The UK Home Office may require additional documentation from parents travelling with a child who does not share their surname.
The policy, which does not apply to British citizens, requires international travellers to produce documents or be subject to questioning to prove familial relationship.
The Gov.uk website states that “families travelling with a child (under 18) who are not the child’s parents or may appear not to be the parents (for example, in the case of a different family name), may be asked a few questions to establish the relationship with the child”.
“It may help to carry evidence of the relationship with the child and/or the reason for travelling with the child.”
Permissible documentation, where prompted, includes a birth or adoption certificate, or a divorce or marriage certificate.
A letter from the child’s parent with the reason for travel is required in cases of passengers travelling with an accompanying minor who isn’t their child.
