How to Stop Children Leaving Australia
A separated parent can prevent their ex from taking their child abroad. Here are some ways.
Don’t Sign a Passport
One way to stop separated parents taking their child abroad is to refuse to sign the child’s passport application.
By law, both parents must sign a child’s passport application, giving consent to the travel document being issued.
If the child does not have a valid passport, they can prevent them from travelling overseas by refusing to sign the child passport application.
They can lodge a Child Alert Request with the Australian Passport Office.
A Child Alert Request will notify the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that they have not given consent to a passport being issued to the child and that there are circumstances to be considered before they decide to issue a passport to the child.
However, if the child is entitled to a passport under the Australian Passports Act 2005, a Child Alert is not a guarantee that they will not be able to obtain a passport.
A Child Alert remains in effect for 12 months.
Only a person with parental responsibility for the child can lodge a Child Alert Request.
A parent may also make an application to the court seeking an injunction that prevents the child from being issued a passport. The parent will need to include reasons as to why they believe their child should not have a passport.
A Child Alert Request only covers Australian passports.
