Bringing a minor on holidays with a different name to mine

Tzardine

I am going on holidays in a little over a week to Lanzarote with my girlfriend and my half-sister ( She is 9 ). My mam was supposed to be coming but had to cancel with short notice so myself and the girlfriend will still go and look after my sister.

My sister has a different surname to me so I was wondering if I can expect any problems or will it be flagged at the airport either going or coming back ?

Is there anything which I should bring, like a copy of her parents passports etc ?

Has anybody had any experience with this or maybe bringing their kids friends away etc ?

Many thanks

keithclancy

Check with the Spanish Emabassy.

Even if its one parent traveling with the Child it can throw up a red flag.

tatli_lokma

I'm not sure that it is the Spanish authorities you need to contact as the child is an Irish national. The issue would be leaving Ireland with a minor. I think its the Dept of Foreign Affairs (Irish) you need to contact. You might need some sort of signed permission from your mother if she is the child's legal guardian. There is an affadavit single parents need to sign when travelling, so I imagine there may be something similar her mum needs to sign to give you permission to leave the state with her. Best to check with DFA though.

I assume she has her own passport?

Tzardine

tatli_lokma wrote: »

I'm not sure that it is the Spanish authorities you need to contact as the child is an Irish national. The issue would be leaving Ireland with a minor. I think its the Dept of Foreign Affairs (Irish) you need to contact. You might need some sort of signed permission from your mother if she is the child's legal guardian. There is an affadavit single parents need to sign when travelling, so I imagine there may be something similar her mum needs to sign to give you permission to leave the state with her. Best to check with DFA though.

I assume she has her own passport?

Thank you. Yes she does have her own passport.

I am thinking I will get a letter signed by her mam & dad and get it notarised. This should hopefully do the job.

tatli_lokma

Don't assume anything. Check with the authorities first. No point in paying for a notarial fee on a piece of paper that is worthless. There may be a specific requirement for an affadavit or something (as in the case of single parents). If it were me I would check with DFA first and then do whatever they advise. Nothing would be worse than having your sister distraught because she arrived at the airport only to be told that she can't travel with you.

Perhaps if your mum can travel to the airport with you and check her in that might also be permitted. Best to confirm with DFA.

Tzardine

I found the following information on the DFA website so I will paste it below in case it helps anybody else in future. It seems specific to USA but probably good advice anyway

Children - Child travelling with one parent or someone who is not a parent or legal guardian or a group

Due to increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, the US authorities (CBP) strongly recommends that unless a child travelling to the US is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child travelling with relatives other than parents, friends, or in groups such as school groups, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is travelling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to do so.". CBP also suggests that this note be notarised.

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if it does ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child travelling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful. Further information is here:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/268/session/L3NpZC9jZkJTZ1lzbA%3D%3D

Tzardine

I just got a phone call from the Spanish Embassy in Dublin after an email I sent this morning.

Apparently it would raise a red flag in Spain. They have a policy where any (resident) child travelling out of Spain with a non relative must have a letter that is issued by the police station and signed by the parents so it is definitely something that the immigration guys check for.

She has said that a signed letter by the parents and notarised would be fine.

tatli_lokma

But she wouldn't be a resident child as she doesn't reside in Spain.

The notarised letter should see you right though.

Enjoy your holiday!

Tzardine

tatli_lokma wrote: »

But she wouldn't be a resident child as she doesn't reside in Spain.

Indeed, my point was ( although not very clear ) , the Spanish authorities are used to checking for these letters.

Thanks for your help.