Father's authorization to leave France with a minor

Hello, I’m a divorced mom with a 12-year-old, planning to take the train from France to London for a 5-day trip over Christmas. My question: is it mandatory to present the father’s authorization (which I’ll probably never get)? I’ve heard so many different stories from people who’ve already traveled—I’m totally lost. Please share your experiences!

Have a great day

Good evening,

This is the difference between France and, it seems, the United States, for example.

In France, a minor who resides there must present an authorization to leave the country if they travel without either of their legal guardians.

If they travel with one of their legal guardians—so, with you—they don’t need to present anything. And if the other guardian had reasons to oppose the trip, they would have to go to court, prove it’s for a valid reason, and have it noted on the passport.

https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1359

You don’t need to worry unless your child’s father takes legal action to get a travel ban. You have the right to take your child to the UK without them being held hostage by their father.

That’s why I think—and this is just my personal opinion—that the rights and freedoms of minors are much better protected in France than in the United States or Canada, among others.

Have a good evening.

Michel

Thank you so much for your message! I’ve heard from moms who had no issues traveling and others who were required to show the father’s consent to be able to leave…

and others that they were required to show the father's consent to be able to travel...

It's important to know what we're talking about. If French authorities demanded that a mother traveling with a child provide some kind of authorization from the father, they acted illegally. I doubt this happened, though I can't rule it out entirely. The reverse is also true, by the way. But maybe you're not talking about French authorities...

Michel

Yes, I'm talking about the French authorities and also for certain countries. It’s always the big question every time we want to organize a trip.

If you have parental authority, there’s no issue. However, if that’s not the case, it could become one! The answer is here: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1359

Good evening,

Yes, but in this case, it can only happen if there’s a legal proceeding to strip the mother of parental authority—it doesn’t happen every day... 🤪 There needs to be an excellent, documented, and recognized reason; not just a whim or a falling-out. And in that case, wouldn’t it be mentioned on the passport? Like the signature, for example.

Honestly, I think we’re overcomplicating something unlikely.

Michel

Hi there, I can only share my experience and nothing else, but I couldn’t count the number of times my wife or I have traveled alone with our kids, leaving or returning to France from a pretty varied range of countries, and we’ve literally never been asked for anything.

The value of a testimony and personal experience only.