A child consent to travel letter is a formal document proving that a Canadian minor has explicit permission to travel outside of Canada from every parent, guardian, or person with legal decision-making responsibility who is not accompanying them on the trip.
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At Crown Seal Notary, we eliminate the stress of travel preparation. We provide 10-minute remote online commissioning sessions so you can legally execute your travel letters from your computer, alongside our premium mobile notary fleet traveling directly to homes and corporate offices across Hamilton, Halton, and the GTA.
WHEN A CONSENT LETTER IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
While Canadian law does not technically mandate a travel consent form to exit the country, Global Affairs Canada and border authorities worldwide strongly recommend carrying one for every single international trip. Customs agents are trained to look for signs of international child exploitation and abduction; a loose handwritten note can easily be forged.
You should strictly carry a witnessed travel letter if a minor is traveling:
With only one parent: Even if you are happily married or in a common-law relationship, the parent staying behind must sign a consent letter.
With extended family or friends: This includes trips with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or family friends.
With an organized group: School trips, sports tournaments, religious pilgrimages, or musical ensembles.
Completely alone: Unaccompanied minors flying solo require authorization from both legal parents.
WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED?
There is no singular, rigid legal layout for a travel letter, but immigration officials will routinely reject documents that lack specific operational details. Your consent letter should explicitly include:
The Child’s Data: Full legal name (matching their passport exactly), date of birth, place of birth, passport number, and passport date of issue.
The Accompanying Adult’s Data: Full legal name, relationship to the child, and passport number.
Comprehensive Travel Itinerary: Specific departure and return dates, flight numbers, destination countries, and the physical address where the child will be staying.
Non-Traveling Parent Information: Full names, physical addresses, emergency telephone numbers, emails, and signatures of the parents granting permission.
WHY NOTARIZATION IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR BORDER OFFICIALS
The Government of Canada explicitly states that border and customs officials are significantly less likely to question the authenticity of a travel letter if it has been witnessed and stamped by a Notary Public.
A notary public acts as an official, impartial government-appointed witness. When we apply our official seal to a travel letter, we legally certify to foreign immigration ministries, airlines, and border guards that:
The identities of the non-traveling parents have been meticulously checked and verified.
The signatures on the document are genuine, authentic, and were executed voluntarily.
The document holds maximum credibility, significantly mitigating the risk of your child being delayed or denied boarding at the airport gate.
SECURE YOUR TRAVEL STAMP TODAY
Do not gamble your family's hard-earned vacation on a standard handwritten note. Ensure your child's documentation cleanly aligns with global border security protocols before you reach the airport.
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