Summer vacation…
Time for a relaxing holiday with the children. The children's passports / ID cards are in order, the suitcases are packed, but if you as a parent want to travel alone with a minor child and the authority rests with both parents or with the other parent alone, then the permission of that parent is required for traveling with the minor. Without this permission, the holiday can go wrong, because the Marechaussee / border guard finds during a check that there is no (or no correct) permission.
In the Netherlands, there is a special consent form for giving permission that must be completed per child and signed by the person with authority who is not travelling with the children. Until a few months ago, there were hardly any checks within Schengen countries, but that has changed. Nowadays, it is best to have a form for all journeys. The consent form can be found on the website of the central government: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/formulieren/2014/02/06/formulier-toestemming-reizen-met-minderjarige-naar-het-buitenland
The form must state where the children will go and when they will stay where. Contact details must also be filled in.
Each country can decide for itself which documents are required for travelling alone with minor children. There are no EU rules on this, which means that different rules may apply than in the Netherlands. It may therefore be the case that more or different documents are required than the consent form. It is therefore important that you inquire at the embassy or consulate of the country in question before your holiday whether, and if so, which rules apply if you travel alone with a minor.
If children are travelling by plane, it is best to contact the airlines in advance. They often require official permission and have their own forms for this.
If you travel with children to a country for which a visa is required, both guardians must give permission for the visa application.
What can you do if the other parent/guardian does not give permission for the trip and does not want to sign the form? The answer to this question is to seek advice from a family law attorney in good time. If necessary, an attorney can file a request with the court asking for substitute permission for the trip.
Useful links:
Advice on permission for vacation: http://www.kinderontvoering.org/advies/toestemming-voor-vakantie.html
The consent form: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/formulieren/2014/02/06/formulier-toestemming-reizen-met-minderjarige-naar-het-buitenland
Travel documents for EU citizens: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen/index_nl.htm
The Schengen countries: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/europese-unie/vraag-en-antwoord/welke-landen-zijn-schengenlanden
