Traveling solo with kids as an expat in Germany

Cheryl Moderator

16824POSTS

last year

Hello everyone,

During your expat experience in Germany, you may have to travel solo with your kids, either to explore your host country, to visit family and friends in your home country, or for vacation trips.
While this journey can be a great adventure, it also comes with its challenges. We therefore would like to invite you to share your insights and experiences to help fellow expats make the most of their trips with their children.

Here are a few questions to start with:

How to best prepare for traveling solo with kids?

What are the biggest challenges expat parents in Germany face when traveling solo with their kids?

What specific formalities or documents do you need to travel alone with kids (eg. parental consent for travel, birth certificate, etc.)?

What are your tips to smooth the journey with kids?

Share your experiences, tips and anecdotes to help fellow expats.

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
Expat.com Team

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beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15666POSTS

last year

If you cross borders (i.e. travel out of Germany) solo with kid(s), you may be questioned about custody by the immigration staff.

This is because there were several cases of child kidnapping in the past.

You shoul have on hand:

birth certificate(s) of the kid(s), which show names of the parents (incl. you), and
EITHER: a (signed) letter from the other parent, allowing you to travel solo with the kid(s)
OR: official paperwork showing that you have sole custody over the kid(s)

If you cannot show that the other parent allows the trip (or has no say over this), you may be sent back!

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