Travel consent letter for children: do you need a notary?
Updated October 23, 2026 · 4 min read · Prices in Canadian dollars
A consent letter isn’t legally required in Canada, but immigration officers, airline agents or Canadian border officers may ask for one when a child travels without one or both parents.
The Government of Canada strongly recommends having the letter signed in front of a notary public, though any adult can witness it. Abroad, a consular officer can witness it for a fee.
The government publishes a free template (a fillable PDF and a printable version) that you can adapt.
Who signs it
Every parent or person with decision-making responsibility for the child who isn’t travelling with them, whether the parents are married, common-law, separated or divorced.
What to put in it
- The child’s full name.
- The names and contact details of the parents or decision-makers.
- The full name, address and contact details of the adult travelling with the child, and their relationship to the child.
- The destination, the length of the trip and the travel dates.
Bring the original signed letter: officials prefer it to a photocopy or a digital copy.
Questions people ask
+Does a travel consent letter have to be notarized?
No, but the Government of Canada strongly recommends it. A notarized letter is harder to question at a border.
+Can a commissioner of oaths sign a travel consent letter?
The government’s guidance names a notary public (or a consular officer abroad). Any adult can witness it, but a notary’s seal is what carries weight with officials.
Where these prices come from
Checked October 23, 2026.
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