I'm planning an African hunt with my grandson (13 yrs. old) UNACCOMPANIED BY HIS PARENTS BUT WITH GRANDAD. Other than passport is there any other documentation needed? (U.S. to Africa)

I've had camping trips into Canada with children & it was highly recommended to get signature letters from parents or guardians permitting their child to take the trip and present these letters to border (U.S. & Canada) customs agents.

I would get the same paperwork for minors.
I had issues just going to Mexico with my stepdaughter years ago.
Need to have both parents sign a nortized document.
Have fun
Larry

boltshooter,

I contacted Gracy Travel and they said they only require the child to have their own passport to arrange travel but could not elaborate on any further documentation necessary. I would think but it still only would be my opinion that a letter drawn up by a lawyer and signed by both parents might be wise to have with you. Also it might also be good to contact the airline your using and see what they have to say about traveling with minors.

Mark

ben franklins

I'm not sure I'd go to the trouble of having a lawyer draft something up but we've always had a letter signed by both my wife and I and notarized (Official stamps go a long way in a lot of places)whenever we've travelled with the kids seperately or if the kids are travelling with grandparents. Gist of the letter is either grandparent or parent is authorized to make whatever travel arrangements and decisions for the health and welfare of the child without restriction including health care decisions.

I don't know if you legally need this but my buddy got grief taking his kid into Canada. They said a signed and notarized letter from both the mom and dad authorizing the child in your care is a big big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by LittleJoe:
I don't know if you legally need this but my buddy got grief taking his kid into Canada. They said a signed and notarized letter from both the mom and dad authorizing the child in your care is a big big deal.

DOUBLE, DOUBLE YES!

I nearly had my children turned back by Canadians a few years back. My two boys were coming from San Francisco to the UK for xmas with me here and accompanied by my mother. The cheapest flight was Air Canada and it stopped in Toronto. I did not even think about it...

The Canadians separated my children from my mother and interviewed them individually to see if the stories matched up. They finally let them go onward when my then 7 year old told them he liked Virgin airlines MUCH better than Air Canada ;-)

After that a notarized letter from their mother and me went everywhere they went. I fully understand the need to stop child abduction which is usually done by ex spouses. Still, it was worrying.

A couple years ago I took my father, my son, and a 13 year old nephew on a hunting trip to Namibia.

My sister and brother-in-law had a letter written by a lawyer friend. They signed it, and had it notarized.

We flew out of Houston to Frankfurt and then to Windhoek.

Nobody asked for the letter. I went through all the customs/passport control areas with my son, and my nephew went through with my father. We just showed our passports.

It was a complete non-issue for us. However I would not have went without the letter.

I would also have seperate Notarized letters, signed by both parents naming all of the adults on the trip to be able to authorize ANY AND ALL, medical treatment that might be necessary.

I would have several Notarized copies so you could give one to the hospital, the doctors, etc.

You need to have copies of medical insurance coverage, and known alergies.

Copies of any presciptions they take etc.

The forums/letters should indicate that you have complete temporary Guardianship.

+1 on "N E 450 No2" post.

I've hunted/traveled with my daughter (now 16) for years and learned my lesson about this subject via an issue while entering Canada for a whitetail hunt. We have traveled extensively to other countries and never had an issue, however, I ALWAYS have documents as listed by N E 450 No2 at the ready.

As a reminder, when coming back stateside make sure you have you CBP 4457 handy!