Taking My Daughter To The Uk.

[elistu]

Hi All,

I would like to take my 2 year old to England for a holiday and to visit her grandparents, she has both a Thai and British passport so I obviously don't need a visa for her, but I have heard that I will need a letter from my wife stating that its OK to take her out the country. I don't know where I heard it from (I could have dreamed it!) so don't know how true this is, I don't want to book all the flights only to turn up at the airport to be told I do in fact need a letter of permission.

Any information here would be great.

Thanks.

[7by7]

You heard wrong.

But even if it's correct, what's the difficulty?

[beano2274]

I remember many years ago taking my son out of Germany to the UK alone with me, no questions were asked and no-one asked my wife if she had given permission.

[elistu]

Thanks, I thought I must have dreamed it. Although I didn't say there was any difficulty, just want to be prepared.

You heard wrong.

But even if it's correct, what's the difficulty?

[Mario2008]

Since recently one does indeed need a letter from the other parent to take a minor under 16 in or out of the country.

The IATA database now shows this:

Thailand (TH)

Passport required.

- Nationals of United Kingdom can enter with passports and/or

passport replacing documents valid for the period of

intended stay.

Visa required, except for A touristic stay of max. 30 days:

- for holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen ;

- for holders of British passports endorsed British National

(Overseas)" issued in Hong Kong;

Minors:

- When arriving in, or departing from Thailand, minors aged

under 16 years traveling unaccompanied or without one or

both parents are required to hold a letter of consent from

the non traveling parent(s). Additionally, unaccompanied

minors are required to hold a copy of their birth

certificate.

Take note from mother, copy of her ID-card and copy of birth ceetificate with you. I didn't see any reports yet from actual enforcement, but better be safe than sorry. (The warning does not show in the IATA database when a Thai national travels to the UK with only one parent on a Thai passport)

[ludditeman]

But as they don't have a copy of the mothers signature to compare with at the airport.

Anyone can write the letter for you!

[Kadafi]

How recently? I left Thailand 3 weeks ago alone with my 2 year old son and didnt have a problem, passport control asked where the mother was and i just said Bangkok..he said ok and let me through.

[Mario2008]

The change is a few months old. As said, I haven't seen reports yet that it has been enforced and Kadafi's report suggests it is not that strictly enforced. (I suspect the new rule's main objective is to combat human trafficking).

Yes, one could forge a signature on a letter.