Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
travel.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
CONTENT|CONTENU
Children and Travel
This section offers information on precautions to take when travelling with children or when a child is travelling alone.
Documentation
Persons under 18 years of age are considered children and need appropriate documentation to travel abroad. The following is a list of documents that may be required:
-
Consent letter confirming that the child has permission to travel abroad (e.g. when taking a trip alone or with only one parent).
-
Supporting identification, such as a birth certificate or citizenship card.
-
Other legal documents, such as divorce papers, custody court orders or a death certificate (if one parent is deceased).
Check with the nearest embassy or consulate of each destination country regarding additional entry requirements. Also check the country Travel Reports for other laws and regulations affecting children.
Child custody/welfare
International parental child abductions and custody cases involving Canadian children in foreign countries are on the rise. If you or your partner are travelling to another country with your child and there is a possibility that a custody dispute might develop:
-
Talk to a lawyer before the child leaves home.
-
Remember that customs and immigration officials and transportation companies are looking for missing children and may ask questions about any children travelling with you.
-
Be sure to carry proper identification for yourself and each child accompanying you, in order to help prove your citizenship, residency and custodial rights when returning to Canada.
-
Ensure that children carry a consent letter from every person with the legal right to make major decisions on their behalf, if that person is not accompanying the children on the trip.
-
Consult our publication International Child Abductions: A Manual for Parents.
Air travel
If a child is travelling alone:
-
Confirm in advance whether the airline will escort and supervise children from check-in through arrival.
-
Find out if there are restrictions, such as age limits, for unaccompanied minors.
-
Ensure that a parent or guardian stays at the airport until the flight has departed (as per airline regulations).
-
Ensure that the person greeting the child at the point of arrival has appropriate identification and authorization.
International adoptions
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. For further information, refer to CIC’s International Adoption page or contact your provincial/territorial authorities.
Related links
