Travel · Consent letter
Child Travel Consent Letter Template: Fill It Out Online
Answer a few questions about the children, the trip and who gives consent. Your letter builds itself as you type, then you sign it with a notary public by video.
You fill in this form yourself, and we commission it by video. We don't give legal advice or draft documents.
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Also known as: Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad · Travel Authorization Letter · Consent to Travel Letter · Parental Consent Letter for Travel · Letter of Consent to Travel with One Parent
Contents
CONTENTS
What a travel consent letter does
A consent letter shows that a child who travels abroad without one or both parents does so with permission. The Government of Canada recommends carrying one whenever a child travels alone, with only one parent, with grandparents or other relatives, with friends or with a school or sports group. It is not a legal requirement for leaving Canada, but border officers, airlines and the authorities of other countries can ask for it.
This page builds the letter on the structure of the Government of Canada's own sample, which the government invites families to adapt. The difference is that you only see the parts that apply to you: no "alone / with an adult" boxes to tick, no empty rows for a second destination you are not visiting.
Who signs the letter
The person or people giving consent: usually the parent who is not travelling, or both parents when the child travels with someone else, such as grandparents. A legal guardian or another person with decision-making responsibility can sign in the same way.
The Government of Canada notes that the letter can be signed before an adult witness, and recommends having it signed before a notary public or another official who can administer oaths. A letter commissioned by a notary public is the version officials are least likely to question. Each person giving consent signs on our video call with their own photo ID.
What to write in each part
| Part of the letter | What to write |
|---|---|
| Person giving consent | Your full name as in your passport, and whether you are the parent or legal guardian. |
| Child's information | Name, date of birth, place of birth and passport details exactly as in the child's passport. |
| Accompanying person | The adult travelling with the children, with their passport number, date of issue and issuing country. |
| Travel destination | Each country the children will visit. A stopover where they leave the airport counts as a visit. |
| Dates | The day the children leave Canada and the day they come back, in YYYY-MM-DD format. |
| Staying with | Optional: the person and address where the children will stay abroad. |
| Contact information | How officials can reach you during the trip: address, phone and email. |
| Signatures and the official's part | Leave empty. You sign on the call, and the notary public completes their part. |
Common mistakes on consent letters
- Passport details copied from an old passport. If the child's passport was renewed, the number and date of issue changed too. Use the passport they will travel with.
- A trip that changed after the letter was signed. New dates or a new accompanying adult mean a new letter. Officials compare the letter with the tickets.
- Leaving out the second country. A cruise or a two-country holiday needs every destination on the letter.
- Nicknames instead of legal names. "Kate" in the letter and "Katherine" in the passport invites questions at the counter.
- Signing at home first. A letter already signed cannot be witnessed by the notary public. Sign it on the call.
One letter or several?
Children who travel together, on the same dates and with the same adult, can share one letter: our template takes up to four children. If the children travel on different dates, with different adults or to different places, give each trip its own letter so that every letter matches the tickets it travels with.
Consent letter, IMM 5604 or IMM 5646?
| Document | When it is used |
|---|---|
| Travel consent letter | A trip abroad, for a holiday, a family visit, a school or sports trip; the child returns to Canada |
| IMM 5604 | A child immigrating to Canada without one of the parents; signed by the parent who stays behind |
| IMM 5646 | A minor who studies in Canada while the parents live abroad; signed by the parents and the custodian |
Signing the letter with a notary public
When you press Book and Sign, the letter is attached to your booking. If two parents give consent, the second parent gets their own link to the same call. On the call the notary public checks each ID, you confirm the letter is accurate and sign on screen, and the commissioned letter is emailed to you right after. A printed copy with a gold seal can be mailed as an add-on.
Already have it filled in?
Upload your own copy when you book and sign it with us by video.
FAQ
Is a travel consent letter required to leave Canada?
Not by law, but the Government of Canada recommends it, and airlines, border officers and other countries can ask to see one.
Can both parents sign the same letter on one call?
Yes. Choose "Both parents" in the form; each of you joins the call from your own device with your own photo ID.
Can I put several children on one letter?
Yes, up to four children who travel together on the same dates with the same adult.
Can I download the letter after filling it in?
No. The letter is attached to your booking and signed on the call; the commissioned letter is emailed to you right after.
Can I correct the letter after booking?
Yes, from the private link in your confirmation email, until 15 minutes before your call.
Will every airline and country accept it?
Requirements vary, so check with the airline and the destination country before you travel. Some countries also have their own forms.
Do you write the letter for me?
No. You fill in the template yourself and we commission it. We do not give legal advice on custody or travel rules.
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