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Travel & consent letters
Create a notarized letter granting permission for a child to travel outside Canada when one or both parents or guardians will not be accompanying them.
Also known as
Travel Consent for Minor Child
To whom it may concern,
I / We:
Full Name: ______
Address: ______
Phone: ______
Email: ______
hold parental authority, custody rights, or access rights as the parent(s), legal guardian(s), or other authorized person(s) over the following child or children:
Details of the travelling child / children
Name of child: ______
Date of birth: ______
Birthplace: ______
Passport number: ______
Date passport was issued: ______
Passport country: ______
Details of the accompanying person
______
Travel Details & Contact Information
I / We hereby consent for this child / these children to travel to:
Destination(s): ______
Dates of travel: ______ to ______
Staying with / at (if applicable): ______
At the following address(es): ______
Phone and email: ______, ______
This letter may be executed before a witness who has reached the age of majority (18 or 19, depending on the province or territory) OR before a notary public (recommended).
Signature(s) of consenting person(s): _________________________________
Signature of witness / Notary Public: _________________________________
Witness full name: ________________________________
Any inquiries about the contents of this consent letter should be directed to the person(s) or organization who provided consent.
Additional information
Second child's date of birth: ______
How it works
Answer the questions on the left. Your document builds itself on the right as you type.
Get a clean, ready-to-sign PDF in seconds. No account, no watermark.
Book an appointment, bring your document, and we witness your signature and apply the seal.
A child travel consent letter is a signed document in which a parent or legal guardian gives written permission for a minor to cross an international border without them. The Government of Canada strongly recommends carrying one whenever a child travels outside the country without both parents present, even though Canadian law does not strictly mandate it.
Border officers, airlines, and foreign immigration authorities may ask to see the letter at any point during the trip. Without one, your child could face delays at the gate, missed connections, or outright denial of entry. A notarized original carries more weight than an unsigned printout because it shows a neutral third party verified the parent's identity and watched them sign.
The letter applies to any situation where a child will cross a border without both custodial parents physically present. This includes solo trips by older teens, school or sports group travel, visits with grandparents or other relatives, and trips where only one parent accompanies the child.
The letter should include enough detail for a border officer to verify the child's identity, confirm who gave consent, and reach the consenting parent if questions arise. Our form collects the following information so your letter is complete on the first attempt.
Notarization is not legally required in Canada, but it is strongly recommended. A notarized letter proves that a commissioner or notary public verified the parent's identity and witnessed the signature in real time. This makes the document far harder to dispute and gives border officials confidence that the consent is genuine.
Some countries and airlines specifically request notarized consent before allowing a minor to board. Even where it is not explicitly demanded, presenting a sealed original is faster and smoother than explaining an unsigned letter to a skeptical officer at the gate.
The appointment typically takes under 15 minutes. The notary confirms your identity, watches you sign the letter, and applies their official seal. You leave with an original suitable for travel.
If you cannot attend in person, Ontario Regulation 431/20 permits a notary to witness your signature remotely over two-way audio-video, provided both you and the notary are located in Ontario during the call. You still receive a sealed document suitable for international travel. This is convenient for parents on tight timelines or those outside the Ottawa area.
Carry the original notarized letter, not a photocopy. The Government of Canada notes that some border authorities do not accept copies or digital versions. If you need multiple originals (for connecting flights through different countries), consider having more than one copy notarized at the same appointment.
If one parent has sole custody, bring a copy of the custody order or separation agreement alongside the consent letter. If the other parent is deceased, carry the death certificate. These supporting documents answer the follow-up questions a border officer is likely to ask.
Frequently asked
Fill it in online, download a ready-to-sign PDF, then bring it in and we will notarize it, in person across Ottawa or online.