Hi, I am hoping someone can help me out here. We have previously booked JET2 flights to Portugal for a party of 6 - 2 adults and 4 children (16, 16, 14 & 14). 2 of the kids are ours, the other 2 their friends.
We have just found out that my 16 year old has an important A level exam on the day of travel so are looking to move her flight together with her 16 year old friend to a later date and join us on the holiday a couple of days later.
JET2 allows me to do this no problem through their on-line 'Manage My Booking' screen. But i have noticed there are rules about children under 18 travelling to Portugal on their own or outside their family.
The FCO website states -
Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
A minor under the age of 18 travelling to Portugal must either:
- be accompanied by a parent or guardian,
- be met at the airport or point of entry by a parent or guardian, or
- carry a letter of authorisation to travel from a parent or guardian. The letter should name the adult responsible for the minor during their stay.
It is the 3rd point I am looking to clarify. Will a letter signed by ourselves for our daughter and a separate one for her friend signed by her parents stating they approve them to travel and they will be meeting us at the hotel be sufficient? There seems to be conflicting advise wherever you look on the Web - some sites saying it needs to be notarised.
Also, would we have to get a letter of authorisation from the 14 year old who is travelling with us from his parent? this only seems to be a rule for Portugal... probably after the Madelaine case?
Any help/advice would be really appreciated. We already have a disjointed holiday with this booking change, the last thing we need are issues with the 2 16 year olds travelling from the UK to Portugal.
Thank you
please read my post in this thread {similar situation to you} also this thread {a diffrent situation but the same basic rules apply}
wizard
wizard
wizard - thanks for the response and the links to the two threads.
The situations are similar but the difference with my query is the visit to Portugal. I think this country has introduced a new rule on it's own, quite apart from the general principles about children under 18 travelling alone probably due to the adverse publicity following Madelaine McCann going missing.
The budget airlines (JET2, Ryanair, Easyjet etc) all have a specific statement in their small print about minors who TRAVEL TO PORTUGAL, as in my earlier post. Nothing in there about any special rules for other countries.
I was after some advice from fellow travellers who may have had experience of this when travelling to Portugal, rather than in general..... i.e. travelling to Cyprus, Spain etc.
Can this be re-posted on it's own to see if anyone can provide help on this specific subject?
thanks
cpandk
The situations are similar but the difference with my query is the visit to Portugal. I think this country has introduced a new rule on it's own, quite apart from the general principles about children under 18 travelling alone probably due to the adverse publicity following Madelaine McCann going missing.
The budget airlines (JET2, Ryanair, Easyjet etc) all have a specific statement in their small print about minors who TRAVEL TO PORTUGAL, as in my earlier post. Nothing in there about any special rules for other countries.
I was after some advice from fellow travellers who may have had experience of this when travelling to Portugal, rather than in general..... i.e. travelling to Cyprus, Spain etc.
Can this be re-posted on it's own to see if anyone can provide help on this specific subject?
thanks
cpandk
the general principle mentioned in the other threads still apply to conform with uk legislation, we have a couple of resident ex-pats who may be able to expand on local laws
wizard
wizard
One item about the interpretation of the Portuguese rules - those under 18 travelling alone should, if at all possible, be met AT THE AIRPORT by the person(s) named in the letter and those people must bring ID with them. This I have been told by someone whose son was at school in England. Just avoids any problems. After all, if you give your address as 'Hotel such-and-such' with a UK mobile phone number as the only contact it might not be quite what they want. And I assume the 16 year olds are sensible enough to be able to pick up their transfer from the airport and not to immediately enter panic mode if something goes wrong eg because of a delay.
Now, for the 14/16 year olds travelling with you but are not yours, it think it would be best for them to have a notarised letter of permission. It would take only one jobsworth to totally ruin your holiday.
I have lived in Portugal for nearly 6 years and I can tell you that what the rules may say on paper about anything is often, shall we say, in conflict with what the chap in uniform decides it means.
(The daft thing is that if you travelled overland eg by car or train or even on foot none of this applies as the borders are open once you are out of the UK!)
Now, for the 14/16 year olds travelling with you but are not yours, it think it would be best for them to have a notarised letter of permission. It would take only one jobsworth to totally ruin your holiday.
I have lived in Portugal for nearly 6 years and I can tell you that what the rules may say on paper about anything is often, shall we say, in conflict with what the chap in uniform decides it means.
(The daft thing is that if you travelled overland eg by car or train or even on foot none of this applies as the borders are open once you are out of the UK!)
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