Travel to NZ with a child

Ok, so this is a new one on me, I am not sure I will get any replies to this one, but I thought I would give it a go.

I am taking my son traveling in New Zealand in Feb, and somebody mentioned to me, that as my husband will not be coming with us, I have to prove I am my childs parent/legal guardian, and that I am not abducting him as part of a custody case etc. (I'm from the UK by the way).

We phoned the NZ embassy today and its apparently true. What makes it so much more difficult for me, is that when I married I did not change my surname, and our son has a double barrled surname name, using both our last names.

They told me I need to take my marrige certificate, and my sons birth certificate to show immigration. I have never heard of this procedure before and I have travelled with him all over! Anyone experienced this? Will I be asked to show the documents? And what if I was divorced? I don't see how showing a marrige cert shows that I am not abducting him from his father anyway (I'm not, lol!).

Also, info on doing that is pretty hard to find on the net, at least I never heard of it until a friend mentioned it to me.

Planning this trip is now becoming a real hassle! Reply to this

Hi Terry-Ann,

Not sure on the legalities you mentioned above, but either way, I would take certified copies rather than originals. Reply to this

Hi, thankyou for that link.

The lady we spoke to today seemed certain I needed the info with me. It just seemed kind of strange to me as I have never heard of that procedure before, as lots of kids fly with different family members all the time.

I am planning on flying with New Zealand air, so I will call them tommorow to see if they can shed anymore light on things. Reply to this

God, that an awful story.

To be honest, I am not getting much sense out of anyone. Fired off a lot of emails to relevent people, but no reply, I just keep getting directed back to the lady I spoke to fron the NZ embassy, who said I will definatly need to take my marrage and his birth certs, but like said before, I don't see what they prove, apart from the fact that I am his mother. Reply to this

Yeah, they have to be the originals. I don't really want to carry them around with us, so I may post them back home to my husband by recorded mail once we have finished with them. But of a pain as I cannot find my marriage cert anywhere, have to pay for a new one! Reply to this

I would contact everyone that you can think of whether they're likely to be of help or not. Someone will be able to point you in the right direction. And if all else fails, bring the evidence they requested for the single different surname and I'm sure that will suffice. I can't believe they make you jump through so many hoops! Reply to this

Hi Jo,

I contacted them a few weeks ago. They were the ones who gave me the phone number of the embassy. They were the ones who told me to takt bith certs etc, but they too were confused when I asked about him having a double barrelled name, and also said they didn't know and could not help anymore, Its extremily frustrating! Reply to this

Yeah, thats what I will have to do. I am in London in a couple of weeks time.

The woman I spoke to on the phone was most unhelpful. Said that I would most deffinatly be asked to show proof, and that if the immigration people did not accept it, the worst that could happen is that we would be put on a flight back to the UK! My gosh, could you imagine! Even though I am not returning to the UK, I have a ticket to Australia for after the NZ leg. She was actually quite rude and was even questioning me as to why I did not change my name when I was married, or at least give my child his fathers surname only, (she even asked if he was really my childs biological father or if we were just pretending!) it was a very bizzare conversation and quite frankly, none of her business.


Thankyou so much for all the suggestions, its all just such a headache. My husband and I have decided we will probably both change our names to the double barrelled version at some point as well, just to make our lives a little easier! Reply to this

Hello Terry Ann 😊

Yeah, that is a lot of hassle just to take you son on a holiday. I had better not take my daugher to NZ then. I have an Irish passport and she has a Dutch one. She had a double surname and me and my boyfriend are not married.

I think the NZ authorities are being rigid with this. You are not immigrating to NZ afterall. I would call the NZ consulate and find out what they need from the father that shows he grants his permission to have his son taken on holiday by you. Maybe a letter will do.

Anyway, you are married. What is the problem with just taking your marriage cert to show the immigration?

She was actually quite rude and was even questioning me as to why I did not change my name when I was married,

The cheek! I get that sort of thing often about my daughters double name. There would be no point in having womens rights if we dont use our rights to choose these things would, there.

....or at least give my child his fathers surname only....

Sexism from a member of NZ authorities. Shame on her! I would also try calling back another time in the hope of getting somebody more civil to talk with

she even asked if he was really my childs biological father or if we were just pretending!

Arg!!! I have met some rude people about the name thing, but I you have just encounterd even worse.

Thankyou so much for all the suggestions, its all just such a headache. My husband and I have decided we will probably both change our names to the double barrelled version at some point as well, just to make our lives a little easier!

You have just met a few narrow minded people. Dont do anything you dont want yet.

Anyway, maybe take your sons birthcert, your marriage cert and your husbands birthcert and a letter of consent from your husband. I think that should be enough to keep the immigration happy.

Mel Reply to this

Hi Mel, sorry, I did mean to update on this but I got side tracked!

At immigration I was asked if he was my child, and I was asked if I had any supporting documentation with me, such as his birth certificate, and if it had the name on my passport on it. I replied yes, but they didn't want to see it and waved me through.

So, it was very easy, although speaking to the people at the embassy before hand I was expecting to get the third degree! Reply to this