Letter of consent for children to travel outside of Canada.

A consent letter is a document that proves a child has permission to travel outside Canada from every parent or guardian who is not accompanying the child on the trip.

When to use a consent letter A consent letter should be used for all border crossings when a child is traveling:

• Alone
• With only 1 parent or guardian
• Under the care of friends or relatives
• With a group, such as a sports, school, musical or religious group This includes both day trips and trips where the child will only be with 1 parent for a portion of the trip. For example, a child will leave Canada with both parents but will return with only 1 parent.

A consent letter is not a legal requirement in Canada, but it can simplify travel for Canadian children because it may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or by Canadian officials or airline staff when re-entering Canada.

The person accompanying the child should carry the original signed letter rather than a copy. Officials may be less likely to question the authenticity of an original document.

If you are traveling with a child for whom you are always the sole parent or guardian, you may carry a document showing you are the child’s sole parent or guardian, such as a copy of a long-form birth certificate indicating you are the sole parent.

If the other parent is deceased and you have full custody of your child, you should carry a copy of the death certificate of the deceased parent when accompanying the child on a trip.

The definition of a child varies from country to country, so any child under 19 years of age should carry a consent letter.

Using a consent letter outside Canada Countries have their own entry and exit requirements for children. A consent letter may not be considered sufficient by a country’s immigration authorities, and there is no guarantee that they will recognize it. In some countries, your child may be considered a citizen of that country if you or the other parent is a citizen of that country. As a "deemed citizen," your child may be subject to the same entry and exit requirements as other citizens of that country.

For more information, check the entry and exit requirements in the Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination country or contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the destination country before traveling.

Risk of abduction If there is a risk that the accompanying parent will not return your child to Canada, consult a lawyer and proceed with caution before signing a consent letter.

How to write a consent letter There are no official guidelines on the content and format of a consent letter, but they typically include:

• The child's name
• Name and contact information of the parent or guardian
• Name and relationship of the person accompanying the child
• Information about where the child is traveling to and the duration of the trip

You can use 1 letter or multiple letters depending on the situation:

• If both parents are not accompanying the child, they can sign 1 letter together or they can each sign a separate letter
• Children from the same family who are traveling together can be listed on 1 letter
• Separate letters are recommended for children who will be traveling separately during part of the trip
• When writing a letter without specific dates or for frequent border crossings, it is recommended to consult a lawyer.

Signature The consent letter should be signed by:

• Parents who are married or in a legal relationship and are not accompanying the child traveling outside of Canada
• Divorced parents who are not accompanying the child traveling outside of Canada and have 1 of the following:
  • custody of the child
  • decision-making responsibility for the child
  • guardianship of the child (in Alberta and British Columbia)

Signature of a witness Any adult can witness the signing of the consent letter. However, it should be witnessed by a notary public, as border officials may be less likely to question its authenticity.

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