Child Travel Consent Letter from Canada Form

A Child Travel Consent Letter provides written permission for a minor child to travel abroad without one or both legal guardians. International authorities may ask to see this letter before allowing your child to enter or leave a country.

This letter is also sometimes called a Child Travel Consent Form. A minor requires this letter when travelling beyond Canadian borders with:

• relatives or friends,
• alone as an unaccompanied minor,
• just one parent or legal guardian, or
• a group (e.g., a school or sports team).

Although having a Travel Consent Letter isn’t legally required, it’s recommended. The Government of Canada and many international authorities recommend that a child carry a Letter when travelling without both parents or guardians.

Airline staff, border officials, and immigration agents may ask to see one before allowing a child to enter or leave a country. These travel checks are in place to help avoid international child abductions. Without a Travel Consent Letter, countries may refuse entry to children and accompanying persons. In some cases, the child and accompanying adult(s) may also have trouble returning to Canada.

Each country has its own entry and exit requirements for children. You can see your destination country’s requirements in the Travel Advice and Advisories or contact the nearest embassy or consulate before travelling.

Note: If there is a risk that the accompanying parent will not return the child to Canada, consult a lawyer before signing.

A consent letter for children travelling abroad must have certain signatures in order to be valid. The following individuals should sign a Travel Consent Letter:

• Unaccompanying Parents:
• • Parents who are married or in a common-law relationship and are not accompanying the child on their international trip.
  • Separated or divorced parents who are not accompanying the child on their international trip and have 1 of the following:
  • • Access or visitation rights
    • Decision-making responsibility for the child
    • Guardianship of the child (in Alberta and British Columbia)
• Legal Guardians or Caregivers: Foster parents, grandparents, or other appointed guardians must sign if they are responsible for a child’s care.
• Child Welfare Agencies: If a child is in temporary care, a representative from the agency must sign the letter.

The Government of Canada recommends commissioning the letter. This means that a notary public witnesses and signs the letter, which gives border officials more confidence in its authenticity.

Note: Court orders or agreements may also specify who must sign. To learn more about specific family circumstances that dictate who must sign the letter, see this source.

Drafting a Travel Consent Letter is simple, you can use our template and add the details below:

The Child’s Information

• Full name, date of birth, and place of birth
• Birth certificate registration number and issuing authority
• Passport number, date of issue, and issuing authority
• Number of children travelling (if applicable)

Trip Details

• Destination(s) and travel dates
• Telephone number and email address of the child’s destination (if available)
• The duration of the trip (the departure and return date)
• Emergency Contact Information (recommended)

Parents or Guardians

• Full names and contact details of both parents or guardians
• A statement saying both parents or guardians consent to the trip
• Signatures from accompanying parent(s) or guardian(s)

Accompanying Party

• Names and relationship of the person(s) travelling with a child
• The accompanying adult(s)’ passport number, date of issue, and issuing authority

The person accompanying the child should bring the original, signed consent letter for children travelling outside Canada, not a copy. Along with the letter, it's important to carry some supporting documents.

Border officials may ask to see them at any time, so having them ready will make the process smoother. You’ll want your child or the accompanying adult to have the documents below:

• Child’s Passport and/or Birth Certificate: Confirms your child’s identity and their relationship to their parents.
• Copy of the Non-Accompanying Parent’s Passport or ID: Shows that the correct person signed the letter.
• Travel Itinerary and Accommodation Addresses: Shows where your child will be staying and for how long.

Note: If you’ve always been the sole parent or guardian, bring a long-form birth certificate showing only one parent.

In certain cases, you may also want to pack the following:

• Child Medical Consent Form: Allows other adults to make medical decisions for your child in emergencies.
• Custody Orders or Agreements: If parents aren’t together, any documents that clarify custody arrangements or access rights.
• Death Certificate: If one parent has passed away, this explains why one parent cannot sign the letter.

Note: A child may be treated as a citizen of another country and subject to that country’s rules. If you’re unsure which documents are required, check with the destination country’s embassy or consulate.

The Government of Canada recommends that your Travel Consent Letter be commissioned (witnessed and signed by a notary). Even if not mandatory, a notary’s signature decreases the chances of officials questioning your letter’s authenticity. That said, there’s no guarantee that foreign authorities will recognize a Travel Consent Letter.

You can meet with a notary public online to commission your Travel Consent Letter in under 7 minutes, from anywhere.