Tips for Successful International Travel - With Kids!

Proof of Authority

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection division of Homeland Security recommends bringing along documentation that proves you have the authority to bring your child out of the country. You may not end up needing it, but if you are detained this will help to ease proceedings immeasurably. Documentation could be:

• if your child is traveling with only one parent, a notarized letter from your spouse
• if you are divorced, a raised seal court order granting you full child custody
• if your spouse is deceased, a copy of the death certificate, though morbid, is recommended
• grandparents traveling with children should have a notarized letter signed by both parents indicating their knowledge and consent to travel

The reason behind these seemingly strict recommendations is the increasing number of child abductions. In certain countries, this proof is a legal requirement. Canada, in particular, has very strict regulations about minors entering the country. Minors visiting Canada are subject to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Proof of Citizenship

In the case of adoption of a foreign born child, you may be requested to present one of the following in addition to a copy of the adoption certificate:

• a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or Certificate of Citizenship if the child is 15 years old or younger and you are traveling by sea or land
• a valid U.S. or foreign passport, a legal permanency card and a raised seal court order of custody or guardianship

If you are bringing your child to the U.S. for the first time after the adoption, refer to the special guidelines posted on the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services websites.

Unofficial, but good suggestions

• The morning of your travel, take a photograph of your child in their traveling clothes and email it to yourself. If you get separated, you’ll have an accurate, up-to-date picture to give to the authorities.
• Dress your younger child in a signature bright color that will stand out in a large crowd.
• Make sure there is a record of your child’s fingerprints on file with your local police station. Barring that, create your own set of fingerprints at home with a stamp pad.
• Be cautious with your child's documents. The folks at Lifelock warn that children are a major target of identity thieves.
• Test your international plan enabled cell phones out as soon as possible after you land in a foreign country. Equipping you and your teen with working cell phones will ensure you remain in constant contact. Be sure to program in your hotel name, address and telephone number.
• Make sure your teen has enough reserve foreign currency to pay for taxicab service back to the hotel. This should be kept separate from their spending money.

Your international travel will likely be an exciting and wholesome experience for your family. Don’t let fears of disaster detract from your enjoyment of the adventure. These guidelines are intended to be precautionary measures that every adult traveling with children should follow. Many of them were designed by the Department of Homeland Security to both protect our children and ourselves. By preparing your documentation and your trip carefully, you’ll have a seamless transition abroad and home again.

Bon voyage!