The rules in England and Wales
- Permanent moves need written consent from everyone with parental responsibility, or permission from the court.
- Holidays: if a child arrangements order says the child lives with you, you can take them abroad for up to 28 days without consent, unless a court order says you cannot. Otherwise you need consent for any trip.
- A letter from the other parent, with their contact details and the trip details, is usually enough to show permission at the border.
How mediation helps with relocation
Relocation is one of the hardest decisions separated parents face: one parent may have a new job, a new partner or family support overseas, while the other fears losing their relationship with the children. Mediation gives you both a structured space to:
- Explain the reasons for and against the move, and listen to each other's concerns
- Consider alternatives, such as a later move, a trial period or a different location
- If the move goes ahead, agree a detailed plan for contact, travel and costs
- Agree consent letters and passport arrangements for future trips
What a relocation agreement can include
- Where and when the children move, and their schooling
- School holiday time with the parent who stays
- Who travels with younger children, and who pays for flights
- Regular video calls and how you share school and health information
- What happens if circumstances change
Mediators can't give legal advice. Before agreeing to or proposing an international move, each of you should take specialist family law advice, including in the destination country.