FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Wife traveling with 17 y.o. son to Germany w/o me; my permission required?
Old Jun 29, 2014, 11:34 am
  #11  
CDTraveler
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
Originally Posted by lost*in*cyberspace
What we believe has nothing to do with the law. This is a real issue and the laws have been made for a reason. There are many countries who require documentation for minors traveling with only one parent. Just a few:

Brazil:

http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/brazil.html

Venezuela:

http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...venezuela.html

Russia:

http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/russia.html

Canada:

http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...ry/canada.html

As for international child abduction it happens a lot more frequently than you think, mainly by relatives:

http://travel.state.gov/content/chil...n/english.html

According to this Canadian government website, hundred of Canadian children are wrongfully taken from Canada every year:

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publi...ild-abductions
Well, since the OP asked about Germany, this list isn't particularly relevant. Neither Germany nor the EU require such a letter.

You should also consider that some of those rules are more theory than fact. Since becoming a single parent I have taken my son to Canada by land, sea and air and never been asked for such a letter or a copy of the custody order.
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