 Location: Westbank/PDC Posts: 1,763	If you're coming out of Canada..you Must have a notorized letter from the absent parent. Just needs to state that they are aware that you are leaving the country for X amount of time with their child and that they agree to letting you go. I have always been asked for it in Vancouver when we leave but when we leave Mexico, they seem more amused reading it than anything. They've never asked me for it, I've just always offered it when we get to the counter.