Leaving Canada - sole parent with child consent

I will soon be visiting Canada for the first time, as part of a multi-stop journey with my daughter. I bought a one-way ticket for the leg from Canada to Europe and the (Canadian) agent pointed out the requirement to have a notarised letter from my daughter's mother consenting to her travelling with me alone. The T&Cs accompanying the ticket confirmation set out the requirement.

This is the first time I have encountered such a requirement. My question is whether the requirement is really necessary - how often do the Canadian authorities actually ask to see this letter, and how difficult would things be if I were not able to produce it?

canada children

Best Answer

Yes, it is a requirement and is usually checked by immigration, much before you get to the crossing point. My wife had to do it several times and its a quite simply and fast process. We used a letter provided by the Government of Canada site and had brought it to city hall to have it certified. The process took a few mins for a nominal fee (under $10 IIRC).

Once I did not have that document because the mother was nowhere to be found and instead presented the court order awarding me sole custody of the children when immigration asked about the mother. That also worked but required more checking. The former is more common, so if you can have the letter and the mother sign it, it would be best.

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Can I leave Canada with my child?

The Government of Canada website recommends you use their consent letter. If you don't share parenting of your children with anyone else, bring legal documents that prove you don't need to ask anyone for permission to travel with them on your own.

Do you need a consent letter to travel with children in Canada?

Is a consent letter mandatory? There is no Canadian legal requirement for children to carry a consent letter. However, a consent letter may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, airline agents or Canadian officials when re-entering Canada.

How do you write a letter of consent for a child to travel with one parent?

How do I write a consent letter for my child to travel?

List your child's name, birth date/place, and passport details.

Include allergies and any special needs.

Provide the parent's/guardian's name, custody information, and passport details.

Add contact information for the non-traveling parents/guardians.

Can I Take My Child On Holiday Abroad Without Permission Of The Other Parent?

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov