Closed petition Allow resident parents to take their children abroad without needing consent

Closed on 2 September 2023

You can take a child abroad for 28 days without getting permission from the other parent if a Child Arrangement Order says the child must live with you, unless a court order says you can’t. This should be extended to resident parents without CAOs unless another court order prevents this.

We believe all resident parents should have the same rights as those with Child Arrangements Orders that say a child must live with the parent. Consent should not be required, particularly from an uninvolved, non-resident parent, no matter if they have PR. Requiring consent gives the non-resident parent the power to refuse or delay the request simply because they can, more so if there is a history of coercive controlling behaviour within the relationship. We believe this is wholly inequitable.