Don't Leave Home Without It!!
No, not your American Express card - proper documentation to leave
the country. Most people are aware that you need a passport for yourself
and your child as well as a visa to enter some countries, but many people
are not aware that you also need additional documentation when entering
foreign countries as a single adult traveling with a minor child. Not
only is this an issue for single parents, but ANY parent or adult traveling
out of the country alone with a minor child or children.
So what is the required additional documentation? The answer is, it
depends. Not only do documentation requirements change based on your
destination and how you enter the country (sea, land, or air), but also
it changes based on the whim of the airline, cruise and customs officials.
Our advice: err on the side of over-documentation. We recommend a notarized
letter of consent from the other parent of your child. (We include an
example with this article.) Some countries, like the UK, do not require
it for arrival by air, but laws may change at the last minute, so double
check before departure. Call the consulate of your destination. Remember
to tell them how you are entering the country: by air, sea or land.
It makes a difference.
What if you have special circumstances like many single parents? Perhaps
you are unable to locate your child's mother, maybe you never knew the
father, or the mother is deceased? Once again, your first stop should
be to contact the consulate of your planned destination and ask them
what documents they require for your situation. They may require some
form of legal documentation stating your situation. Some examples of
special documentation a destination country may require are:
· A death certificate
· A court order of sole custody
· A notarized letter from a government or religious official
confirming your situation.
(For example, if you never knew who your child's father was or cannot
find the mother, get documented proof of that from an official.)
Once you have contacted the destination's consulate and determined
what you need, contact your tour operator, cruise line and/or airline
to make sure that they will accept your documentation, particularly
with special situations. Get their names, titles and phone numbers,
so if a gate agent stops you at the airport you can tell them to whom
you spoke and hopefully that will smooth your ride.
Happy Travels!!
Click
here to view an example of the notorized letter
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