• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • Maria Campos
  • Services
    • Immigration Law
    • Corporate & Commercial Law
    • Notary Public
      • Apostille Services
    • Real Estate Law
    • Wills & Estates
    • Civil Litigation
    • Family Law
      • Separation & Divorce
      • Property and Debt
      • Family Law Agreements
      • Custody & Access
      • Child Support
      • Spousal Support
      • Adoption
  • Contact
  • Payments
  • Blog
    • Immigration
    • Family Law
      • Separation & Divorce
      • Child Support
      • Spousal Support
      • Family Law Agreements
      • Legal Custody
      • Property & Debt
    • Corporate Law
    • Real Estate Law
    • Civil Litigation
    • Wills & Estates
  • Español

Invicta Law

Lawyer & Notary Public

Minors Travelling Outside Canada With Only One Parent

January 12, 2022 By Invicta

Minors Travelling Outside Canada With Only One Parent

Any child travelling outside Canada with only one parent should carry a consent letter. This is true even if it is only for a day trip, and even if the child will only be unaccompanied by both parents for part of the trip. If you travel across the border with a minor and don’t have a consent letter, it may cause delays, or worse—your child may be denied entry to or exit from a country.

Why do you need to have a consent letter for travelling abroad?

If your child is travelling with only one parent, a consent letter provides proof that the child has permission to travel abroad from every parent or guardian who is not with them on the trip. A consent letter may be requested by airline agents or by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a country. A consent letter may also be requested by Canadian officials upon the child’s return to Canada. In addition to a consent letter, it is a good idea to check with the embassy or consulate of the destination country before you travel to find out if any other documents are required for entry/exit. This is highly recommended if your child holds dual citizenship, as the immigration authorities in that country may have special permit or travel requirements for its minor citizens.

Who should sign the consent letter?

If you plan to travel with your minor child, you should have a consent letter signed by any non-accompanying parent or guardian. It does not matter if you and the other parent are married, separated, common-law, divorced, never married, or never lived together. You should have a signed consent letter even if you have sole custody of the child you will be travelling with. There are limited situations where consent may not be necessary (e.g., where the other parent has been denied access rights by a court order, or where there is a separation agreement or court order dispensing with the need for consent of a parent). However, in those situations, it is recommended that you carry a copy of the separation agreement or court order stating that the other parent’s consent is not needed for cross-border travel. If you have any questions about travel requirements given your family situation, or if the other parent is refusing to provide consent to travel with your child, you should speak to a family lawyer.

Should the consent letter be notarized?

 The signing of a travel consent letter must be witnessed. It is strongly recommended that you have the consent letter witnessed by a notary public. While anyone who has attained the age of majority can serve as a witness, a notarized consent letter carries significantly more weight. An immigration agent or border official will be less likely to question the authenticity of a consent letter that has been witnessed by a notary public. 

Who can help you with travel consents for children? 

Contact the experienced team at Invicta Law Corporation for guidance on travel document requirements and any related family law matters. We can assist with wording of the letter, notarization, and preparation of supporting documents or translations to help your travel go smoothly.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp

Related Posts


Featured Posts

Importing a Car to Canada from Mexico

June 14, 2022 By Invicta

Thinking about importing a car from Mexico to Canada? There is some leg work involved. Here is what you need to know about the import process.

How Does Express Entry Work?

June 1, 2022 By Invicta

Canada uses a points-based system called Express Entry to rank immigration applications. Applicants with the highest scores are selected from the pool of candidates and invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada. If you are a skilled immigrant who wants to immigrate to Canada, Express Entry may be a great option for you.

Temporary Entry to Canada from US and Mexico Easier Under CUSMA

April 6, 2022 By Invicta

Temporary entry to Canada is easier if you are a citizen of the Unites State or Mexico coming to Canada as a “business person.” The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) simplifies the process for professionals, tradespeople, investors, executives, and business visitors who want to work temporarily in Canada.

Reconsideration of a Refused PR Application- Two Stage Principle

February 22, 2022 By Maria

Refusals of immigration applications are common, and it has also become common to apply for reconsiderations, but exactly is a reconsideration of a decision and what is the legal test?

The Federal Court of Canada has recently ruled on a two stage process required by an immigration officer when assessing a reconsideration of a negative decision.

Misrepresentation or Innocent Misrepresentation; What if your Immigration Representative Submits your Application without Giving you an Opportunity to Review?

February 14, 2022 By invictalaw

The general consequence of a finding of misrepresentation in immigration applications is very severe – a five-year ban on admission to Canada. The jurisprudence is settled that s40(1)(a) of the IRPA is to be given a broad interpretation in order to promote its underlying purpose. It is important to note that the exception to this rule is narrow.

Newsletter

Footer

Invicta Law Corporation is based in Vancouver BC, focusing on Canadian Immigration, Family and Corporate Law.

-

88 West Pender St.
Suite 2081
Vancouver, BC V6B 6N9

Consultations by appointment only. Please contact us if you have any questions.

-

[email protected]
Book Appointment
(604) 674-7104

Copyright © 2023 · INVICTA LAW CORPORATION · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions · Disclaimer

Visit us on Facebook Facebook LinkedIn LinkedIn Instagram Instagram and Youtube Youtube