160 Quarry Park Blvd SE, Suite 300 · Calgary, Alberta
160 Quarry Park Blvd SE, Suite 300 · Calgary, Alberta
Home / Notary Services / Travel Consent Letters
Planning a trip with a child who is not travelling with both parents? We prepare and notarize consent letters that border officials take seriously.
Quick answers
A signed letter from a parent or guardian confirming they allow a child to travel abroad without them.
A travel consent letter is a document signed by a child’s parent or legal guardian confirming that they agree to the child travelling abroad without them. It usually names the child, the accompanying adult, the destination, the travel dates and how to reach the non-travelling parent.
Border officials, airlines and foreign governments use consent letters to help prevent international child abduction and to confirm that a child is travelling with permission. A clear, notarized letter can make check-in and border crossings smoother, especially when the child’s last name differs from the accompanying adult’s.
The Government of Canada publishes a recommended consent letter template on its travel website. We can work from that template or prepare a letter tailored to your family’s situation.
Canada does not require one by law, but the Government of Canada recommends it and officials may ask for it.
There is no Canadian law requiring a consent letter for a child to leave the country. However, the Government of Canada recommends that Canadian children travelling abroad carry one whenever they are not travelling with both parents or legal guardians. Canadian border services officers watch for missing children and may ask questions if a letter is not available.
Other countries set their own entry and exit rules. Some require a consent letter, and a few require it to be notarized, translated or even authenticated before they will let a child enter or leave. Airlines may also have their own policies, particularly for children travelling alone.
Always check the entry requirements for your destination, and any country you will transit through, well before you travel. The embassy or consulate is the most reliable source.
Whenever a child travels abroad without both parents, including with one parent, relatives, friends or a group.
We recommend a consent letter in any of these situations:
Where parents share decision-making responsibility, the letter should generally be signed by each parent who is not travelling. When a parent has passed away, or one parent has sole decision-making responsibility under a court order, the travelling parent should carry supporting documents such as a death certificate or a copy of the order, instead of or in addition to a consent letter.
In focus
The non-travelling parent signs a letter naming the travelling parent and the trip details.
Both parents usually sign, naming the adult who will care for the child during the trip.
Parents sign a letter naming the organization and the group leaders responsible for the child.
Carry a copy of the court order giving you sole decision-making responsibility, alongside any letter.
Complete the airline’s own forms; a notarized parental consent letter is still recommended.
They can sign before a local notary or Canadian consulate, then send you the original.
Full details of the child, the accompanying adult, the trip and each consenting parent, plus contact information.
A strong consent letter leaves no questions unanswered. It should include:
Attaching a copy of the consenting parent’s passport or ID, and any relevant parenting order, helps officials confirm the letter is authentic. Avoid vague phrases such as “any time” or open-ended dates; a letter for a specific trip is more credible.
Notarization confirms who signed and that they signed, which makes the letter far more credible abroad.
A consent letter can technically be signed without a witness, but an unwitnessed letter is easy to question. When the consenting parent signs in front of a notary public, the notary confirms their identity and adds a seal and certificate. Border officials and foreign authorities are much more likely to accept a letter that has been notarized.
Some destination countries go further and require the letter to be notarized, translated or apostilled. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention in January 2024, so where an apostille is needed, a letter notarized in Alberta can generally be sent to the Government of Alberta for one.
As Alberta lawyers, we act as notaries public. We review the letter, confirm identity, witness the signature and add our notarial certificate in one short appointment in Calgary.
They can sign before a notary where they live, or at a Canadian consulate abroad, and send you the original.
The consenting parent does not have to come to our office. A parent elsewhere in Canada can sign the letter in front of a local notary or lawyer. A parent living abroad can usually sign before a local notary or at a Canadian embassy or consulate that offers notarial services.
We can prepare the letter in Calgary and send it to the other parent for signing, so the wording is consistent and complete. Leave extra time for courier delivery of the signed original, since some officials want to see the original rather than a scan.
If the other parent refuses to consent, or cannot be located, a consent letter is not the right tool and you may need a court order permitting travel. Our children and parenting team can advise you on applying to court.
Many parenting orders and agreements contain travel clauses, and you must follow them before booking a trip.
For separated and divorced parents, travel is often addressed in a parenting order, parenting plan or separation agreement. These documents may require notice to the other parent, written consent, or a court order before a child travels outside Canada, and some restrict travel to certain countries.
Read your order or agreement before you book. Travelling in breach of it can have serious consequences, including enforcement applications and, in some cases, allegations of wrongful removal under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
If your agreement is silent or unclear on travel, it may be worth updating it. Our family law agreements team can add clear travel provisions so future trips are simpler for everyone.
FAQs
How far in advance should we prepare the letter?
Prepare it once travel dates are confirmed, ideally a few weeks before departure. That leaves time for the other parent to sign, for couriering originals and, if your destination requires it, for translation or an apostille. Last-minute appointments are sometimes possible, but building in extra time avoids stress at the airport.
Do both parents need to sign?
Every parent or legal guardian who is not travelling with the child should usually sign. If one parent is travelling, the other signs. If neither parent is travelling, both sign. Where a parent has died, or a court has given one parent sole decision-making responsibility, carry the relevant certificate or order as well.
Can one letter cover several trips?
Some families use a letter covering several trips over a set period, but open-ended letters are less persuasive and some countries will not accept them. A letter for each specific trip, with exact dates and destinations, is usually the safest choice. We can help you decide what makes sense for your family’s travel plans.
Does my child still need their own passport?
Yes. Every Canadian child travelling internationally needs their own valid passport. A consent letter supports the passport; it does not replace it. Check that the passport is valid for the whole trip, and for any additional validity period your destination country requires, before you book flights.
Is a consent letter needed for travel within Canada?
It is not required for domestic travel, but some airlines ask about it for children travelling alone, and some families choose to carry one when a child travels with a grandparent or friend. A short notarized letter is simple to prepare and can help if questions arise during the trip.
Can you help if the other parent will not sign?
A notary cannot sign on someone else’s behalf or override a parent’s refusal. If the other parent will not consent, you may need to negotiate a solution or apply to court for an order permitting travel. Our family lawyers can explain your options and, if needed, bring an application on your behalf.
This information is general and is not legal advice. For advice on your situation, book a consultation.
Further reading
Book a short appointment and we will prepare, witness and notarize your consent letter.
or call 587-333-4358
