Child traveling to France w/o parents - requirements?
Jun 19, 2019, 1:10 pm
#1
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Child traveling to France w/o parents - requirements?
My daughter (under 18) is going to France with her grandmother and aunt (same surnames). Do I need a notarized permission letter, and does France have any particular requirements, or is a general "we give permission to daughter to travel with aunt/grandma to France during dates" sufficient?
Jun 19, 2019, 2:53 pm
#2
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My daughter (under 18) is going to France with her grandmother and aunt (same surnames). Do I need a notarized permission letter, and does France have any particular requirements, or is a general "we give permission to daughter to travel with aunt/grandma to France during dates" sufficient?
I would prepare documents giving one or either of the chaperones authority to take the girl where the trip plans, plus to exercise all authority you have, such as to approve medical treatment. I would have the documents in English and French and I would have them notarized, if only to look more complete.
Jun 19, 2019, 3:31 pm
#3
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Jun 24, 2019, 6:25 am
#4
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Are they all US nationals?
If so, do you have something like a family register showing the filitation?
French customs can be a pain, even for French nationals, so I'd recommend:
1.As above, Notarised letter, in French and English, asserting that this is your daughter and that her aunt and grandma have custodian authority for the duration of the trip. You could use this template which seems to come from an official source
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/p..._cle4ec2d5.pdf
2. Copy of your passport
3. Copy of the civil register showing the family link (if applicable)
4. Birth certificate
https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/pass...sary-documents
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...es/France.html
If so, do you have something like a family register showing the filitation?
French customs can be a pain, even for French nationals, so I'd recommend:
1.As above, Notarised letter, in French and English, asserting that this is your daughter and that her aunt and grandma have custodian authority for the duration of the trip. You could use this template which seems to come from an official source
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/p..._cle4ec2d5.pdf
2. Copy of your passport
3. Copy of the civil register showing the family link (if applicable)
4. Birth certificate
https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/pass...sary-documents
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...es/France.html
Jun 24, 2019, 8:55 am
#5
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Thanks. Yes, US nationals.
The template appears to be for French children going abroad, although the information seems consistent with what I'd put in a letter anyway.
The template appears to be for French children going abroad, although the information seems consistent with what I'd put in a letter anyway.
Jun 26, 2019, 9:26 am
#6
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I think regardless, the letter needs to be signed by the child's father as well because the flag for immigration officers is when a child is observably not traveling with BOTH parents. If the father does not have custody, then documentation of that would be required as well.
Jun 26, 2019, 9:47 am
#7
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So, I just traveled to France from the US with my daughter's two sons, ages 12 and 14. Different surname than mine.
I carried a letter of permission from both mom and dad, copies of the kids birth certificates, copies of mom and dad's passports, as well as medical authority consent forms.
In the event, we were never questioned, never even looked at twice. This even included the 12 year old getting a TSA random hand swab. And the 14 year old looking nothing like his passport photo, taken at age 10.
YMMV. And if I had needed them, I was glad to have carried them.
I carried a letter of permission from both mom and dad, copies of the kids birth certificates, copies of mom and dad's passports, as well as medical authority consent forms.
In the event, we were never questioned, never even looked at twice. This even included the 12 year old getting a TSA random hand swab. And the 14 year old looking nothing like his passport photo, taken at age 10.
YMMV. And if I had needed them, I was glad to have carried them.
Last edited by rickg523; Jun 26, 2019 at 9:53 am
Jun 26, 2019, 9:52 am
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Jun 27, 2019, 11:35 am
#9
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Define “need”.
I would prepare documents giving one or either of the chaperones authority to take the girl where the trip plans, plus to exercise all authority you have, such as to approve medical treatment. I would have the documents in English and French and I would have them notarized, if only to look more complete.
For around my last 100 Schengen entries at CDG with related minors where I was the sole accompanying adult, I’ve never presented a letter to French passport control and never been asked by them for one — and my last name and ethnic background isn’t always the same as those whom I am accompanying.
A simple letter in English is more than sufficient. And it sounds like the OP’s daughter is closer to being a teenager than not, if not already a teenager. That means passport control at CDG will find a letter less relevant than questions/behavior of passengers, if they even look much at all.
Aug 5, 2019, 10:28 am
#11
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I wouldn’t waste any time or money by having them notarized. A simple letter and maybe a joint video recording from the parents stored on the phone is more than sufficient.
For around my last 100 Schengen entries at CDG with related minors where I was the sole accompanying adult, I’ve never presented a letter to French passport control and never been asked by them for one — and my last name and ethnic background isn’t always the same as those whom I am accompanying.
A simple letter in English is more than sufficient. And it sounds like the OP’s daughter is closer to being a teenager than not, if not already a teenager. That means passport control at CDG will find a letter less relevant than questions/behavior of passengers, if they even look much at all.
Aug 5, 2019, 10:36 am
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You would have an easier time passing yourself off as playing the father to some other custodial father's child in a hand-written note -- even one that is supposedly notarized -- than in a video recording of the sort which I've had used before.
Since the child who is traveling with non-parental relatives can almost certainly speak plenty, things tend to fly over more easily. The main exception would be if the travel route involves travel going via countries with explicit statutory/regulatory requirements for an authorization letter or other related documents of some particular sort. For US-Paris, non-stop flights, US-style notarization of the letter is as good as me putting on a red wax seal that says "Approved by the Dragon Lord".
A simple letter with copies of the parents ID that includes contact information and a mention of approval for travel and medical care during the trip for the child is more than sufficient in dealing with passport control at CDG.
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 5, 2019 at 10:46 am
Aug 19, 2019, 10:45 am
#13
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Final update: Sent her with signed letter. Passport control (in Nice, not CDG) didn't even ask for anything, other than why she was there and how long she was staying..