Do I need written consent from my ex to take my daughter on holiday to Thailand?

Oct 19, 2022
2 years ago
Ste *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Do i need permission off my ex to bring my daughter on holiday to Thailand? My ex is British, my daughter is british, i am british.

Heard need written consent, but is that only for thai parentage mixed children?

I am english and dont live in thailand. It really is just for a standard holiday.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When traveling on holiday to Thailand with your daughter, even if you are both British citizens, it is generally advised to obtain written consent from the other parent. This is to mitigate potential issues related to child abduction concerns that various jurisdictions, including the UK, take seriously. While many travelers report that they have not been asked for such documentation, airlines may require it, and having a notarized letter of consent can prevent complications at the airport or with immigration authorities. The advice varies, but obtaining a simple note from the other parent expressing permission for travel is a common recommendation.
George *********
I visited UK with my 2 daughters aged 11 and 14, 4 years ago from Thailand.

At airport Bangkok they did question momentarily but I had documentation stating mother had allowed the holiday both ways.

Show copy mother's id card and phone number. Mother was at the airport just in case.

Allowed twice in 2016 and 2018.

I had no need for lawyer etc
Paul *********
I think it might depend on the kids ages , I had to give permission for the ex to take our kids on a cruise 🚢 after we’d split up , at the time our kids were 9 & 7
Martin *********
If she is the child legal guardian yes
Ste *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martin ********
I have joint custody
Martin *********
@Ste ******
just take proof
Charlie *****
Ive never had any questions when travelling with my son, we are also british and he has my surname. We have been to oz, new zealand, Indonesia and Thailand multiple times.
Barry **********
Message your airline and ask them what is required. That way if the check in desk want something else you have evidence.
Stuart **********
Of course you do
Ruth *******
Always best to have the letter. Do you want to be the one in a million who cannot board the plane HOME?
Erin ***************
Someone wrote today about being denied boarding with a child without her other parents permission. You need a legal letter. Etcsl
Michael *******
I've been traveling the world with my daughter for over a decade. Never been asked but I believe it happens.
Erwin **********
@Michael ******
well, they should really...am sorry, but a lot of bad shit happens to kids so.....
Michael *******
Ste *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Julie ***********
You will need a letter from the other parent giving consent, copy of birth certificate.. I would also check with airline what they would need.
Gary *********
I spent nearly 2 hours in a office taking my kids out of thailand with no letter from their mother. I’d check if I were you and try and get some sort of letter. Good luck.
Shane *******
Ive never been asked my daughter been couple times with me
Ste *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Shane ******
Did you have a mrs with you too?
Shane *******
@Ste ******
no just me and my daughter
Philip **********
As a former Canada Customs Officer. Yes it’s wise to get a letter. Be thankful if they ask for it. There was another post of someone not having a letter and was denied boarding with Air France. I say good for them. Other people were posting how pissed they would of been. Or the airline had no right. Some people just don’t get it.
Paddy *********
@Philip *********
yes but for Australians travelling as per usual with return tickets valid passports and no international parental custody disputes this is not something we have been asked to provide in the past so it does not mean we dont care about kidnapping !!!but would , of course like to know about this before checkin m. FYI Jetstar airlines ( Australia) say they don’t have any info on this and dont require it .
Paddy *********
You are not reading my posts carefully. I was asking for clear details and procedures from / re Thai authorities . It seems to be regarding departing airlines not Thai authorities.

This was their response.

Hi,

Please kindly contact with the airline for their requirement.

Kind regards

Visa and Consular Services

Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra.

Overrreaction much.

Again- noone is advocating child custodial kidnapping .

However if the extra paperwork is not required in/ from Australia ,there it is.
Philip **********
@Paddy ********
How does an airline or Customs Officer know that you and your wife are not having marital issues? Buddy it’s just plain common sense. So what you’re saying is Australians don’t have parental abduction. Sorry but if you were coming through my port with a minor, regardless of return tickets etc etc. I’m interviewing the child away from you. I’m calling the other parent to make sure they know where their child is. I did this because I was a law enforcement officer and also a parent. One time I did this the parent was with child. The other parent had no idea where her child was. He was arrested. The child was put into child services until the mother could come and recover her daughter. So ya. I’m going to inconvenience anyone travelling with a minor.
Erwin **********
@Philip *********
absolutely 200 % right. Lucky to have people like you ! Tnx
Madz ******
Yes (ideally) from UK. Not always asked for, but more often than not, and esp for men traveling with a child it can be asked for. Just read through the gov website. When I take my niece abroad, I always have a letter with me stating her name, DOB and address, along with holiday location address, and parents info too in case of contact. Quick and easy to do one yourself, and if asked and authorities want to contact my sister, they can resolve quickly. I'd always rather have it than not. Takes 5 mins to do one yourself 👍🏽
Madz ******
***********************************************
Michael ********
Yes you do.

Was same situation as you ex british wife and travel with my son.

Never actually was asked for it but its the law almost everywhere.

My ex also had letter off me for same reason.

We had same letter from when he was about four years old.
Lynnette *******
The rules are that you do need written consent. Not everyone gets asked to show it. And some airlines will check, some won't. It's to keep children safe from things like abduction and trafficking.
Av **********
Yes of course...u need a notarized letter allowing her to be with u
Av **********
Dont know why ppl are laughing its the truth...
Cory **********
It is perhaps similar to the USA. I am divorced. For me to take the kids outside the USA I need a notorized consent letter. It’s a form you can get by googling it. I need to notify my ex of the travel plans. For safe measure I even wrote in the custody agreement the children can travel with me outside the USA that the judge signed it. At the airport I showed the notorized letter from the mother and no problems.
Stuart *********
Had a few questions about this today. The answer is yes. Whether you’d ever be asked is debatable. Probably best to get a letter from them to implicitly say that you have their permission just in case. Doubt you’ll need it but if you do you’d be denied boarding by you air carrier without it. Almost certainly would never be an issue with Thai immigration.
Brandon ************
Per
@Stuart ********
in another recent post:

No idea on the legalities of this. It’s been a case for years for many countries that one parent can’t travel with a child without express permission from the other parent. Very rarely enforced so most would never have an issue.

If you’re on speaking terms with the mother then just have her write a note that says “I hereby give my permission for X to travel with my child to visit me in Thailand”. If she can’t write in English then ask a friend to translate and sign it.

Today someone from France (or travelling from there) said they needed a lawyers stamp on it. Never ever heard of that one before but perhaps might be wise to do so just in case.

As said it’s rarely an issue. But if it is then it’s a major headache and best to be prepared beforehand.
Antonio ***********
Ask your embassy?
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