smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Travelling ParentsTravelling with children can be rewarding and fun if you are properly prepared and do your research before you leave.
This brochure is designed to provide parents with information they need to have hassle-free family travels.
There are a number of things you can do before you travel overseas so that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable trip. Before you go, research your destination at smartraveller.gov.au, check out the latest guidebooks and chat to other travellers.
1. Check the latest travel advice for your destination at smartraveller.gov.au before you go. Subscribe to receive free email notification each time the advice is updated.
2. Take out travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, like adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.
3. Before travelling overseas register your travel and contact details online at smartraveller.gov.au,or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive so we can contact you in an emergency.
If you cannot afford travel insurance, you cannot afford to travel.
It might sound a bit harsh, but organising insurance is an essential part of preparing for your overseas trip.
Comprehensive travel insurance should cover all medical expenses for injury or illness for you and your family, as well as theft of your valuables and cancellations or interruptions to your flight plans, baggage damage and more. It also saves you the worry and financial burden if you have an accident or fall ill overseas. Overseas medical costs can be in the tens of thousands of dollars and many families have been burdened financially in paying these costs.
When organising travel insurance, ensure you’re covered for general medical expenses, pre-existing medical conditions (be honest or you may find the insurance company won’t pay out), hospitalisation, medical evacuations and the return of remains to Australia.
If the insurance company refuses to cover any pre-existing medical condition, be sure to take out insurance to cover other health and travel-related issues not related to your pre-existing condition. In cases where full coverage is not provided, travellers should consider the potential financial risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with the planned travel overseas.
Shop around when choosing an insurance policy and make sure the cover provided is adequate for your family’s needs and is valid for the whole time you and your family will be away. Always read the fine print!
Some hospitals overseas will not admit you unless you have insurance, no matter what is wrong with you. Medicare will not cover you or your family outside of Australia.
Many insurers offer free cover for dependents under the age of 21 who are travelling with their parent/s who have taken out a travel insurance policy. This varies from policy to policy. Be sure to confirm all details with your insurance provider and receive written confirmation of your policy.
If you are planning to rely on the travel insurance provided by your credit card, before travelling you should obtain written confirmation of what exactly the insurance covers, the period of time you will be covered and the conditions attached. Don’t assume your application has been accepted and processed or that by having a credit card you are entitled to immediate coverage when you leave the country. You don’t want to find out once you are in trouble that your travel insurance does not cover everything you thought it would or that your insurance was never activated. If you are not sure whether you are covered for any of the above, you should check with your insurance provider.
Don’t base your insurance on the assumption that ‘it won’t happen to me or my family. Accidents do happen and hospitalisation, medical evacuations, or even the return of a deceased person’s remains to Australia can be very expensive. It’s important to remember that travellers who are not covered by insurance are personally liable (or their families) for covering any medical and associated costs they incur. Overseas medical costs are not covered by Medicare. Some families have been bankrupted, forced to sell assets such as homes or cash-out superannuation to bring loved ones back to Australia for treatment.
CASE STUDY: Kate and Jim took the kids for an overseas holiday. Everyone had a terrific time until toddler Susie developed stomach pain, fever and vomiting. Kate and Jim took her to the local hospital. The doctor diagnosed a ruptured appendix and recommended immediate evacuation by air ambulance to a major hospital. The flight cost $30,000 and an ambulance met Kate and Susie on the airport tarmac and raced them to a private hospital with a specialist paediatric unit. The hospital cost $1000 a day. Susie survived but was very sick and Kate had to stay with her for six days. The family missed their flight home and there were extra expenses for new tickets and accommodation. Jim missed work. All up, Susie's illness cost the family $40,000 which they had to take from their house deposit account. Kate and Jim did not have travel insurance. Pity, it would have paid for all their expenses and relieved them hours of agonising worry in arranging the air ambulance.
Some other examples of why you need travel insurance:
Your passport is your most important travel document. All Australian citizens must have a valid passport before leaving Australia and maintain a valid passport while overseas. More information on passports can be found at www.passports.gov.au or by calling the Australian Passport Information Service (APIS) on 131 232 in Australia. If you are overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate.
Early on, find out what visas you and your family need by contacting the relevant embassy, high commission or consulate of the countries you intend to visit. The contact details can be found online at www.dfat.gov.au/protocol. Remember to also check the visa requirements of countries you might be transiting.
Some countries may deny you entry if you or your family members do not have a passport with a minimum of six months validity. Check whether this applies to your destination and plan accordingly.
When travelling with children, keep in mind that children cannot be included in an adult’s passport. Each child, including a newborn infant, must be issued with their own passport. Under Australian law, an Australian citizen under 18 years of age who has never married is regarded as a child. Further information on passports for children can be found at www.passports.gov.au or by calling the APIS on 131 232 (in Australia).
Every country has regulation(s) regarding entry and exit requirements for children travelling alone or travelling without their parent(s). To minimise inconvenience at customs/immigration contact the relevant foreign mission of the countries you intend your children to travel. Contact details can be found at www.dfat.gov.au/protocol.
Likewise, airlines have rules regarding unaccompanied minors. In general, children under the age of 15 who are travelling alone will be regarded as unaccompanied minors. In most cases, parents or guardians will need to fill out a permission form for the child’s travel. Furthermore, tickets for unaccompanied minors can not be purchased online. For further information please contact the airline you are planning to use or visit their websites.
Doing some simple research and making preparations before departure can save a lot of hassle when you arrive.
Further travel tips and information on in-flight services when travelling with children is available from most airlines and aviation authorities, including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority at www.casa.gov.au/airsafe/trip/.
Be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that
appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you and your
family. Many countries apply capital punishment,
including for narcotics related crimes. Do not take risks
with illegal drugs!
NOTE: In some countries children may be treated as
adults for crimes committed and held in prisons for adults.
CASE STUDY: Matthew was only 16 when he was arrested overseas with 10 grams of marijuana in his pocket. He didn’t realise that under local law, if you’re 16 or over you’re treated as an adult. Matthew’s still coming to terms with sharing a cell with hardened criminals in an adult prison. His trial’s still several months away. When he comes to court, he’ll be tried like any other adult. And if he’s found guilty, he’ll face the stiff sentences an adult gets for drug possession in that country. The courts won’t show him any leniency on account of his age.
To avoid difficult situations or frustrating confrontations
overseas, you should learn what behaviour is appropriate in
your destination. Always obey the laws of the country you
are visiting, even if they are different to those in
Australia. In some situations you may be bound by
Australian laws as well.
Ensure you are sensitive to local customs and aware of dress
codes. In some cultures, people are deeply offended by
revealing or inappropriate clothes and in some places breast
feeding in public is considered offensive. Consult the
travel advisory for your destination at smartraveller.gov.au and
either purchase a guide book or search the internet for
information on local laws and customs.
If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government
will do what it can to help you but we can’t get you out
of trouble or out of jail.
When you are travelling with children, local authorities, including customs and immigration officers, may ask you to produce documents to prove that you are the lawful parent or guardian of a child travelling with you. To avoid running into difficulties make sure you always carry proper identification for yourself and your children, including any documents that might be required by the authorities of the country you intend to visit and by Australian authorities on your return.
When travelling outside of Australia, proper identification includes, but is not limited to, a valid passport for a child. The following are examples of additional documents that you may be asked to provide:
If in doubt about particular circumstances relating to your children, you should seek legal advice before travelling.
A person born outside Australia who is the biological child of an Australian citizen can apply for registration for Australian citizenship by descent with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Australians whose child is born overseas while travelling should contact the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate for information regarding how to lodge an application for registration of Australian citizenship by descent. Contact details for Australian missions abroad can be found at www.dfat.gov.au/missions/ and in Travel Smart: hints for Australian travellers booklet. This booklet is issued with your passport. To obtain and/or download a copy go to: smartraveller.gov.au/hints/index.html.
Further information regarding Australian citizenship can be found on DIAC’s website: www.citizenship.gov.au or on their Citizenship Information Line on 131 880.
You should be aware that if your child was born in another country, that country may regard your child as its citizen or national, even if your child is also an Australian citizen and you have never sought citizenship of that country for your child.
Dual nationality can be a good thing, but it can create problems too. If your children are dual nationals, you need to know that their dual nationality may have implications for them if they travel to the country of their other nationality. Before you depart, it is important to consider the implications of local laws concerning issues such as child custody.
For further information, obtain and/or download a copy of the brochure Travelling dual nationals, available from smartraveller.gov.au/tips/dualnat.html.
Some foreign governments do not recognise dual nationality. A child whose birth is registered either in a foreign country or at a non-Australian embassy or consulate may have foreign citizenship with no recognition by that country of their Australian citizenship. This can affect decisions relating to the future custody of the child, as these decisions can be based on local law. Parents travelling with children who may be considered nationals of a foreign country should consult a lawyer to resolve child custody and other family law issues before travelling to that country.
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction operates to return wrongfully removed or retained children to their country of habitual residence so that issues of parental responsibility can be resolved by the authorities of that country. The Convention may also provide assistance to parents seeking to spend time, or communicate, with a child. Information on the countries for which the Convention is in force with Australia can be found on the website of The Hague Conference of Private International Law at www.hcch.net.
Before you leave Australia with your children, you should ensure that you have the consent to do so from any person, institution or other body that has a right of custody in relation to those children or a court order permitting their departure. Failure to do so may result in an application being made under the Convention and the children being ordered to return to Australia. You may wish to obtain the assistance of a solicitor or a legal aid body to help you make sure that you have done all that is required to lawfully remove the children from Australia.
If you are concerned that your child has been wrongfully removed or retained in a foreign country, you should immediately contact the International Family Law Section, Attorney General’s Department (the Commonwealth Central Authority) on the free call number 1800 100 480 (24-hour line, staffed between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday, message-bank all other times) or +61 2 6234 4840 (if you are ringing from outside Australia) for information about making an application to seek your child’s return to Australia.
CASE STUDY: An Australian woman married a man from overseas and went to live with his extended family. She was subject to domestic violence and wanted to come home with her new baby. Her husband refused to sign a passport application for the baby and took out a stop order against her, which meant that she could not leave the country without undertaking lengthy and expensive legal proceedings. Her in-laws took the baby and she found that despite a custody order in her favour, the police could do little to assist her regain her child.
If you are concerned that your child may be removed from Australia, you should contact the Australian Federal Police and the Family Court of Australia (or the Family Court of Western Australia if you are in Western Australia) as a matter of urgency.
Further information on international child abduction, including key legislation, contacts and related support services can be found on the Attorney-General’s Department website at www.ag.gov.au/childabduction.
Australian parenting orders can be recognised overseas and overseas parenting orders recognised in Australia where there is a reciprocal arrangement between Australia and the relevant country. For information about the countries that are party to such an arrangement contact the International Family Law Section, Attorney‑General’s Department, on the numbers provided above.
Make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic for a basic check-up at least six to eight weeks before you depart and to find out if any vaccinations or health checks are required.
Vaccination programs for children sometimes differ to those for adults. For further information, obtain and/or download a copy of the brochure Travelling Well, available from smartraveller.gov.au/tips/travelwell.html; or from the following websites:
World Health Organization - www.who.int
Australian Immunisation Handbook - www9.health.gov.au/immhandbook/.
As health problems and mishaps overseas can ruin your holiday, make sure you are ready for the unexpected.
If your children wear glasses you may like to take along a spare pair or a copy of their prescription – as glasses can be easily lost or broken.
If your children have pre-existing medical conditions, you may wish to purchase a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace for them to wear while travelling. They are available at chemists in Australia. Medic Alert Foundation keeps a database of patients’ details and medical history, and is accessible by phone worldwide. Also ensure that your travel insurance covers your children’s pre-existing conditions.
If your children will require prescription or non-prescription medicine while travelling, take enough for the entire trip as some medications are not available overseas. It is also advisable to take a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing all medical conditions and the contents of tablets or other medicine you’ll be carrying with you. Keep the letter and a copy of the doctor’s prescription with the medication.
You should be aware that it is illegal to carry medicines subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) out of Australia unless they are for your own personal use or the use of children travelling with you. Before leaving home you should check that medications you intend to take with you are legal in the countries you will be visiting. You can do this by contacting the relevant embassy or high commission. See: www.dfat.gov.au/protocol for contact details.
More information on travelling with medicines is available from Medicare Australia’s website: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au or by phoning 132 011.
Australia has health care agreements with Finland, Italy, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. These agreements enable Australians to access urgent or emergency medical treatment overseas. However, general medical services are only provided when the need for treatment arises during the visit and it would be unreasonable to delay treatment until the individual’s intended date of return. It is important to remember that:
If you wish to be treated under the relevant reciprocal health care agreement, you must advise the medical staff in the country you are visiting. To prove you are eligible for treatment you will need to provide local authorities with:
Further information about international health agreements can be found at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/going_overseas/to.htm or by calling: 132 011.
If you are planning to place your children in a childcare facility or employ the services of babysitters or nannies overseas, you should satisfy yourself about the standards of childcare provided in the country concerned. Overseas childcare centres aren’t bound by Australian regulations and standards of childcare can be very different from those in Australia.
As you would before placing your child into childcare in Australia, you may wish to research issues such as: accreditation standards of childcare providers; whether the childcare provider has in place appropriate strategies to prevent child abuse; the hiring and screening procedures of staff including background criminal record checks; qualifications of the staff caring for the children; ratios of staff to children; training of staff, including first aid and emergency procedures; the security arrangements of the childcare centre premises; validity of personal injury liability insurance; and children’s health and vaccination issues.
For useful ideas on how to select reputable childcare providers please visit either the National Childcare Accreditation Council’s website www.ncac.gov.au or Child Wise’s ‘Choose with Care’ program available at www.childwise.net. You can also contact Child Wise on 1800 991 099 (freecall within Australia).
Every year more parents send their children overseas on student exchange programs. Parents need to be aware that the standards of selection and screening of host families may vary. If you are considering a student exchange program, you should satisfy yourself that proper practices are in place to protect your child.
While travelling it is important to keep in regular touch with your family and let them know of any changes to your travel plans. You may be having a great time on your holiday but forgetting to contact family and friends can cause them needless stress and worry. Each year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) consular service receives thousands of calls from worried family members and friends who have not heard from loved ones and are concerned for their safety.
To save your family and friends needless worry:
Companies who offer travel insurance often have in place a 24-hour assistance call centre that you can call from anywhere in the world. If you get sick overseas or are involved in a medical emergency, you should contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible.
DFAT provides assistance to Australians who find themselves in trouble overseas. This support is referred to as consular services.
The Australian Government will do what it can to help Australians in difficulties overseas. However you need to appreciate that when you go abroad you leave behind Australia's support systems, emergency service capabilities and medical facilities. There are legal and practical limits to what consular officers can do for travellers overseas and you need to have realistic expectations.
Australians made over 5 million trips in 2006-07, compared to 3.4 million four years ago. In 2006-07 alone, the department assisted over 33,000 Australians in difficulty in over 169 countries and handled over 300,000 public inquiries.
The Australian Government cannot decide for Australians where to travel and how to behave when they are overseas. Australians are intrepid travellers and are going in ever greater numbers to out-of-the way, sometimes dangerous places. These are personal choices which the government respects. However, you need to accept responsibility to minimise risks to yourself. Consular functions are governed by international agreements and the Australian Government cannot impose Australia's laws, rules or standards on other countries.
For further information, obtain and/or download a copy of the brochure Consular Service Charter, available from smartraveller.gov.au/consular_charter/index.html.
Australians overseas in need of counselling services can contact our Consular Emergency Centre (CEC), on +61 6261 3305, who can transfer the call through to a Lifeline Telephone Counsellor.
Consular officers can be found in Australian diplomatic and consular posts overseas. DFAT’s consular network extends to some 170 points of service around the world. These overseas posts are usually located in capital cities, but there are also some in regional centres. Sometimes the head of an Australian consulate will be an Honorary Consul.
Not all countries have an Australian diplomatic or consular post but there is usually an Australian post in the region. Under a consular agreement with Canada there are a number of locations where Australians can access consular services through Canadian embassies and high commissions. Informal arrangements also exist with other consular services, including those of the United Kingdom and the United States, to lend assistance to Australians in need.
Address and telephone numbers of Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates can be found in local telephone directories, hotels, tourist offices or police stations in the country concerned.
A directory of Australian overseas posts appears in the ‘Getting Help Overseas’ section of each edition of Travel Smart: hints for Australian travellers. This booklet is issued with your passport. Canadian posts that help Australians are also listed in the Travel Smart booklet. To obtain and/or download a copy go to smartraveller.gov.au/hints/index.html.
The 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) in Canberra can also be contacted for assistance from anywhere in the world on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 (local cost within Australia).
It is important for all Australians to remember that many problems encountered overseas can be avoided if some simple precautions are taken. Follow our overseas travel tips to be well on your way to having a hassle-free journey.
DFAT has prepared a range of brochures for Australians planning to travel overseas:
Copies of these brochures are available at DFAT state and territory offices, Australian Passport Offices, overseas posts and selected travel agents. They can be read and ordered in hard copy online at http://smartraveller.gov.au/order_brochure.html.
Travel agencies and other businesses and educational facilities organising or promoting travel may order bulk quantities of the brochures online at http://smartraveller.gov.au/order_brochure.html.
Download a copy of this brochure as a pdf
While every care has been taken in preparing this brochure, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees, including any member of Australia's diplomatic and consular staff abroad, can accept liability for any injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained herein.
Consular Policy Branch
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R.G. Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
BARTON ACT 0221
Tel (02) 6261 3305; 1300 555 135
Information for travellers and travel advisories are available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s smartraveller website: smartraveller.gov.au.
March 2008
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