Child Travel Consent

United States · Canada · United Kingdomversion 2026-09

Child Travel Consent for Canada

Canadaversion 2026-09

Canada's recommended consent letter for children: who signs, when a notary is recommended, and what IRCC lists for minors entering Canada.

Canada is where most of this paperwork gets asked for, and the Canadian position is unusual: a consent letter is not required by law, but it can be requested by several different officials, and Canada publishes a template of its own. This page sets out what Global Affairs Canada and IRCC say, who signs, and how notarisation works there. The letter prints from the free form on this site in a Canada-labelled version.

Canada's position

Global Affairs Canada states that a consent letter is not legally required in Canada, but that it may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, by airline agents, and by Canadian officials when a child enters Canada. It states that failure to produce a letter on request may result in delays or a refusal to enter or exit a country. The recommendation covers a child travelling:

Canada also recommends carrying the letter for older children. Global Affairs Canada advises that any child under the age of 19 travelling abroad without both parents or guardians carry one, and notes that even a 16-year-old who can apply for an adult passport may still be asked for a consent letter. IRCC treats anyone under 18 as a minor for entry to Canada.

Who signs

The letter should be signed by any parent or other person with decision-making responsibility for the child who is not travelling, and that includes parents who are married, in a common-law relationship, separated or divorced. Global Affairs Canada recommends the letter even where one parent has full or sole custody, and even where a parenting order or agreement allows one parent to make travel decisions alone, because officials may still ask for proof that all parents agree.

Notarisation in Canada

Global Affairs Canada states that any adult may witness the signing, and strongly recommends that a notary public witness it. Its FAQ adds that the witness must have reached the age of majority, which is 18 or 19 depending on the province or territory. Original signed letters are best according to the same guidance, which is also why the notarisation page separates what a stamp adds from what the letter itself must say.

Entering Canada with a minor

Entering Canada with a minor
SituationDocuments IRCC listsSource
Travelling aloneThe child's own passport; a copy of the birth certificate; a letter of authorization in English or French signed by both parents or the legal guardian, with the parents' address and telephone number and the name, address and telephone number of the adult looking after the child in CanadaS9
With one parent onlyThe child's passport; a copy of the birth certificate; a letter signed by the parent who is not travelling, including that parent's address and telephone numberS9
Parents separated or divorced, custody sharedCopies of the legal custody documents, plus a letter of authorization from the other parentS9
With a legal guardian or adoptive parentsA copy of the guardianship papers or the adoption papers, whichever appliesS9
With a person other than the parents or guardiansA letter of authorization; IRCC states it does not need to be certified, and that a photocopy of the parents' or guardians' signed passports or national identity cards should be attachedS9
Applying for a visaThe documents for the child's situation are submitted with the visa application and brought on each trip, with updated documents if the situation changesS9

IRCC notes that a border services officer may not ask to see these documents when the child enters Canada, and that carrying them is nevertheless strongly recommended.

Two children, one letter?

The Canadian guidance checked for this page does not set a rule on how many children a single letter may cover. What it does say is that the content and format of a consent letter may be modified to meet the situation, and that the letter should include as much detail as possible. Where two children travel with different adults, or join and leave the trip at different points, the details each official needs are different, and the documents checklist shows what each situation carries.

Frequently asked questions

Is a consent letter compulsory in Canada?

Global Affairs Canada states it is not legally required in Canada, and that it may be requested by immigration authorities entering or leaving a foreign country, by airline agents, or by Canadian officials on re-entry. Failure to produce a letter on request may result in delays or a refusal to enter or exit a country.

Up to what age should a child carry one?

Global Affairs Canada recommends the letter for anyone under the age of majority — under 18 or 19 depending on the province or territory — and advises that any child under 19 carry one when travelling abroad without both parents. IRCC considers anyone under 18 a minor when entering Canada.

Does a Canadian consent letter have to be notarised?

Global Affairs Canada states any adult may witness the signing and strongly recommends a notary public, adding that the witness must be of the age of majority. Original signed letters are best according to the same guidance.

Privacy: it runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded

This page and the form on this site run in your browser using JavaScript. The answers you type are not sent to us, not uploaded and not stored — there is no account, no server-side form and no cookie or analytics script on this site. When you print or download, the file is created on your own device. You can confirm this yourself: open your browser's developer tools, go to the Network tab and reload the page — no request carrying your answers leaves the page.

Disclaimer

This page is general information, not legal advice.
We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created.
These forms are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.

Jurisdiction: United States · Canada · United Kingdom — version 2026-09.

What government sources say about notarisation and witnesses (information only):

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that there is no regulation requiring a consent letter to be notarized, but that CBP highly advises it. Certain destination countries require a consent letter for children arriving or leaving without both parents, in some cases notarized.
  • Global Affairs Canada states that a consent letter is not legally required in Canada, that any adult may witness the signing, and that it strongly recommends a notary public witness it. Original signed letters are best.
  • For the United Kingdom, GOV.UK states you must get the permission of everyone with parental responsibility, or a court, before taking a child abroad, and that a letter from that person is usually enough to show permission.
  • Cruise lines set their own rules and they differ. On 13 September 2026 the published pages of Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian did not all require the same document.
    • Royal Caribbean: adults who are not the parent or legal guardian must present an original, notarized letter signed by the child's parent(s).
    • Carnival: original signed letter strongly recommended when a parent or legal guardian is not sailing.
    • Disney Cruise Line: the Minor Authorization Form is required for each child travelling without a parent or legal guardian.
    • Norwegian: their Parent/Guardian Consent Form must be signed by both living parents/legal guardians, with a copy of government-issued ID attached.

Check the current published policy of the airline, cruise line or border agency you are dealing with.

This tool only collects the answers you type and prints them into fixed text. It does not choose clauses, assess your situation, or tell you what to do.
We do not promise that any document is valid, accepted or approved by anyone.

Generated with a free form on this site. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to any airline, cruise line, government agency or law firm named on this site.

Sources

Sumber: