Requirements for travel with minors

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by finlay

hi is this just if you are traviling fom america? as im a single parent and have flown from england with my two children twice and have not been asked for anything or have i just been lucky? iam planning to come back this year to your wonderful island.

I believe it's a Dominican Republic requirement. Check you airlines website. This is what it says on Continentals

Minors (applicable only when LEAVING Dominican Rep.):
irrespective of nationality (until 18 years of age),
traveling unaccompanied, or with an adult other than a parent or legal guardian, or with only one parent, or with a
different person than they entered the country with, must hold a permit issued in the Dominican Rep. or a letter of consent issued by representation of the Dominican Rep. abroad.
For information on how to apply for a permit and documentation required, contact Dominican Rep. representation abroad or the
Director General's Office of Immigration, Santo Domingo.

[Dolores]

You have just been lucky. The requirement is there to be enforced. Probably in your case, the agent did not feel it was necessary as the two children looked like your children.

[Hillbilly]

Safe is better than sorry.

Have the father(s) of the children give you an authorization to travel with the children. Have it stamped at the local Dominican consulate.

You didn't say whether each of the children has his/her own passport or are travelling under your passport. If the latter, that might explain why you have not been required to produce the papers required.

Cordially,

HB

[sluna77]

I have traveled about 8 times with my son. . .alone without the father. . . And not once have they asked me for any authorization from the father. . I am in the US. . .and go to DR every 3 months. . .

If they where to ask me for an authorization. . .I do have a come back for them. . which is . . .I have no idea where the father is. . .so how would you expect me to get a letter from the father??? Simple as that!!!

[Dirk Pitt]

I am traveling from NY to Santo Domingo in February with 6 of my daughter's friends - I wrote an e-mail to the DR Consulate in Washington and here is his response:

"Any minor under 18 years old who enter with an adult and leaving the country (Domincian Repulic) with a same adult dosen't need the permission letter from the parents. In your case, you don't need the permission letter from your daughter friend's parents beacuse all of you will be going and leaving the Dominican Republic together"

It was signed by Mr Johnny Ramirez - First Secretary - Embassy of The Domincian Republic - Washington DC

[Caren M.]

Am traveling to Punta Cana in Feb. with my family and my son's 16 yr. old friend. I made sure he got a passport and am bringing a notarized letter from his parents giving us permission to take him to DR for vacation and then bring him back to the US. Will this be sufficient? I get conflicting answers and have had no luck reaching anyone in the Dominican consulate. Have been to DR many times and don't want to have any problems. Thanks for any info!

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by Dirk Pitt

I am traveling from NY to Santo Domingo in February with 6 of my daughter's friends - I wrote an e-mail to the DR Consulate in Washington and here is his response:

"Any minor under 18 years old who enter with an adult and leaving the country (Domincian Repulic) with a same adult dosen't need the permission letter from the parents. In your case, you don't need the permission letter from your daughter friend's parents beacuse all of you will be going and leaving the Dominican Republic together"

It was signed by Mr Johnny Ramirez - First Secretary - Embassy of The Domincian Republic - Washington DC

Wow, that's incredible! That contradicts with everything I've ever read and anything anyone has ever told me.

I'm not sure how much merit the email will have with Dominican immigration. Firstly becuase it is in English and secondly becuase it is a printout of an email and anyone can fake that. In any event, bring the email with you, it can't hurt. You also may want to make sure the child get photographed by immigration upon arrival in the DR.

Could you please PM with the email address for the consulate in Washington.

BTW, I'm assuming you typed, rather than cut and pasted, the text you quoted from the Consulate. There are a few typos in the text.

[rellosk]

Originally Posted by Caren M.

Am traveling to Punta Cana in Feb. with my family and my son's 16 yr. old friend. I made sure he got a passport and am bringing a notarized letter from his parents giving us permission to take him to DR for vacation and then bring him back to the US. Will this be sufficient? I get conflicting answers and have had no luck reaching anyone in the Dominican consulate. Have been to DR many times and don't want to have any problems. Thanks for any info!

Up until I read post #15 above, I had always thought that any minor not traveling with both parents would need written authorization from the Dominican Consulate (at a cost of somewhere between $40 and $60).

That said, I have traveled to the DR as a single parent with my Daughter many times and have only been questioned twice. Both times I played dumb and was able to convince them to let us go through, albeit the second time took almost 45 minitues to convince them. Last summer my Daughter traveled by herself and they asked her for the authorization (which she did not have), but they let her go through.

[Dirk Pitt]

Rellosk- Your right there are typos but that how iy was written - I will cut and paste the entire e-amil below:

Good morning,



Any minor under 18 years old who enter with an adult and living the country (Dominican Republic)

with a same adult doesn’t need the permission letter from the parents.

In your case, you don’t need the permission letter from your daughter friend’s parents because

all of you will be going and leaving the Dominican Republic together.



Thanks,





Johnny Ramirez

First Secretary

Embassy of the Dominican Republic

1715 22nd Street N W

Washington, DC 20008

Phone: (202) 332-6280 ext. 2520

Fax: (202) 265-8057

E-mail: jramirez@us.serex.gov.do



-----Original Message-----
From: Carlos Diaz
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 2:46 PM
To: Johnny Ramirez
Subject: FW: Travling with Children







-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 2:42 PM
To: Carlos Diaz
Subject: Travling with Children



Hi – I am planning my 6th trip to your lovely country – this year we are taking some of my daughter’s friends for her sweet sixteen birthday. Do we need any kind of letter from the parents of her friends

for entry into the country? We all we be going and leaving the country together.



Thanks in advance

[karibbeankidd]

Always have them bathe when the get out of the cave.