Despite Schengen, ID card is not enough for minors travelling alone

Those under the age of 18 cannot travel alone using just their ID card as a travelling document, according to procedures established by the Maltese immigration authorities following Malta's entry into the Schengen system at the end of March.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice told The Times yesterday that in order to travel alone, minors need to have either a passport or written consent from both parents authorising them to travel alone.

According to the spokesman, one of the main reasons for this procedure is to avoid the abductions of minors.

The Justice Ministry was responding to a query made by The Times following reports that one of a group of girls (17-year-olds) travelling alone to Spain a few weeks ago from Malta was prevented from boarding the aircraft as she was not in a possession of a passport but only an ID card.

Through Malta's entry into Schengen, all Maltese citizens acquired the right to travel to other Schengen countries without the need to carry their passport. All they need is an identification document as immigration controls were dismantled.

However, according to the ministry, minors are an exception. An immigration official confirmed that one of the girls in the group was not allowed to board by immigration officers as she was only in possession of an ID card.

"Unfortunately, we can't allow minors to travel alone if we are not sure that there is the consent of both parents. The ID card does not prove any such consent and thus we decided that minors who want to travel alone can either use their passport, which is normally signed by parents, or alternatively present together with their ID card a letter stating that both parents are giving permission to their child to travel alone," the official said.

"This letter has to be signed by both patents and has to be easily authenticated," the official said.

Asked whether this was allowed under Schengen rules, the official said these were the instructions they were given.

According to the Maltese authorities, the aim of this procedure is to avoid any children running away from their families or abducted by one of the parents in cases of separation or divorce.

At the same time, the high-ranking immigration officer said that handling agents, particularly airline employees, do not have the right to ask for people's passports at the time of embarkation.

"Airline staff are not immigration officers and all they are allowed to do is to check that the identity of the passenger corresponds with the name on the boarding card. No passports are needed at this stage and airline staff should not enter into immigration issues. They are not even supposed to call immigration officials to check passengers," he insisted.

Over the past weeks The Times has received complaints that airline staff members were insisting on seeing a passenger's passport before allowing them to board. According to Schengen rules this is not permissible.