Traveling to Disney world with stepdaughter

[eel111]

I am planning on taking my 11 year old stepdaughter to Disney world this year without her mother, she has her own passport. Does anyone know if I am able to take her and if so what extra paper work I may need?

 

[ame]

My experience is limited to travel alone with my own children, same name on passports. I haven't had any problems with travel with them to the USA.

A Canadian border official grilled me when I was driving to Montreal with my then 10yo. But the US ones just ask me what I'm doing here and tell me they love my accent.

For my upcoming cruise with a port stop in Canada I have to take a notarised letter from my DH saying that I can travel to Canada with my son. So he's going to get that done.

Also they sometimes ask the kids questions to get the whole story out

The smarttraveller.gov.au website might have information or recommendations.

 

[battymum]

Cant help with your question - but just wanted to say that thats great - you must have a good relationship with her!!

Is her father going too?

Does the mother have any objections - I would take a notarised letter to be safe.

Be careful to have correct travel insurance that will cover her - some may not cover her under a family policy - (I have no idea about this, but its something I would double check)

 

[DizOz]

Did a little research here is what I found:

A letter signed and noterized by both of the child's parents is needed. The document needs to state the child's name, the parents names, your names, where we are going and the dates. It must also state that the parents are giving permission to you to have their daughter travel out of the country with you. Basically, as much info as possible needs to be included.

If her father is hard to get in touch with, keep trying. If your wife has full custody, get a copy of that court order, too. Even though she has a passport, I'd put in an official copy of the birth certificate, too.

On the letter have the parent(s) photocopy their driver's license on the letter before it is notarized. Also have them put all their contact info on the letter (mobile,home,work, email and physical address) so they can be contacted if there is a question about permission to travel.

Take as much as possible to avoid any trouble or disappointment.

 

[BecBennett]

I don't think you need to take all that, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to be safe. We took my younger brother over with us once, and we didn't need to do anything special.

You may not be her mother, but there's no reason why you wouldn't be considered her legal guardian.

Sort of different, but still may apply, DH was on his dad's and therefore his stepmum's health insurance until he was 21 just by default. Nothing was done to make it that way.

 

[aussietravellers]

I don't think you need to take all that, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to be safe.

When you travel with a child, particularly with a different surname (but even with the same surname), particularly to another country, you can run into a variety of problems so it's always best, to have the all the correct documentation and approvals from the parents just incase a problem arose. With child abductions these days, customs at different countries borders can check. Canada is VERY strict with this and do turn people around and also on cruises, they need approval from a parent who is not travelling with the child, even when they are travelling with one parent.

I have been travelling with DS without his dad for many years and I have been asked (just in general conversation at the border) about the boys father, to which I reply that he is deceased and state that I have his death certificate. I ALWAYS travel with the death certificate for this reason.

So I would take what DizOz mentioned, just to be on the safe side.. you may need some of it, all of it, or none of it.