Travelling with a child with a different surname

[trillian42]

I don't think that a different name is considered strange at all. I think that they are even used to seeing parents traveling with kids of a different nationality. the question here is that they need to know that the other parent is aware that you are traveling with the kid or not.

So, even if your name is the same, you should have a letter of consent with you. notarised is the best, but within the EU we just do it with the signature of two witnesses. they don't usually ask for the paper, but in the rare chance that they do and you don't have it, it can be quite horrible. We started carrying it when we learned that when entering the US, a friend traveling alone with her small child was requested to prove that she is not abducting the kid, and until they could reach the father to verify, she was separated from her child. for over 7 hours. if you've ever been around American immigration officers, you know how horrific all this had been.

oh, and we do the same for when the grandparents travel with our kids.

btw, our children have both of our surnames, but right now their travel documents are of a different nationality from mine.

also, it's important to mention that women are much less questioned about this than men.

[slh2009]

Just resurrecting this thread for those that might not be aware. I travelled this week and was asked for my child's birth certificate on arrival at Gatwick....luckily I had a copy!

[reenie40]

I think security has stepped up in the past year. I don't use my married name but wasn't ever stopped when travelling with the children until this year. Luckily my husband was just in front of us in the queue but I'll now make sure that I have our marriage certificate or their birth certificates with me.

[gebbjane]

I was also asked at stansted in May this year too - luckily I to had my children's birth Certs on me. First time having been asked.

[monniemae]

My daughter has a different surname to both I and her father; we got to america fine at christmas but it caused some confusion on the way back through Heathrow until we showed the birth certificate. Not a big deal though, we always travel with it.

[vanessa520]

Happened to me too.

Very annoying if your not aware of it.

Also depends on the person you see not everyone asks for it, which I think they all should do, not just when that peson feels like it.

I personally don't think a letter is any prof whatsoever anybody can write a letter for you.

Been asked coming back into UK but never leaving.

Don't understand why that is.

Maybe when filling in info on flights eg names

There should be an info box that's says different surname you need more id for child. This should cut on confusion.