Going on holiday with your grandchildren provides the perfect opportunity to catch up and create memories to last a lifetime.
But there are certain rules to follow when you travel overseas with grandchildren.
You’ll need the permission of everyone who has parental responsibility for the child before taking them out of the country. And it’s important to note you’ll need consent from both parents (if applicable) – getting permission from only one is not enough.
While verbal consent is acceptable, it might be a good idea to get written consent for the child from their parents, just to be on the safe side.
Key points
- To take your grandchildren on holiday abroad, you need the permission of everyone who has parental responsibility for them
- It’s a good idea to take a letter of consent to travel, signed by the child’s parents in case you’re stopped by border officials
- No matter how young they are, your grandchildren will need a passport to travel outside of the UK
DO GRANDPARENTS NEED A CONSENT LETTER TO TAKE GRANDCHILDREN ABROAD?
Getting written consent to travel with your grandchildren can be a wise move in case you get stopped at a UK or foreign border.
Border officials sometimes ask to see proof of parental permission for travel to help prevent child abduction. It could be more likely to happen if you have a different surname to your grandchildren.
Check the exact rules for the countries you are travelling to as they might have their own laws on parental permission, consent letters and whether these letters need to be authorised by a notary.
Without proper evidence of consent, you could face delays or even be denied entry to the country.
WHAT SHOULD A CONSENT LETTER ALLOWING A CHILD TO TRAVEL WITH GRANDPARENTS SAY?
In a formal letter of permission, parents need to outline the trip that their child will embark on and express their consent for the child to travel with their grandparents.
It should include the following:
- Information about the child – full name, date, place of birth and passport number.
- Name, address and passport details of grandparents.
- Flight information – departure and return date, as well as airports you’ll be flying from and to.
- Where the child will be staying.
- Parents’ names, address and contact number/s, in case an official calls to confirm parental permission at a border.
There are lots of consent form templates you can find online.
WHAT ELSE DO GRANDPARENTS NEED TO BRING WHEN TRAVELLING WITH GRANDCHILDREN?
You’ll need:
- Your grandchild’s passport.
- You could bring a copy of their birth certificate, as well as a copy of your son or daughter’s birth certificate (as applicable) to prove your relationship to your grandchild.
- The child’s Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It will give you access to free or reduced-cost emergency state healthcare while in the European Union.
- If the child has any medical issues – a particular illness or allergy or is on any medication – consider bringing along their medical notes. This could make things easier as you can show the notes to any health practitioners should your grandchild child need medical care.
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