I am paying about RD$4,000 each for my sons to travel as unaccompanied minor to Montreal this year. The charge includes getting their birth certificates in originals, having these legalized, a notarized letter from the parents authorizing the airline to transport them, and have this certified in the attorney general office, plus the Migration Department charge. Everything costs the double if you want it VIP and not in two days. So compared to what we here in Santo Domingo have to pay for our children to fly unaccompanied, you are not getting such a bad deal if the embassy charges you around US$100.
Air Canada is charging us US$100 each for the unacompanied minor service for delivery in Montreal and delivery in Punta Cana.
We will be taking a vacation in Punta Cana to deliver the boys -- they say they need the vacation to remember where they come from before heading to camp in Canada -- and then to pick them up upon their return. It is a four hour drive each way.
When all is added up, it makes sense for the parents to take a vacation and fly with the children.
In my case, chose a direct Punta Cana-Montreal flight when a Santo Domingo-NY-Montreal flight cost much less. My boys are 14-16 years, and could have handled it. But given all the complications of travel today, preferred the simplicity of a direct flight. The AA flight was US$500 (sans taxes and duty), and the Air Canada flight was US$850 (sans taxes and duty), so there was enough difference in the flight to pay for one of us to travel with the boys as an alternative to consider for next time.
In this complicated world, children traveling alone is an even more complicated and costly matter.
On the other hand, I believe all you need is a letter from a notary public certifying your authorization that the child can travel unaccompanied. My sister has sent her daughters from the US on different occasions -- they are Americans -- and they have just needed the letter, no involvement from Dominican consular or embassy officers. Once my brother in law did not know about this and was able to secure the letter at the Dallas airport, prior to their departure. So I think you should consult with the airline and ask what specifically is the requirement. Then you don't have to go through the Embassy, just a notary public -- I do not know what he will charge.
So, check with the airline. I think the problem is more at boarding at your point of departure rather than them being let in the country. The flight attendant will breeze the children through.
