Saint Lucia: Documentation required and procedure to be followed for a parent to travel with his or her child in the absence of or without the consent of the other parent (2004 - August 2006)

In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 18 August 2006, a gender relations officer from the Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations in Saint Lucia indicated that "the only requirement" for a parent to travel with his or her child in the absence of or without the consent of the other parent "is that the minor child has to have a passport in his/her name or should be recorded as a minor child in a parent's passport."

As for exiting the country without a visa requirement, a counsellor from the Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago could not confirm whether authorization from the parent who is not travelling with the child is required (Canada 11 Sept. 2006).

However, according to the counsellor, a parent who applies for visa for himself or herself and for his or her children must submit written authorization from the other parent with the application (ibid. 7 Sept. 2006). The written authorization must indicate that the parent has no objection to his or her children travelling with the other parent (ibid.).

The Web site of the Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain corroborates the above information and provides a few details about the documents required:

[Canadian High Commission English version]

For any child under the age of 18, the child's birth certificate, a letter of consent from each parent not applying, and a piece of identification (e.g. passport or national identity card) showing the parent's signature. The letter must specify whether consent is granted for a single or a multiple entry visa to be issued. (ibid. 27 July 2006 emphasis in original)

The International Parental Child Abduction guide published by the United States (US) Department of State indicates that "[n]o exit visas are required to leave St. Lucia" (n.d.). The guide also states that married parents share custody of their children, and that if the parents are not married, custody is usually granted to the mother unless there are "known facts of inappropriate behavior, mental or social problems" (US n.d.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Canada. 11 September 2006. Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Correspondence from a counsellor.
_____. 7 September 2006. Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Correspondence from a counsellor.
_____. 27 July 2006. Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. "Visites au Canada." [Accessed 8 Sept. 2006]

Saint Lucia. 18 August 2006. Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations. Correspondence from a gender relations officer.

United States (US). N.d. Department of State. International Parental Child Abduction: St. Lucia. [Accessed 24 Aug. 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The High Commission of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in Ottawa; the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Labour; the office of the International Air Transport Association in Port of Spain; and the Saint Lucia Bar did not respond to a request for information within the time constraints for this Response.

Internet sites, including: Factiva, Government of Saint Lucia, Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder.