Flying with children of different surnames

[LauraHW]

Hi

I'm flying to Singapore with my children next week and they have a different surname to me. Can anyone advise what I need to do to get through immigration? Do I need to take their birth certificates?

Many thanks

[Passiflora]

I would take them just as a precaution!

Birth certificates!

[midivydale]

Yes take a birth certificate and if possible a copy of father's passport along with his acknowledgement that the children are flying with you.

[Whoop]

My daughter has a different surname to me and I always take a copy of her birth certificate but have never once been asked to provide anything.

[wonderwoman]

Gosh I've never thought of taking birth certs but makes sense I've always travelled with their dad but recall being questioned a bit by going through Italy.

[slh2009]

Yes definitely take a copy of the long birth certificate with your name on. I also take a copy of my partner's passport and a letter from him acknowledging he knows what I'm doing. That is only really worth doing if it is notarised I think. I've always been asked at Gatwick if I have birth certificate and told I must travel with it.

[sanity girl]

My children have a different surname and I've never had any problems travelling alone with them - never been asked for birth certificates or queried. I will make a note to take copies of birth certificates next time just in case.

[Giacomelli]

Always worth taking birth certificate even if you have the same name. My husband has been questioned when travelling in Italy (where married women usually still keep their maiden names anyway) alone with our eldest son. They have same name but he is 3 and the picture in passport is a 6 week old. Son is blonde and husband fairly dark. I think it's reassuring that they are noticed and questioned from time to time.

[LauraHW]

Thanks for responses all. Very helpful!

[ifnobodyspeaks]

Definitely take a birth certificate and letter from dad

My daughter has a different surname from me, and an Irish passport (I travel on a UK passport). We got quizzed for 20 mins in Oslo, despite having birth certificate/letter of consent to travel and photocopy of my husbands passport to prove the letter was from him! Was so relieved I had them - I honestly don't think they would have let me in Without all of it!