Child traveling to an EU country with one parent

[Anonymous]

I'm taking my DD to Europe for one week later on this month. DH is not going due to work commitments. I thought I read it somewhere that it'd be best to carry some type of proof of your relationship to your child, along with the passports. Otherwise an EU country may refuse your entry/exit due to concerns of international child abduction. I was thinking maybe a copy of DD's birth certificate? Interested in hearing similar experiences.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the country.

When I went to visit my mother, I needed a notarized letter from my husband saying it was ok to take my daughter without him. But when I went to France last year, it was all good.

Which country?

[Anonymous]

We went to England 2 years ago when DD was 22 mos. She is adopted and a different race. We all have US passports. DD has the same last name as my wife and her middle name is my last name. The Immigration guy at Heathrow was a complete dick and asked for a copy of her adoption paperwork. I asked him how come a copy of something is better than an actual passport. he said he was allowed to ask under section blah blah of the human trafficking act blah blah etc etc. I called him racist ( red eye flight with no sleep ) and he eventually let us through.
So although he was wrong and we did ok I would suggest you take as much as you can of everything in case you happen to get someone who wants to be a dick.

[Anonymous]

I have traveled a lot around Europe without my wife and without any other documentation, and never had an issue.

[Anonymous]

dS just flew solo out of an EU country, and we were glad to have gone through the effort of getting a notorized letter giving permission for him to travel alone & giving consent for his granparents to pick him up. The airline personnel looked for the raised seal & said it would be presented to immigration officials.

I've traveled through Schengen alone with him and have been asked sometimes and not sometimes.

There are copies of the travel consent form online. Just do it & have it on hand for piece of mind.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you so much for all of your responses. We are going to Portugal. I will get a copy of the travel consent notarized for the trip.

[Anonymous]

They only asked the kid what his name was or rather called him by his name to see if he reacts (in Amsterdam).