A child travel consent letter is recommended, not legally required in Canada. Prepare the form online, then follow the airline and destination rules for signing and witnessing.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
Travel Consent Letter Online in Canada — Prepare the Form, Then Choose a Witness
Quick answer: A child travel consent letter records permission from a non-travelling person with decision-making responsibility. It is not legally required in Canada, but the Government of Canada recommends carrying one. You can prepare the form online, and any adult may witness it. With Minute Notary, the letter can be commissioned online when it is prepared as a statutory declaration — the parent declares the consent and the notary commissions the declaration over secure video under O. Reg. 431/20. If the airline, border service or consulate asks for a notary-witnessed signature instead, that is an in-person appointment at our Orléans office or a mobile visit. Either way, the fee is $24.95 per seal plus HST.
A travel consent letter documents permission when a child travels without every person who has decision-making responsibility. Immigration authorities, airline agents, or Canadian officials may ask for it. A notary commissions the declaration or witnesses the signature, and confirms identity; the receiving authority decides whether to accept the letter.
This guide explains when a consent letter is recommended, what to include, what you can prepare online, and which appointment fits — online commissioning of a statutory declaration, or in-person signature witnessing. If your letter is drafted and optional notarization is requested or independently chosen, review the Travel Consent Letters service, then book with travel consent preselected. Leave the letter unsigned for the appointment. For the legal boundary around video appointments, see our guide to online and virtual notary services.
Key Takeaways
| Decision point | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Who is travelling | Child without one or both parents/guardians | A consent letter is recommended whenever a parent is absent. |
| Who signs | Non-travelling people with decision-making responsibility | Follow any court order and seek legal advice if authority is unclear. |
| Identification | Valid government photo ID for each signer | Required for an optional notarial appointment. |
| Letter contents | Child, travel dates, destination, contact details | Border officers check these against the trip. |
| Destination rules | Airline or country-specific forms | Some authorities require their own form. |
| Price | Flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST | Online or in person; mobile travel fee applies separately. |
| What to carry | The original signed letter | Government guidance recommends the original; acceptance is not guaranteed. |
What a Notary Can and Cannot Do With a Consent Letter
What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public verifies the signer's identity and commissions the declaration or witnesses the signature on the consent letter. A notary does not decide custody, draft the parenting arrangement, or resolve a dispute between parents. Custody and access questions are for the parents, a family lawyer, or a court.
If both parents do not agree, or there is a custody order in place, the consent letter cannot paper over that — speak to a family lawyer. The notary's role is to confirm who signed and that they signed willingly. A good starting template is the Government of Canada interactive consent letter.
Any adult may witness a consent letter. The Government of Canada strongly recommends a notary public; Minute Notary commissions the letter online when it is prepared as a statutory declaration, or witnesses the signature in person at our Orléans office or by mobile visit when the recipient asks for a notary-witnessed signature.
When You Should Have a Consent Letter
The Government of Canada recommends a consent letter for any child under the age of majority travelling:
- With only one parent (the other parent consents in the letter).
- With grandparents, relatives, or friends.
- On a school or sports trip without a parent.
- Alone as an unaccompanied minor.
- In shared-custody or divorced-parent situations.
Officials or airline agents may ask for the letter. Carry the original signed version and check the airline and destination rules. For tight timelines, see last-minute travel consent letters, and for the broader picture, the travel consent letter guide.
What to Include in the Letter
- The child's full name and date of birth.
- The consenting parent or guardian's name, relationship, and contact details.
- The accompanying adult's name and relationship to the child.
- Travel dates and destination(s).
- A statement of consent to the travel.
- Signature of the consenting parent(s) — made at the appointment, on camera while the commissioner takes the declaration or in front of the notary in person.
The travel.gc.ca interactive form generates a letter with all of these fields. Fill it in, but leave it unsigned for the appointment.
How to Prepare Online and Use an In-Person Notary
- Prepare the letter, unsigned. Use the travel.gc.ca template or the airline's form.
- Check the witness requirement. Any adult may witness the federal form, but follow any airline or destination-specific instruction.
- Book the appointment that matches the letter. Use the travel-consent booking link: an online appointment when the letter is prepared as a statutory declaration, or our Orléans office or a mobile visit when a notary-witnessed signature is required.
- Verify identity. Each signer presents valid government photo ID, on camera or in person.
- Sign at the appointment. Online, you sign on camera while the commissioner takes your declaration; in person, each consenting parent signs in the notary's presence.
- The notary completes the jurat or notarial certificate and applies their seal.
- Pay and receive the letter. The flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST and any small fee are shown first; nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.
What “Online” Means Here
Families anywhere in Canada can use the Government of Canada guidance or interactive form to prepare the letter online. That preparation step is separate from the notarial act. A travel consent letter can be commissioned online when it is prepared as a statutory declaration — the parent declares the consent and the notary commissions the declaration over secure video under O. Reg. 431/20. Signature witnessing under the Notaries Act is not done over video: if the airline, border service or consulate asks for a notary-witnessed signature instead, that is an in-person appointment at our Orléans office or a mobile visit.
How to Decide
| Your situation | Best channel | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The letter is prepared as a statutory declaration | Online | The notary commissions the declaration over secure video. |
| A notary-witnessed signature is requested | In person | Attend our Orléans office or a mobile appointment. |
| No notarial act is requested | Any adult witness | Follow the Government, airline, and destination guidance. |
| Tight deadline before a flight | Check requirements | Confirm the airline's deadline before booking any service. |
| Parents disagree, or a custody order applies | See a family lawyer | A notary cannot resolve a custody dispute. |
| Signer cannot attend in person | Check requirements | Ask whether a statutory-declaration version commissioned online is accepted. |
How Identity Verification Works In Person
At an optional in-person notarial appointment, the notary will:
- Ask each signer to present government photo ID so name, photo, and signature are visible.
- Confirm the name on the ID matches the parent named in the letter.
- Check each ID is valid and unexpired — expired ID is generally not accepted in Ontario.
- Confirm each parent is signing willingly.
A passport is a good choice for travel-related documents. If a parent's primary ID is missing a detail, have a second piece of government ID ready. The same identity checks happen on camera at an online appointment.
What to Bring to Your In-Person Appointment
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| The consent letter, unsigned | Each parent signs in front of the notary. |
| Valid government photo ID (each signer) | Required for the identity check. |
| The child's travel details | To confirm the letter matches the trip. |
| Each signer whose signature is notarized | Each signature must be made before the notary. |
| A payment method | The flat fee plus HST is taken before release. |
Booking note: If signers cannot attend the same in-person appointment, ask the airline or destination authority what separate-signing arrangement it accepts before booking. Call (613) 434-5555 if you are unsure which Minute Notary appointment applies.
When to Call a Lawyer Instead
- Consent is unavailable, unsafe to request, or disputed.
- There is a custody order or family-court matter that affects travel.
- A parent cannot be located to give consent.
- The trip involves a potential relocation or wrongful-removal concern.
A notary witnesses consent; a family lawyer resolves custody and access.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing before the appointment. Each parent signs at the appointment — on camera for a declaration, or in front of the notary in person.
- Leaving out travel dates or destination. Border officers check these.
- Only one parent signing when both should. Each absent parent's consent strengthens the letter.
- Expired ID. Valid government photo ID is required at the notarial appointment.
- Ignoring airline or country forms. Some require their own document.
Why Prepare the Letter Online
Online preparation lets families collect the trip facts, use the current federal form, and check airline and destination requirements before choosing a witness. Signature witnessing stays in person; a letter prepared as a statutory declaration can be commissioned online.
An in-person appointment at our Orléans office or a mobile visit is available when a notary-witnessed signature is requested. If consent is unavailable, unsafe, or disputed, speak with a family lawyer before booking; witnessing does not resolve the legal issue.
What Border Officers and Airlines Look For
A consent letter is most useful when it is clear and complete. Officers and airline staff generally want to see:
- The child's full name and date of birth.
- The consenting parent or guardian's name, relationship, and contact details.
- The accompanying adult's name and relationship to the child.
- The travel dates and destination(s).
- A clear statement of consent and the parent's signature, declared before the commissioner or witnessed by the notary in person.
The Government of Canada's interactive form produces a letter with these fields. Any adult may witness it, while the Government strongly recommends a notary public. Always check the airline's and destination country's own rules and carry the original signed letter; no witness or seal guarantees acceptance.
Pricing and Booking
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Travel consent letter | $24.95 per stamp | Flat rate plus HST, online or in person |
| Each additional signer | $24.95 | Additional-signer fee; the first signer is included |
Note: the first signer is included; each additional signer is charged an additional-signer fee of $24.95, shown before checkout.
Online appointments add a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay. Review the Travel Consent Letters service, then book with travel consent preselected, or call (613) 434-5555.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I notarize a travel consent letter online in Canada?
Yes, when the letter is prepared as a statutory declaration. The parent declares the consent and the notary commissions the declaration over secure video under O. Reg. 431/20. If the airline, border service or consulate asks for a notary-witnessed signature instead, that is an in-person appointment at our Orléans office or a mobile visit. Confirm with the recipient which form it accepts before booking.
Is a travel consent letter legally required to leave Canada?
A consent letter is not legally required in Canada, but the Government of Canada recommends one when a child travels without every person who has decision-making responsibility. Immigration authorities, airline agents, or Canadian officials may ask for it. Carry the original signed letter and check destination and airline requirements.
Does a travel consent letter have to be notarized?
No. Any adult may witness the letter, while the Government of Canada strongly recommends a notary public. A notary records identity, signature, and signing date. Check the airline and destination-country requirements; a notarial seal does not guarantee acceptance.
What do I need for an in-person notarial witnessing appointment?
Bring valid government photo ID for each signer and the completed consent letter unsigned. Each signer signs in person before the notary. The travel.gc.ca interactive form is a good starting template.
How much does in-person notarial witnessing cost?
Minute Notary charges $24.95 per seal plus HST. A mobile visit also has the posted travel fee, and card processing or additional-signer charges are shown before checkout.
Can I get a travel consent letter notarized the same day before a flight?
Availability depends on the appointment calendar. Check the travel-consent booking page for an open slot and call (613) 434-5555 if your flight is very soon. Have the letter filled in and unsigned, each signer ready with valid photo ID, and the travel details handy. For more on tight timelines, see last-minute travel consent letters.
Do both parents need to sign the consent letter?
It depends on who has decision-making responsibility and any court order. The Government recommends consent from every non-travelling person with decision-making responsibility. The notary witnesses whoever signs but cannot decide who must consent; seek legal advice when authority is unclear or disputed.
What if one parent cannot attend an in-person appointment?
Ask the airline or destination authority what signing arrangement it will accept. If it accepts the letter prepared as a statutory declaration, the absent parent can declare it in an online appointment. If consent is unavailable, unsafe to request, or disputed, seek legal advice before travel; a notary cannot decide who has decision-making responsibility.
Should I send the completed letter or ID by ordinary email?
Use the booking flow or another channel Minute Notary specifically provides for the appointment. The letter contains your child's details, so treat it as sensitive and do not send it through an unapproved channel.
Does the travel consent letter need to be in English or French?
Check the airline and destination authority's current language and translation requirements before travel. A notary witnesses the signature; the receiving authority decides whether it needs a translation or a particular form.
How long is a travel consent letter valid?
The federal guidance does not set a fixed validity period. State the travel dates and destinations clearly, then check whether the airline or destination authority requires a trip-specific form or a newer letter.
Final Recommendation
If a child is travelling without every person who has decision-making responsibility, prepare the Government of Canada consent letter, confirm the airline and destination rules, and leave it unsigned for the chosen witness. Any adult may witness it; the Government strongly recommends a notary. Carry the original signed letter. If consent is unavailable, unsafe, or disputed, talk to a family lawyer first.
Book Your Appointment
Need to prepare a travel consent letter online in Canada? Complete the form first, check the airline and destination rules, and leave it unsigned for the appointment — commissioned online as a statutory declaration, or witnessed in person at our Orléans office or by mobile visit — flat $24.95 per stamp plus HST before any mobile travel fee.
- Book online: Travel consent preselected
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Service page: Travel Consent Letters
- Hours: Every day, Saturday and Sunday included, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Ottawa time)
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About the author
Kai Mai
Content Editor, Minute Notary
Kai Mai writes and edits the Minute Notary guides, working from the published federal and Ontario guidance each article links, and from what Ottawa clients actually run into with certified copies, affidavits, statutory declarations, travel consent letters, and immigration paperwork. These guides are general information written by our editorial team — not legal advice, and not a professional opinion on your document. The receiving authority always has the final say.