Requirements for Entering Australia with Kids With Only One Parent

inpd · #1 (**permalink**) 8th November 2008, 11:40 AM

Hi,

My wife is flying with United to Australia without me but with our kids.
We are dual citizens and
we know what United at check-in will require (birth certificates and
a notarized letter from me). But what information will Australia require?
Who should I even contact about this?

Documentation of some sort is typically required to ensure people are
not fleeing with dual custody children.

Thanks!

v8Statesman · #2 (**permalink**) 8th November 2008, 12:39 PM

I have left Australia and returned traveling with 1 of my daughters and I was never questioned.

medhead · #3 (**permalink**) 8th November 2008, 05:06 PM

I think that this is an issue for natural parents while still together, when leaving australia. But may be an interest for dual custody children travelling with one parent. I know that when we entered and left EU through immigration with one child each spearately we we also not questioned. (yeah different country I know).

I would try looking a DFAT (Dept. of Forgein Affairs and Trade) website.

www.dfat.gov.au or actually, even better Smart traveller website

www.smartraveller.gov.au

NM · #4 (**permalink**) 8th November 2008, 06:58 PM

When we applied for a passport for our kids, we needed both parent's consent to have them processed. But I do not believe we have ever had to provide any consent when travelling. Mrs NM has travelled three times overseas with either one or two of our children at a time.

But it can't hurt to carry the same docs you need to leave the USA, just in case.

inpd · #5 (**permalink**) 21st November 2008, 03:45 AM

Just a follow up.

Said wife checked into United counter at SFO. No documentation
was asked for at all. Upon entry to Australia, same story, no documentation asked for.

This suprised me since my wife kept her surname and our children have
my surname, but at least we were prepared!

docjames · #6 (**permalink**) 21st November 2008, 04:23 PM

Sorry bt late to this thread. Glad all went smoothly.

I cant speak for the USA, but in AUS it's usually at the Passport apporval / issuance stage that there's restrictions / scrutiny, not at border control. Interesting really. Childrens PPs are valid 5yrs (IIRC) and certainly there' be plenty of relationship breakdowns leading to "kid nicking" in that sort of timeframe.

Oh well.

Mal · #7 (**permalink**) 21st November 2008, 04:26 PM

I think there is a way you can get a travel restriction placed on a child, but it's not automatic. Couldn't find the web link where I read up on it a while ago though.

kpc · #8 (**permalink**) 21st November 2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

I think there is a way you can get a travel restriction placed on a child, but it's not automatic. Couldn't find the web link where I read up on it a while ago though.

Your lawyer can put an alert at all international air and sea ports for you

...won't stop them leaving by boat from the Cape York Peninsula to Merauke, in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya tho!!

Jacqueline Pascarl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AVM · #9 (**permalink**) 22nd November 2008, 07:30 PM

Hi there,

My son has dual citizenship, his dad is American and living in the US, I am Australian with US residency but as son goes to school in Australia and is on a scholarship so I need to live here. His dad and I are divorced. We have both signed the passport applications and neither I or his dad have ever had a problem with him either leaving Australia or the US or entering either country. He has travelled both with me and on his own ( he is now 14). The only issue we have ever had was needing both parents written consent for him to travel on his own from Chicago to visit his sister in Canada.

hope this helps
AVM