Overall, we really enjoy bringing our kids to the Bahamas. The people, the culture and the sunshine make for a perfect family vacation. As long as you budget properly and choose the right room type/resort, you really can't go wrong. It's a slice of paradise.
Providing parental consent when a child travels without both custodial parents. Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction. If your child is traveling alone or with only one parent or legal guardian, they may need a letter of consent from the other custodial parent.
Minors traveling unaccompanied or accompanied by a guardian or chaperone: What is required to enter The Bahamas may vary greatly from what is required to re-enter the country of origin. In general, a child under 16 years of age may travel into the Bahamas merely with proof of citizenship.
I, ______________________________________________ (name of parent), am the ______ (mother) ______ (father) of __________________________________ , aged ____________ , and do hereby give my consent for (him)(her) to travel with __________________________________________________________________ (name/address of traveling ...
U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document, such as a U.S. passport card.
Non-U.S. citizen children traveling to the U.S. A letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both custodial parents. The letter should say: "I acknowledge that my child is traveling outside the country with the name of the adult with my permission."
The law says you need a notarized letter. That said I have taken a friend with my son 5 times to the bahamas / Jamaica and no one has asked to see any sort of permission. On the chance that a vacation could be ruined I always have a notarized letter with me.
A consent letter demonstrates that children who travel alone, with only one parent/guardian, friends, relatives or a group (e.g. sports, school, musical, religious) have permission to travel abroad from every parent (or guardian) who is not accompanying them on the trip.
If you are taking a child that is not yours or different last name... yes, you need a notarized permission letter. Not that you should need it, but a signed letter without being notarized is useless...anyone could of signed it, thats the reason for requiring it to be notarized. You do have passports for all... right?
Yes, the consent letter MUST be notarized or you probably won't get out of the US, yet alone the DR. The consent must of the names of both parents and signatures, the name and signature of the person doing the travel with the minor, your travel destination and when you are to leave the US and return.