Children Travelling Abroad? 3 Reasons to get a Travel Consent Letter
Key Takeaways
- Although not a legal requirement, the Canadian government urges any minor travelling abroad alone, with one parent, or as part of a school trip to carry a Consent to Travel Letter.
- The letter should be signed by all non-accompanying guardians or organisations with the right to make legal decisions for the child.
- Anyone under the age of majority can benefit from having a Consent to Travel Letter.
- Consent to Travel Letters remain recommended for short trips abroad.
- Travel consent letters are available via NotaryPro.
In this article, we’ll be covering the 3 reasons to get your child a commissioned travel consent letter. Read on!
1. It’s not just for travelling with family members
A Consent to Travel Letter shows that Canadian children have permission to travel abroad from parents or guardians who are not with them. Having this letter is not a mandatory legal requirement, but is strongly recommended by the Canadian Government that minors carry a consent to travel letter if they are travelling abroad alone, with only one parent or guardian, with friends or relatives, or with a group, like when they’re on a school trip.
The Government of Canada also recommends that the letter be signed by every non-accompanying person or organisation with the legal right to make major decisions for the child. This includes anyone with custody rights, guardianship rights, and parents who have access to the child.
Travel Consent Letter Template
2. Teens need travel consent letters, too
When it comes to travel consent letters, a “Canadian child” is defined as anyone who is under the age of majority (18 or 19, depending on the province or territory they live in). This means that teens travelling abroad will also benefit from carrying a commissioned travel consent letter.
Having this document on hand can help simplify travel as it may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or by Canadian officials when re-entering Canada.
Although it doesn’t legally need to be witnessed by a notary public; it’s highly recommended. Having a travel consent letter commissioned helps officials trust its authenticity.
3. Trip length doesn’t matter for travel consent letters
Even if a child is only leaving the country for one day, a travel consent letter is still recommended, as it can help expedite processing through immigration, and avoid stressful situations like children and the people travelling with them being refused entry into another country, or have difficulties returning to Canada.
Get your Travel Consent Letter!
NotaryPro has made it easy for you to fill out your recommended consent to travel letter and have it commissioned online, right from all from your desk. Download your travel consent letter, and commission it online instantly.