All About Consent to Travel Letters
Travelling with kids outside of Canada is exciting and fun, but it takes a lot of work to make a great trip happen. Travel tickets purchased? Hotel booked? Passports ready?
After all of that planning, wouldn’t you do everything you could to make sure your trip will be great? Of course – that’s why so many of us purchase travel insurance.
But did you know that if you are travelling alone with your child, you may need a consent to travel letter to ensure that your trip is as amazing as you planned?
What is a consent to travel letter?
A consent to travel letter is a letter that shows that Canadian children have permission to travel abroad from parents or guardians who are not accompanying them. It may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or by Canadian officials when re-entering Canada.
For example, Jeanne and Louis have a child named Norma. Jeanne is taking Norma to Florida for March Break, but Louis is not going with them. Louis should sign a consent to travel letter that shows that Jeanne has his permission to travel abroad with Norma.
Why should you use a consent to travel letter?
The Government of Canada strongly recommends that Canadian children under the age of majority carry a consent to travel letter if they are travelling abroad alone, with only one parent or guardian, with friends or relatives, or with a group. A consent to travel letter is recommended for all cross-border travel, even for a day trip.
The Government of Canada recommends that the letter be signed by every non-accompanying person or organization with the legal right to make major decisions for the child, including anyone with custody rights or guardianship rights, or parents who have access to the child.
A consent to travel letter is not a legal requirement in Canada. But without a consent to travel letter, there is the real risk that children and persons accompanying them could be refused entry into another country, or have difficulties returning to Canada. Why take that risk?
How can I get a consent to travel letter?
The Government of Canada has prepared a recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad that you can download and print for free. You should provide as much detail as possible in the letter. Once you’ve completed the letter, the person who is not accompanying the child must sign the letter in front of a witness or notary public.
Notarize.ca has a free online consent to travel letter tool that makes it easy for you to create your recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad in minutes. Just answer some questions about your child’s travel plans, receive your customized travel consent letter by email, and sign the letter in front of a notary. Try the free Consent to Travel Letter Tool today.
Should my consent to travel letter be notarized?
It’s not a legal requirement in Canada that consent to travel letters be notarized. However, the Government of Canada strongly recommends having consent to travel letters witnessed by a notary public.
Why? Notaries are like “super witnesses” - they have the legal power to verify that signatures are true and genuine. This means that a notarized consent to travel letter is more likely to be accepted as authentic by immigration authorities. You deserve to enjoy your trip – don’t risk having it ruined by travelling without a notarized consent to travel letter.
Can consent to travel letters be notarized electronically?
Yes! Travel consent letters can be notarized virtually with Notarize.ca’s online notary services. In only a few minutes, our expert notaries will help you complete your consent to travel letter so you’ll have one less thing to worry about.
Here’s how it works:
Notarize.ca makes it easy to notarize your IMM 5646E online in minutes. This is how it works:
Create your secure account and book your appointment
Meet with your notary professional by video conference
Electronically sign your travel consent letter and download the notarized document
Print the completed document and keep a copy with your child while they are travelling.
Easy!
Ready to enjoy your trip? Schedule your appointment today!
Questions?
Have more questions about online notarization for consent to travel letters? We’re here to help. Contact us at hello@notarize.ca or call us at (888) 632-9971.
The destination country may also have its own entry and exit requirements for children travelling alone, with only one parent or with another accompanying person. For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories site or contact the embassy or consulate of the destination country.