other people's children

mardre · Post by **mardre** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:13 pm

When we came over last year we brought 2 'extras' with us to keep our teenage darlings happy. On our way home, whilst going through passport control at faro, our guests were stopped by the officials and when they explained they were with us we were asked for letters of consent for them to travel with us signed by both parents. Since one was 16 and therefore old enough to be married this seemed a little bizarre. I wondered whether anyone else had come across this and if so what the legalities were since we are going for a re run this year

many thanks, mardre

Jaylay · Post by **Jaylay** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:32 pm

Most people who live here with teenage children who want to travel alone will have heard a story of a friend who has spent hours at the airport trying to get their kid out of the country.
Here is the fact, if a person under 18 tries to travel alone they may be challenged for proof they are allowed by their parents to do so. Basically any minor needs a letter signed by both parents and notorised that they give authority for their child to travel alone.

Ok British children of 16 and over come on holiday with friends without such proof but beware some have had problems

The idea is basically sound divorced parents might try to get their children out of the country without the other partner knowing and there is always the question of child trading.
Like most situations in life there is a for and an against in any solution.

mardre · Post by **mardre** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:19 pm

Many thanks for your reply, that does make sense. We were surprised that the problem arose going home rather than coming in. We will come armed with suitable letters this year just in case. Strange though that some airlines will accept children on their own from 14 years but no mention is ever made of this potential problem/requirement when you book. It never occurred to us

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:52 pm

For the past two years we have brought our son's friend (now 17) with us each summer and on each occasion the friend has travelled at least one of the journeys on his own, either going home or on the way out.

Fortunately I did spot in the acres of small print in the online booking conditions, mention that 'children' under 16 travelling to Portugal with someone other than their parents needed a letter of consent from their parents so we had got one of these with us. The friend was required to produce this letter on both occasions by the Portuguese passport control - so Yes, having a letter saves you all the explanations !

Too lazy to log in - Alison

carolynb · Post by **carolynb** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 2:16 pm

Thanks for this info. We are travelling on Wednesday and my daughter is bringing a friend so it is really helpful to have found this out before travelling. Can any one tell me if it is ok just to have the parents give written authority and sign it.
I was on Jet2 website and they do give some info on this however they state if parents reside in Portugal then letter should also be signed by notary but they also state that otherwise a representative from the Portugese Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence should sign to verify signatures.
I believe the nearest embassy would be London and as I live in Scotland this would be totally impossible in the timescale I have.
In theory this would mean my daughters friends parents travelling to London too so signatures can be verified.Not really practical!!

As you can understand I am beginning to panic a bit now so any advice much appreciated or if any one that has experience of this can help put my mind at rest.

thanks
carolyn

Aardvark · Post by **Aardvark** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:37 pm

Immigration will certainly look for U18 Portuguese residents leaving and expect a notarised letter if they are not with parents. If U18 UK residents are travelling with you it is possible to get a letter notarised in the UK. Most major cities have one or two notaries. Try the Yellow Pages.

carolynb · Post by **carolynb** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:28 am

Just a quick note to thank everyone on their advice regarding travelling with other people's children. Without reading about this on this forum I would have been totally unaware of this requirement.

We went over for a week at the Easter school break suitably armed with a carefully worded letter signed by both parents of our daughter's friend.
We were asked to produce it both arriving at Faro airport passport control and again on the way out.
On the way home however the official advised us that the letter was 'nearly right' but we should have backed it up with a copy of the parents' passports. (signature page/photo) and to remember to do that next time, but we didn't have any hold up whatsoever.
So thank you again, a lot of stress avoided!!

Carolyn

SB · Post by SB » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:54 pm

We go to and fro with our children and their friends to Portugal. I always take a Letter of Authority signed by the parents. Most of the time we have not been asked to produce a letter but it's better to carry one just in case. I have yet to be asked for a copy of the parent's passport - is this something new???. Our daughter is 17 and sometimes travels without us but always carries a letter.

sandra · Post by **sandra** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:14 pm

carolynb wrote:Thanks for this info. We are travelling on Wednesday and my daughter is bringing a friend so it is really helpful to have found this out before travelling. Can any one tell me if it is ok just to have the parents give written authority and sign it.
I was on Jet2 website and they do give some info on this however they state if parents reside in Portugal then letter should also be signed by notary but they also state that otherwise a representative from the Portugese Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence should sign to verify signatures.
I believe the nearest embassy would be London and as I live in Scotland this would be totally impossible in the timescale I have.
In theory this would mean my daughters friends parents travelling to London too so signatures can be verified.Not really practical!!

As you can understand I am beginning to panic a bit now so any advice much appreciated or if any one that has experience of this can help put my mind at rest.

thanks
carolyn

I live here in Portugal and have done for 14 and a half years. During those years have travelled back to England numerous times with no problem. Last December when I arrived at the airport with my 2 children one aged 14 the other 10 was asked at the check in if I had a letter of authority from the boys father if I had written permission to take him out of the country. The boy and his father being Portuguese. I explained that I have never had to do this before and ended up at the immigration Department. They then asked about my daughter who was 14 and from my first marriage if I had my ex-husbands permission as well. As I explained to them her father and me separated when she was only a baby and it was mutually decided she stayed with me here in Portugal. In the end the immigration officers telephoned the father of my son to see if he knew about me travelling alone with him which he confirmed it. All you need is a written consent from the parents along with a copy of the childs parents passport which has thier signature on it, there is no need to go to any notary. I can understand them being like this because that way we know that they are thinking of our children. For me it was a new thing that had just come in last year and you can imagine my children at the airport thinking that they were not going to get to England to see family, they were in tears and by the time we got everything sorted we made our flight with only 10 mins before take off. So it is better to do everything properley.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:56 pm

there is no need to go to any notary.

I think you'll find you DO have to go to the notary with the authorization to have the signature recognised. My children have gone on school trips to Spain (one going on the 26th of this month) and every time an authorization recognised by the notary has been needed. it only costs 15euros not much for peace of mind

mardre · Post by **mardre** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:12 pm

ever feel like you have opened a can of worms?:~) My children too have been on school trips to spain, greece, france, canada, usa ... and we have never had to produce any such letter before. obviously this year we are going to come armed,( not literally, although that could speed up the passport queue

) Not sure how to work around the seperated parents- not talking to each other- problem of one of the guests- think i may exploit legal contacts in family for once. ho,hum. any rain yet? mardre