Traveling with other people’s kids to Paris
Yep! We're taking our kids friends with us overseas!
Traveling with other people’s kids to Paris or anywhere internationally can be an amazing experience for all involved. What do you need to make it a successful trip? I’m here to help!
NOTE: I am NOT an attorney. This is NOT legal advice. I am just a mom who loves all things travel and is sharing how we’ve done things.
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1. Why bring other people’s kids along? Taking your kid’s friends on trips.
If you are as passionate about travel as I am you want to share the experience. (Duh, thus this blog!)
Ryan, my husband, as you know has invited others along on almost all our journeys. Australia? His parents were in tow. South America? My mom wasn’t going to miss that!
Paris is one of our favorite cities and now that our kids are in high school it is fun to share our trips with others.
While I cherish the bond and memories we create as a 4 some on trips, adding friends can only add to the joy. You’ll not only bond with your kids, but see them through a different lens.
How do they interact with their friends? What do their friends have to say about them? Inside scoop into your teen’s life? Oui, S’il vous plait!
2. Seeing the world through their eyes.
Yes, my kids have been around the world and back again. Yes, they are lucky beyond so many and they know it. Thankfully they appreciate it!
When we decided to have each kid ask a friend to join us in Paris we did not realize they would both ask kids who have never left North America before!
I can’t tell you how excited that makes me!!
We are so excited to see all things through their eyes. I’ll freely admit that I most likely will just be sitting back and observing these kids the whole week.
I can’t wait to see the wonder. It is like handing someone your favorite book and hearing about it from their point view, and not as someone who is very familiar with its pages.
3. How to get started.
Now that we’ve asked the parents (and the kids!) Everyone is on board and so excited for the opportunity.
When we decided to be traveling with other people’s kids to Paris, our requirement was that they were fully vaccinated.
At the time of the ask it was not a solid requirement in France, but we knew we weren’t going to be messing around with someone who may need to quarantine. We only have one week. We have lots to see!
Also….do you have a passport? Oh, and what’s the expiration?
These kid passports expire without us realizing it. I believe US passports for minors are still only valid for 5 years. Usually a country you are visiting wants you to have 6 more months of validity so do a double check of your passports and your friends before booking a trip.
One friend didn’t even have a passport! Thankfully we asked him to join us 4 months before the trip so his family had enough time to get it procurred.
I remember after their appointment the mom told me that it could take up to 12 weeks to get the passport due to Covid delays.
Yikes! We were all a bit nervous.
Thankfully it arrived in plenty of time.
Be sure to plan with enough notice that all parties going can get passports in time.
4. Minor, no minor.
It’s amazing how soon teens become legal adults! Our son is a junior in high school and still only 17, but the friend joining us on the trip is a senior and just turned 18.
The requirements are much less when traveling with other people’s kids to Paris, if they are 18 or older.
The world sees them as an adult and really there are no extra steps needed. That said, we are following the same protocols for this friend as we are for the 15 year old.
Better to be safe than sorry.
5. So what is needed?
Reminder: I am NOT an attorney. This is NOT legal advice. I am just a mom who loves all things travel and is sharing how we’ve done things.
When traveling with other people’s kids to Paris, or really anywhere internationally, it is a good idea to have an affidavit that states that the child’s parents are okay with you taking them out of the country!
We don’t want anyone thinking you’ve kidnapped this child!
So hold me harmless if this doesn’t work, but for your reference this is the verb-age we used.
6. Consent for International Travel
Consent for International Travel
I, ___________________________, of __________________________________ USA declare that I am the legal parent/guardian of:
_________________________________, male/female, born _______________ ____, 20____ at ______________________, USA
American passport numbered __________________________, issued on __________________________, ________ at US Department of State.
My child, _______________________________, has my consent to travel to _(City)__, __(Country)___ with ______________________________ and/or _________________________ of ___________(Address)___________, _____________, ____ _____________ USA.___________________________________ is carrying an American passport numbered _____________________ which was issued on ____________________ _____, 20___ at US Department of State. ___________________________________ is carrying an American passport numbered ____________________________ which was issued on _________________ ____, 20__ at US Department of State. Our child will be leaving the United States on __________________ ____, 20___ and returning to the United States on __________________ ____, 20___.
Any questions regarding this document may be addressed to me at:
______________________
__________________________________________________ USA
(____) ____-_______
___________________________
Signature
Notary Acknowledgement
STATE OF ____________
COUNTY OF __________________
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this ________ day of ______________, _________ before me, ___________________, the undersigned Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, came _________________ who is personally known to me, or proven on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the same person who executed this Child Travel Consent and such person acknowledged the execution of the same.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have set my hand and affixed my seal, the day and year last above written.
______________________
Notary Public for the State of ___________
County of ________________
Appointment expires: _________________________(SEAL)
7. What about emergencies when traveling with other people’s kids to Paris or anywhere internationally?
With Covid in the air, the thought of potentially needing medical care while overseas is more top of mind than it was previously.
That said it is never a bad idea to travel with a consent for medical care. We never want to think about the worst case scenario, but I always like to be better prepared than not.
Better to have it and not need it.
While I know the parents would probably jump on a plane if needed to be there for their child, no matter how quick they move there would be a time when decisions would need to be made in the interim.
Again, hold me harmless, I’m not an attorney, but here is the language we used.
8. Consent for Medical Care.
Authorize to Consent to Medical Treatment of Child
I, ___________________________, of ___________________________________ USA make oath and say that I am the lawful guardian of the child listed below and there are no court orders now in effect that would prohibit me from conferring the power to consent upon another person.
___________________________________, male/female, born __________________ ____, 20___ at ___________________, USA, Residing at __________________________________________, ___________________________ USA
I hereby authorize and appoint ___________________________________ and/or _____________________________, ___________________________________________________, __________________, ___ _________ USA as my Agent. Unless otherwise provided in this authorization, my Agent may consent to emergency medical treatment for my child, including dental treatment, anesthesia and blood transfusion.
My Agent may have access to any and all records, including, but no limited to, insurance records regarding any medical services or treatment provided.
The purpose of this instrument is to give ____________________________ and/or ____________________________ the power and authority to consent to medical treatment for my child. This power and authority will be effective as of the ____th day of __________________, 20___ and will remain effective until the ____th day of _______________, 20___.
I give this consent freely and knowingly in order to provide for the child and not as a result of coercion, duress or payments by any person or agency.
This consent may terminate early by my notifying my child’s medical, mental health care and insurance providers, in writing, and the Agent named above that I wish to revoke it.
Any questions or concerns regarding this authorization may be directed to me at:
______________________
_________________________________________ USA
(___) _____ – _______
_______________________@_____________
___________________________
(Signature)
Notary Acknowledgement
STATE OF ________________
COUNTY OF __________________
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this ________ day of ______________, _________ before me, ___________________, the undersigned Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, came _______________________ who is personally known to me, or proven on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the same person who executed this Child Travel Consent and such person acknowledged the execution of the same.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have set my hand and affixed my seal, the day and year last above written.
______________________
Notary Public for the State of ______________
County of ________________
Appointment expires: _________________________(SEAL)
9. What other details should we think about?
You may have noticed that I have a spot for 2 parents that are taking the minor, but only one for the parent of the child.
While I’d like to think that I will have these babies I am charged with (yes I realize they are teens) under my constant surveillance, it is just as likely that my husband will be with them if an emergency occurs.
I wanted to be prepared, again, just in case.
10. Divorce, uh, how does that affect things when traveling with other people’s kids to Paris?
While I’m not sure if it is a big deal to have only one parent of a married family sign the consent forms, I was acutely aware that it may be an issue for a child of parents who are not together.
Another kicker is that we live near a state line and the parents each live on separate sides!
While I was contemplating how complicated to make the form to resolve these issues, I reached out to the minor’s mother.
She made it easy on me and said that per the divorce decree she is listed as the primary parent. (Not sure it that is the terminology, again not an attorney.)
My take away is that she can sign the consent and I didn’t have to worry about getting multiple notaries or signatures involved.
Again, not a big deal, but something to consider.
11. Testing, testing….1, 2, 3.
Let’s get back to this Covid thing. At the time of our travel France has implemented a requirement of a negative Covid test 48 hours or less from your departure time.
While we’re having concerns scheduling that during the holiday season, it typically won’t be an issue.
What can be an issue is having everything you need to schedule a Covid test. I recently spent almost 2 hours at a local clinic just SETTING UP our testing appointments.
It was a complicated system of creating online accounts and completing all paperwork (online.). I did it in the clinic because there was a very nice woman working the desk and she was available to answer my questions/support me as I typed away on my phone.
Learn from me as I had to make multiple texts/calls to the parents of the two friends to get all the necessary info.
I had thought I was good because I have photos of their health insurance cards, but that was just the beginning.
I also needed, (thankfully photos of all were ok) vaccine cards, insurance cards, consent for medical care affidavit, pic of front AND back of the parent’s drivers license, AND pic front and back of the 18 year old’s driver’s license.
Not to mention that each account needed a cell number tied to it so while I was creating their accounts the two friends had to be ready to receive and forward to me confirmation codes to complete opening of the account.
12. Whew, are we ready to go yet?
Oui! I think we are ready to take off (Covid tests pending!) I’m so excited for this trip. I know all of us will be making life long memories and will have stories to share for years to come.
Just like I have from this trip with my mom and sister!
13. THE list of what to bring when traveling with other people’s kids to Paris!
- Their passports
- Their vaccine cards (yes the physical card AND a pic of it.)
- Consent for International Travel signed by their parents.
- Consent for Medical Care signed by their parents.
- Copy of their health insurance card.
- Pic of the front AND back of the parent’s drivers license, OR Pic of the front AND back of the 18 year old’s driver’s license.