Community Forum

katherine · 01-30-2010, 04:58 PM

We will be bringing our 16 year old niece along with us to Aruba this Spring Break along with our own 3 children. Do we need any documentation other than her passport to bring her into the country? Any info appreciated!!

Shelly · 01-30-2010, 05:12 PM

2 years ago our daughter (then 16) went to Bermuda with a friends family. We had to give the parents a letter that both my husband and I signed allowing them to take her out of the country and it had to be notarized. Not sure if it's the same in Aruba, but it wouldn't hurt. And make sure you take a copy of her family insurance card in case she needs medical care

SuperBunches · 01-30-2010, 05:37 PM

I always make the parents write a letter before I take kids on vacation. I even do it for my nieces that have a different last name. You never know if one of the airline employees might want proof that you are allowed to take someone else's child to another country. Immigration could also be an issue. I have never had it happen, but it could really put a damper on your vacation if it did. Included in the letter, I have them give me permission to make medical decisions on behalf of the child in case of emergency.

We always have our kids bring friends with us on vacation so that they have somebody to hang out with. So every year I gather all of the passports, photocopies of the passports, all of the confirmations for car rental, outings, etc, the letters from the parents and any other important trip-related documents and put them into a folder. I impress upon the whole family and the friends of the importance of the folder and how our vacation could be ruined! if the folder gets lost. Guess who left the folder on the floor at Hadicurari???

Our room at the Surf Club wasn't ready last year on arrival so we went next door for lunch. After all of my lecturing about the importance of the folder, I left it sitting on the floor! Thank goodness they picked it up and put it safely away. It was actually a few hours before I even realized it was gone. I took quite a bit of ribbing for that one!

cindyo · 01-30-2010, 07:19 PM

Notarized note, written by parents, and signed by you. Also include any health care info notarized...not kidding here..

corona · 01-30-2010, 07:32 PM

Yes, as others have said, you need notarized approval from both parents to take a minor child out of the country. We've taken our minor niece and a friend of my son's to Aruba, and was not asked to show the document. However, a few years ago, my husband (and our son's father) was taking our son to Canada, and I just happened to go into the airport with them, thankfully. The woman at the counter needed my approval for his dad to take him. She said had I not been there, and since my husband didn't have a letter stating my approval for him to take him to Canada, they wouldn't have let them leave. It's to cut down on child custody abductions. We also had the parents send medical/dental authorization letters in case the child got sick or injured.

*Arubalisa* · 01-30-2010, 07:35 PM

http://www.ilrg.com/forms/auth-foreigntravel.html AUTHORIZATION FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL WITH MINOR

http://www.ilrg.com/forms/auth-minormed.html AUTHORIZATION FOR MINOR'S MEDICAL TREATMENT<<-- pretty sure this is a "must have"

*Andrea J.* · 01-30-2010, 09:11 PM

AND..............have the minor child have in his or her possession a valid master card or visa card in his/her name (of course the parent's account)

if medical care is necessary there will be NO issues of being "paid back" if the minor child's parent's account is paying.

*Arubalisa* · 01-30-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrea J.

AND..............have the minor child have in his or her possession a valid master card or visa card in his/her name (of course the parent's account)

if medical care is necessary there will be NO issues of being "paid back" if the minor child's parent's account is paying.

Great idea.

Our dd has a pre-paid credit card which she will be bringing on a couple of upcoming class trips. God forbid she needed additional funds put on to the card, with a few key strokes on the computer, we can add funds instantly to the card.

rob o · 01-31-2010, 06:46 AM

I know this thread was started to discuss taking someone else's child, but Corona's point is very important for all to see and think about because it is not as obvious.

If one parent is taking their own child out of the country, have a notarized note from the other.....even if you're happily married and not divorced. With child abductions being a valid concern, thiis may be needed.

Our niece and nephew sometimes fly separately to Aruba, and they always prepare a note for the one with their kids.

If the child is not yours....be sure to have a note giving you permission to make decisions regarding medical care....not just a health card.

TomFrederick · 01-31-2010, 11:25 AM

>>>> "her family insurance card in case she needs medical care"
------ Don't think Aruba will take any of the U.S. Medical Plans for payment if medical care is needed. The Aruban Hospital will take a charge card. Get good documentation as some medical plans will pay you what they normally pay. Mine even paid me for treatment on a cruise ship.

01-30-2010, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
katherine Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 102 Images: 1	Traveling with a minor who is not our child We will be bringing our 16 year old niece along with us to Aruba this Spring Break along with our own 3 children. Do we need any documentation other than her passport to bring her into the country? Any info appreciated!! __________________ katherine Next Aruba Trip in

01-30-2010, 07:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
cindyo Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Reniassance Island Posts: 3,108 Images: 138	Notarized note, written by parents, and signed by you. Also include any health care info notarized...not kidding here.. __________________ Cindyo Family Poolside at the Rennaissance suites April 2010 Family with Bully, arubalisa & family Next Aruba trip in

01-30-2010, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
corona Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 199	Yes, as others have said, you need notarized approval from both parents to take a minor child out of the country. We've taken our minor niece and a friend of my son's to Aruba, and was not asked to show the document. However, a few years ago, my husband (and our son's father) was taking our son to Canada, and I just happened to go into the airport with them, thankfully. The woman at the counter needed my approval for his dad to take him. She said had I not been there, and since my husband didn't have a letter stating my approval for him to take him to Canada, they wouldn't have let them leave. It's to cut down on child custody abductions. We also had the parents send medical/dental authorization letters in case the child got sick or injured. __________________ Next Aruba trip in Loving Aruba Since Honeymoon 1984

01-30-2010, 07:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Arubalisa Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boca Catalina Posts: 6,530 Images: 88	http://www.ilrg.com/forms/auth-foreigntravel.html AUTHORIZATION FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL WITH MINOR http://www.ilrg.com/forms/auth-minormed.html AUTHORIZATION FOR MINOR'S MEDICAL TREATMENT<<-- pretty sure this is a "must have" __________________ Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba

01-30-2010, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shelly Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 94	2 years ago our daughter (then 16) went to Bermuda with a friends family. We had to give the parents a letter that both my husband and I signed allowing them to take her out of the country and it had to be notarized. Not sure if it's the same in Aruba, but it wouldn't hurt. And make sure you take a copy of her family insurance card in case she needs medical care

01-30-2010, 05:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
SuperBunches Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: I love the beach (who doesn't?), anywhere that I can snorkel, The Donkey Sanctuary (much to the dismay of my daughter), the lighthouse. Posts: 82	I always make the parents write a letter before I take kids on vacation. I even do it for my nieces that have a different last name. You never know if one of the airline employees might want proof that you are allowed to take someone else's child to another country. Immigration could also be an issue. I have never had it happen, but it could really put a damper on your vacation if it did. Included in the letter, I have them give me permission to make medical decisions on behalf of the child in case of emergency. We always have our kids bring friends with us on vacation so that they have somebody to hang out with. So every year I gather all of the passports, photocopies of the passports, all of the confirmations for car rental, outings, etc, the letters from the parents and any other important trip-related documents and put them into a folder. I impress upon the whole family and the friends of the importance of the folder and how our vacation could be ruined! if the folder gets lost. Guess who left the folder on the floor at Hadicurari??? Our room at the Surf Club wasn't ready last year on arrival so we went next door for lunch. After all of my lecturing about the importance of the folder, I left it sitting on the floor! Thank goodness they picked it up and put it safely away. It was actually a few hours before I even realized it was gone. I took quite a bit of ribbing for that one!

01-30-2010, 09:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Andrea J. Aruba since 1979 Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: lacabana pool sitting near LIL's perch, eagle beach, amsterdam manor beach bar, alto vista chapel, madam janettes, big porch at B55 Posts: 5,957 Images: 56	AND..............have the minor child have in his or her possession a valid master card or visa card in his/her name (of course the parent's account) if medical care is necessary there will be NO issues of being "paid back" if the minor child's parent's account is paying.

01-31-2010, 06:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
rob o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,692	I know this thread was started to discuss taking someone else's child, but Corona's point is very important for all to see and think about because it is not as obvious. If one parent is taking their own child out of the country, have a notarized note from the other.....even if you're happily married and not divorced. With child abductions being a valid concern, thiis may be needed. Our niece and nephew sometimes fly separately to Aruba, and they always prepare a note for the one with their kids. If the child is not yours....be sure to have a note giving you permission to make decisions regarding medical care....not just a health card.

01-31-2010, 11:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
TomFrederick Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Aruba, cruises, Posts: 225	>>>> "her family insurance card in case she needs medical care" ------ Don't think Aruba will take any of the U.S. Medical Plans for payment if medical care is needed. The Aruban Hospital will take a charge card. Get good documentation as some medical plans will pay you what they normally pay. Mine even paid me for treatment on a cruise ship.