Last updated: June 23, 2026

Notarize a Travel Consent Letter Online in Canada — By Video, Any City

Quick answer: You can notarize a child travel consent letter online in Canada by joining a secure video appointment with an Ontario notary public. The consenting parent or guardian shows valid government photo ID, signs while the notary watches, and the notary witnesses the signature. It costs a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST and works for families from Toronto to Vancouver to Halifax. A consent letter is not legally required to leave Canada, but the Government of Canada strongly recommends one for any child travelling without both parents — and a notarized letter carries more weight at the border.

A travel consent letter is the document that smooths a child's trip when they are flying without one or both parents — to visit grandparents abroad, on a school trip, with a divorced co-parent, or with another relative. Canadian border officers and airlines may ask for it, and a notarized version reassures them the consent is genuine. For most families, the consenting parent can now sign it before a notary online, without an office visit.

This guide explains when a consent letter is recommended, what to include, how the online notarization works, and what to have ready. If your letter is drafted, you can book online or call (613) 434-5555. For the bigger picture of what an online notary can and cannot do across Canada, see our guide to online and virtual notary services.

Caption: A notarized consent letter reassures border officers and airlines that a child travelling without both parents has genuine permission to go.

Key Takeaways

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 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.

Minute Notary witnesses travel consent letters as an Ontario notary public, including by video.

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.

Even where you think it is obvious, border officers can and do ask. A notarized letter answers the question before it becomes a delay. 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) — signed in front of the notary.

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 Notarize a Travel Consent Letter Online — Step by Step

1. Prepare the letter, unsigned. Use the travel.gc.ca template or the airline's form.
2. Book the service and a time. Choose travel consent when you book online. Slots run on Ottawa time (America/Toronto).
3. Join the video call. Each consenting parent joins on camera with a working camera and microphone.
4. Verify identity. Each signer holds up valid government photo ID.
5. Sign while the notary watches. Each consenting parent signs in the notary's presence.
6. The notary witnesses the signature. The notary attaches the notarial certificate and applies their seal.
7. Pay and receive the letter. The flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST and any small fee are shown first; nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.

Available Online From Any Major City in Canada

Because the appointment is by video, families can sign from anywhere in the country. Clients connect from every province and territory:

Where you join the call does not change the letter's value — the Government of Canada recommends a consent letter for use at any border, and a notarized one carries more weight worldwide. A few things still depend on the trip:

• Both parents in different cities can join the same video call to sign one letter.
• Some airlines or destination countries require their own consent form — check the airline and the destination's rules before you book.
• A custody order can affect who must consent; the notary witnesses the signature but cannot override a court order.

We confirm your letter is a fit on the call before any fee applies, and nothing is charged until it is.

Travel Consent Scenarios Across Canada

• A Toronto child flies to visit grandparents overseas with only one parent; the other parent signs the consent letter online from Calgary.
• A Vancouver teenager joins a school trip abroad; both parents sign a single notarized letter from home.
• An Ottawa parent sends a child to a relative's wedding in another country and notarizes consent the same day.
• A Halifax grandparent travels with a grandchild; both parents sign the consent letter by video.

The notary confirms each parent's identity and witnesses the signature; custody and access stay with the parents, a family lawyer, or the court.

Online or In Person — How to Decide

How Identity Verification Works on the Call

Witnessing a consent letter online uses the same identity check as in person, on camera, for each consenting parent. The notary will:

1. Ask each parent to hold their government photo ID to the camera so name, photo, and signature are visible.
2. Confirm the name on the ID matches the parent named in the letter.
3. Check each ID is valid and unexpired — expired ID is generally not accepted in Ontario.
4. 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.

What to Bring to Your Online Appointment

Booking note: If both parents need to sign and are in different cities, both can join the same video call. Mention this when you book. Call (613) 434-5555 if you are unsure.

When to Call a Lawyer Instead

• Parents do not agree on the travel.
• 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 must sign in front of the notary.
• 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 on camera.
• Ignoring airline or country forms. Some require their own document.

Why Notarize the Consent Letter Online

A consent letter is often a last-minute realization — the trip is booked, and then someone mentions the border. The online route is built for exactly that moment: no driving to an office, both parents can join from different cities, and same-day slots are frequently available. You fill in the letter, join a short video call, and walk away with a notarized document ready for the airport.

The trade-offs are small. Each consenting parent needs a working camera, a quiet space, and valid photo ID, and the letter has to be ready and unsigned. If parents disagree, or a custody order limits travel, that is a family-law matter a notary cannot resolve — but for the ordinary case of one parent travelling with a child, or a child travelling with a relative, an online appointment is the quickest way to a notarized letter.

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, witnessed by the notary.

The Government of Canada's interactive form produces a letter with all of these fields. A notarized letter adds weight because the notary has verified the signer's identity and witnessed the signature — which is why many airlines and foreign authorities specifically prefer one. Always check the airline's and destination country's own rules too, since a few require their own form.

Pricing and Booking

Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay. To book, choose travel consent when you book online, or call (613) 434-5555.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I notarize a travel consent letter online in Canada?

Yes. The parent or guardian giving consent can sign a child travel consent letter before an Ontario notary public over a secure video appointment. You show valid government photo ID, sign while the notary watches, and the notary witnesses the signature. You can join from anywhere in Canada. Confirm any airline or destination-country requirement, since some authorities have their own forms.

Is a travel consent letter legally required to leave Canada?

A consent letter is not a legal requirement under Canadian law, but the Government of Canada strongly recommends one for any child travelling without both parents or guardians. Border officers, airlines, and foreign authorities may ask to see it, and not having one can cause delays. Many families notarize it for added credibility.

Does a travel consent letter have to be notarized?

Notarization is not strictly required, but it is strongly recommended. A notarized consent letter carries more weight with border officers and airlines because a notary has verified the signer's identity and witnessed the signature. Some destination countries or airlines specifically ask for a notarized letter.

What do I need to notarize a travel consent letter online?

A device with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, valid government photo ID for each signing parent or guardian, and the consent letter itself, unsigned. You sign in front of the notary, so do not sign beforehand. The travel.gc.ca interactive form is a good starting template.

How much does it cost to notarize a travel consent letter online?

Minute Notary charges a flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST, the same online or in person, with no tiers. Online appointments add HST plus a small card processing fee, shown in full before you pay, and nothing is confirmed until payment succeeds.

Can I get a travel consent letter notarized the same day before a flight?

Same-day online slots are often available, which makes a last-minute consent letter easier than driving to an office. Have the letter filled in and unsigned, each consenting parent ready with valid photo ID, and the travel details handy. Call (613) 434-5555 if your flight is very soon so we can confirm a slot. For more on tight timelines, see last-minute travel consent letters.

Do both parents need to sign the consent letter?

It depends on the family situation. The Government of Canada recommends that any parent or guardian who is not travelling with the child provide written consent. In a two-parent family where one parent travels, the other parent signs. In shared custody, both parents' consent is strongest. The notary witnesses whoever signs; it cannot decide who must consent, which is a custody question.

What if one parent cannot join the video call?

Both parents do not have to be in the same place — they can join the same online appointment from different cities. If one parent genuinely cannot participate at all, the letter can still be signed by the available parent, but be aware a border officer may ask about the absent parent's consent. If a parent cannot be located or refuses, that is a family-law issue, not a notary one.

Is the online travel consent appointment secure and private?

The appointment runs over a secure video connection, and the notary keeps a record of the act as required. Join from a private, quiet space, and share the letter and ID only with the notary. The letter contains your child's details, so treat it as sensitive.

Does the travel consent letter need to be in English or French?

For travel to or from Canada, an English or French letter is widely understood by Canadian border officers. If your destination country's officials may review it, the Government of Canada suggests providing a translation into that country's language as well. The notary witnesses the signature regardless of the language; translation needs are set by the destination, so check the country's rules before you travel.

How long is a travel consent letter valid?

There is no fixed expiry. A consent letter generally covers the specific trip and dates it describes, so it is best to prepare one for each trip rather than relying on an old letter. For recurring travel, you can state the relevant period in the letter, but border officers tend to prefer a letter that clearly matches the trip in front of them. When in doubt, prepare a fresh letter for the dates you are travelling.

Final Recommendation

If your child is travelling without both parents, prepare a consent letter using the travel.gc.ca template, have each absent parent ready to sign, and notarize it online before the trip. A notarized letter is not legally mandatory, but it answers a border officer's question before it becomes a missed flight. If the parents do not agree or a custody order is involved, talk to a family lawyer first — the notary witnesses consent, but cannot resolve a dispute.

Book Your Appointment

Need to notarize a travel consent letter online in Canada? Minute Notary witnesses consent letters by secure video — flat $19.90 per stamp plus HST.

• Book online: Request an appointment
• Call: (613) 434-5555
• Service page: Travel Consent Letters
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Ottawa time)

Sources

• Travel.gc.ca — Consent letter for children travelling abroad
• Notaries Act (Ontario)
• Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act (Ontario)
• Canada Border Services Agency