No this should not be a problem My children also have different surnames to mine and have their own passports. If you are the childrens mother then it is ok that you were not married to their father. You would only need permission from the father if he was the legal guardian and had full custody of them and not you. Friends of mine also have 2 children from someone else and she has just got married again and changed her name but her children have not, but it is ok. They also have different surnames than hers but we have travelled many times now and never once been stopped or questioned. If your still not convinced then try ringing the passport office on monday and ask them

In general, a child's father only has automatic parental responsibility if he is or has been married to the child's mother. So in your case no worries same as mine

Forgot to mention, if it was the children's father wanting to take them away, then yes he would have to ask you for your consent and you would have to write him a letter to take with him explaining this even though he is their father. I hope this has helped you Deb.x

still having problems.i rang passport office,who gave me the number for the tunisian embassy.i rang them and the lady either did,nt know or did,nt understand what i was asking her.she told me to ring back tommorrow to speak to another department.
still unsure of where i stand.

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Tunisian Representation in the UK.

the above is from the foreign and commonwealth website............

If you log onto The United Kingdom passport service and go to child abduction there are lots of answered questions which might be of help to you. I personally have never had to provide documentary evidence when travelling abroad anywhere with my children, even when my 3 daughters were on my passport. and all having their dads surname which is different to mine. My youngest daughter has just been taken off as she is coming up to 16 and obviously needs her own now. I have travelled alone with them on my passport and had no problems at all.