Aunt travelling with a 2 year old but not the parents [closed]

I have power of attorney for my 2 year old niece. She has been living with me since September. I would like to take her with me when I travel this summer and her parents are not terribly involved in her life.

Can I secure a passport without them and if yes, how?
If no, what do I need to do?

Best Answer

I will use the Canadian recommendations -- when entering into a foreign country they are very unlikely to look up the laws of your particular home country so this is good as a general guideline. A few choice quotes, but you need to read the whole page:

A consent letter is not a legal requirement in Canada, but it can simplify travel for Canadian children, as it may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or by Canadian officials when re-entering Canada

We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about the legal issues that apply to you and your children’s unique situation

Most importantly:

We recommend that the letter be signed by every non-accompanying person or organization with the legal right to make major decisions for the child

So while the parents are not involved they have the legal right from what I understand (but you should know this much better) and if so, border guard might ask a consent letter from them. But, as said above: this isn't a legal requirement at least not in Canada.

However, I am just a random stranger on the Internet and I am not a lawyer (I do not even play one on television). I would look into adoption to simplify this situation ongoing.

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Can I cross the border with my niece?

A consent letter is recommended for all cross-border travel, even for a day trip, if the child will be travelling alone, with only one parent, with friends or relatives or with a youth group. The sample consent letter or interactive form can be used to create a suitable letter.

Can 2 year olds travel?

When you travel with a child under 2 years old, you may choose to travel with the child on your lap (infant-in-arms) or travel with your child in an FAA-approved child safety seat. To use a FAA-approved safety seat, you must purchase a ticket for your child so they have a reserved seat.

Can I travel with my niece in the US?

If you want to take a niece or nephew under the age of 18 on a trip in the United States, you must have their parent's permission to do so. If you do not have parental permission before taking a child -- even a relative -- you could be accused of kidnapping.

Can a child travel with just one parent?

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