consent for teenage child to travel without parent

xraylady

Will be taking my niece on holidays with myself and my daughter to Europe over the Summer.She is 13.
Do I need to carry a letter from her parents stating that they have given permission?

Timberrrrrrrr

Shouldn't be an issue but then as the man said, better to be looking at it than looking for it

Mrs OBumble

I would.

Also discuss with the parents what you have permission to consent to regarding medical treatment. Big stuff (broken legs etc) is easy - the doctors should insist on parent/guardian consent. But do you have their permission to give her a panadol, etc?

January

Yes and as far as I'm aware it has to be notarized now too.

xraylady

You're kidding! I wonder where I could check it out? She's 13 and I doubt if it's the same as say, bringing a small non verbal child.

ProudDUB

Your local Garda station may be able to fill you in, as to the forms you need.

The Dept of Foreign Affairs also advises you check with the corresponding immigraton authorities of the country you are going to.

If you are a lone parent travelling with children, be aware that some countries require extra documentation showing that the other parent has consented to your child travelling.

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/assistance-abroad/childrens-issues/

Also check the website of the airline you are traveling with. They may have special requirements, if passengers are checking in with minors and the surnames on their passports aren't the same.

esforum

ProudDUB wrote: »

Your local Garda station may be able to fill you in, as to the forms you need.

The childs passport

thats it, thats all thats legally required. The child is 13 and can speak, if they are being kidnapped they can relay this to immigration and the police however theres no law that says you cant bring a minor across an EU border. Theres forms required for airlines when a child is travelling alone but nothing else required for relatives.

Having said that,the suggestion concerning medical aid was a good one and theres absoluty no harm in bringing a letter from the parent and just to be 100% clear, a copy of the parents passport to prove their signature.

Have brought my eldest daughters friends on holidays in various countries, never an eyebrow raised by immigration, funnily enough only Ryanair ever said anything.

JackHeuston

In what countries are you going to travel? You should check their legislation as well. I'm originally from Italy and it's common, when you go abroad, to ask your local council to give you a paper stating you will be travelling with your child when they're less than 14 years old. The same might be checked at immigration, or simply on the street by Police.

Child abduction is not so common in continental Europe as it might sound from my post, but people are a bit more aware of it I think than those who live in islands with border controls. If this paper from Garda doesn't cost you anything, I'd make it just to be sure not to have to waste hours in a Police station just because your daughter looks like a kid who disappeared long ago.

edit: actually, at least for Italy it's mandatory since 2014 to get this kind of paper when travelling abroad. I'm not sure if it applies the other way around, too. And yes, some people had issues with Ryanair making questions, might be worth to take a look at their policy.

edit 2: dang I didn't read the niece part and jumped to daughter, but what I said still applies (even more)