Authorization Letter to Travel to Canada: 2026 Consent Letter Guide

If you are flying into or out of Canada with a child and the other parent is not coming, the question that keeps you up the night before is the same one every Canadian parent asks: do I need a notarized authorization letter, what should it say, and what happens if a Canada Border Services Agency officer asks for one I do not have? This guide answers those questions using the current Travel.gc.ca template, IRCC Help Centre guidance, and CBSA border-inspection rules as of April 2026.

The same article also covers the related topic many travellers land here for: the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which is the federal travel authorization for most visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to Canada. The eTA is a separate document from the consent letter and a separate process from a visitor visa. We cover both, plus the documents your child actually needs in their carry-on.

Key Takeaways

An authorization letter to travel to Canada (also called a travel consent letter) is a signed statement from any parent or legal guardian who is not travelling with a minor child. Travel.gc.ca and CBSA recommend it on every trip; Canadian law does not require it, but airlines and border officers can ask for it.
A notarized letter is strongly recommended. A Notary Public commissioned in your province or territory can witness the signature. The letter does not expire on a fixed date, but it should match the dates of the specific trip.
Travel.gc.ca publishes a free recommended consent letter template (interactive PDF and Word) that fits most family situations, including separated, divorced, sole-custody, deceased-parent, and guardian scenarios.
For visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to Canada, the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is mandatory. The eTA fee is CAD$16 effective February 2026, valid for up to 5 years or until passport expiry, and IRCC now enforces it with full air-carrier no-board controls.
A child returning to Canada needs proof of citizenship or status (Canadian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR card) plus, if travelling with one parent, the same authorization letter. CBSA officers may ask for a long-form birth certificate to confirm the parent-child relationship.
Custody orders, adoption orders, and (for international travel) apostilles or sworn translations are part of the same package for non-standard family situations. Canada acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on January 11, 2024.

Check Out How to Request Written Authorization From IRCC – Reunite With Extended Family Canada:

What Is an Authorization Letter to Travel to Canada?

An authorization letter to travel to Canada is a signed statement from a parent or legal guardian, given in advance, confirming that a minor child has permission to travel into or out of Canada when that parent or guardian is not on the trip. Travel.gc.ca calls the document a “consent letter” and CBSA refers to it as a “letter of authorization”; both terms describe the same thing. The letter is not a federal application, you do not file it with IRCC, and there is no fee.

The letter exists to satisfy three checkpoints, in order. The first is the airline counter, where IATA-trained agents verify documents before they let a child board. The second is the Canadian port of entry, where a CBSA border services officer can ask any traveller for documentation that confirms parental consent. The third is the immigration authority of the country the child is leaving or transiting through, which often follows the same standard. A clean, notarized authorization letter clears all three with minimal questioning.

When Do You Need an Authorization Letter for Canada?

Travel.gc.ca recommends a consent letter any time a Canadian or foreign minor crosses the Canadian border without one or both parents. The four common scenarios below cover almost every family.

Travelling With Only One Parent

When one parent flies into or out of Canada alone with a child, the other parent should sign an authorization letter. This applies whether the parents are married, common-law, separated, or divorced; legal authority to consent does not change at the airport because of marital status. Carry the letter with the child’s passport and your own.

The IRCC Help Centre confirms that one-parent travel calls for a letter of authorization signed by the parent who is not travelling, that includes the non-travelling parent’s full name, address, telephone number, and a photocopy of their signed passport or national identity card. If a parent is deceased, bring a copy of the death certificate instead of a signed letter.

Travelling Without Either Parent

When a grandparent, aunt or uncle, family friend, or sports or school chaperone takes a child to Canada, both parents (or any party with legal decision-making responsibility for the child) should sign the authorization letter. The letter should also name the accompanying adult, their relationship to the child, the trip dates, and the destination. School groups and sports teams typically attach the team or organization’s contact information as well.

For unaccompanied minors flying alone (without any travelling adult), every Canadian airline runs an Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) program with its own paperwork. The airline forms do not replace the Travel.gc.ca authorization letter; they sit on top of it.

Travelling Within Canada as a Visitor or Returning Resident

The consent-letter recommendation does not change inside Canada once the child is admitted. CBSA inspects on entry and (for international air departures) on the manifest at check-in. Domestic Canadian flights and trains do not generally request consent letters, but provincial child-protection rules still apply.

A returning Canadian permanent resident or citizen child needs proof of status (a Canadian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR card) along with the same authorization letter if travelling with one parent. A child returning to Canada cannot board a flight without the right travel document, regardless of the consent-letter situation.

When You Do Not Need a Consent Letter

You do not need a consent letter if both parents are on the trip with the child and both passports show on departure. You also do not need a separate consent letter for a child who has reached the age of majority in their province of residence (18 in most provinces, 19 in BC, NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, YT). Foreign authorities, however, may still ask for one if the child looks under that age or if the destination country sets its own consent-letter rule.

What Should the Authorization Letter Include?

The Travel.gc.ca recommended template covers the eight elements a complete authorization letter to travel to Canada should contain:

The child’s full legal name, date of birth, and passport number.
The full legal name, address, telephone number, and email of every parent or legal guardian who is not travelling.
The full legal name, address, and telephone number of the accompanying adult, plus their relationship to the child.
The trip’s start and end dates and the country or countries the child will visit.
The flight number, airline, or vehicle details if known.
A clear statement that the non-travelling parent or guardian consents to the child’s travel and to any necessary medical care during the trip.
The non-travelling parent or guardian’s signature, dated, with a Notary Public’s seal and stamp.
A photocopy of the non-travelling parent or guardian’s signed passport or other government-issued photo identification, attached to the letter.

Travel.gc.ca publishes both an interactive PDF version of the recommended consent letter and a printable Word document. Either format is acceptable. The letter should be in English or French; if the original is in another language, attach a sworn translation by a certified translator.

Does the Authorization Letter Need to Be Notarized?

Notarization is not legally required, but Travel.gc.ca and CBSA both note that border officers are “less likely to question the authenticity” of a letter that has been witnessed and stamped by a Notary Public. For practical purposes, treat notarization as the standard.

A Notary Public commissioned in any Canadian province or territory can witness the signature, charge a fee (typically CAD$25 to CAD$60 in 2026), and apply a notarial seal. Lawyers, paralegals (where authorized), commissioners of oaths, and Canadian consular officers abroad can also notarize. Outside Canada, a public notary recognized in the signing country is acceptable; if the receiving authority asks for additional authentication, you can request a Canadian apostille under the Hague Apostille Convention, which Canada acceded to on January 11, 2024.

Original signed letters carry more weight at the border than digital scans. If the non-travelling parent is overseas at the time of signing, a notarized scanned copy works in most cases, but airline and border officers can require the original. Keep the original in the travelling parent’s carry-on, never in checked luggage.

Travel Documents Children Need to Enter Canada

The authorization letter sits inside a wider document set. CBSA front-line officers verify identity and citizenship first, family relationship second, and consent third. Bringing the right citizenship document for the child reduces secondary inspection time more than any other item.

Citizenship and Identity Documents (Acceptable List)

The Canada Border Services Agency accepts the following documents as proof of identity and citizenship for travellers entering Canada by air or land:

Canadian passport (preferred for air travel; required for international air departures)
Canadian citizenship certificate (for citizens without a current passport at land or marine crossings)
Permanent Resident card (PR card) for a Canadian permanent resident
Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) for a permanent resident with an expired or lost PR card who is overseas
Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) for First Nations members
NEXUS or FAST card at land crossings designed for trusted travellers
Enhanced Driver’s Licence (EDL) or Enhanced ID Card issued by British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, or Quebec, valid only at land or marine ports
U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, or U.S. Trusted Traveler card for U.S. citizens entering at land borders
Foreign passport plus a valid eTA or visitor visa (TRV) for visa-exempt or visa-required nationals respectively

A long-form birth certificate is not a stand-alone travel document for international travel, but CBSA officers regularly ask to see one to confirm a parent-child relationship when a child crosses with one parent. Carry it.

Documents for Custody, Adoption, and Deceased Parents

Family situations that diverge from “two parents, both alive, no court order” need extra paperwork. Bring the originals or certified copies, not photocopies, in the same folder as the authorization letter:

Sole or shared custody: Bring the custody order or court agreement. A parent with sole custody can sign the consent letter alone, but the order should travel with the family.
Joint custody, one parent travelling: The non-travelling parent signs the consent letter, and the order travels with the family in case the officer asks.
Adopted child: Bring the final adoption order. If the adoption was finalized abroad, bring the certified Canadian recognition (provincial adoption authority confirmation or, for international cases, a Canadian citizenship certificate if the child has been granted citizenship by adoption).
Deceased parent: Bring a copy of the death certificate in addition to or instead of a signed letter from that parent.
One parent unreachable or denying consent: Travel.gc.ca recommends consulting a family lawyer before booking; airlines and CBSA can refuse boarding or entry without documented consent.

If any document is in a language other than English or French, attach a sworn translation by a certified translator. For international destinations that signed the Hague Apostille Convention, request an apostille from Global Affairs Canada or your provincial competent authority.

Authorization Letter vs. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

The two travel authorizations are different documents that solve different problems, and the language IRCC uses for both can confuse first-time travellers. The consent letter is permission to take a child across the border. The Electronic Travel Authorization is permission for a foreign national from a visa-exempt country to fly to Canada.

What Is an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)?

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is the IRCC entry document required for visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. The eTA is electronically linked to the traveller’s passport (no sticker, no stamp), is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first), and allows multiple short visits of up to six months each.

The eTA fee is CAD$16 effective February 2026 (replacing the long-standing CAD$7 fee), and most applications are approved within minutes. Some applications take days or weeks if IRCC needs to verify additional information; in those cases the applicant receives an email asking for documents.

Who Needs an eTA in 2026?

An eTA is required for citizens of visa-exempt countries flying to or transiting through Canada by air. As of February 2026, IRCC enforces full air-carrier no-board controls: airlines refuse boarding for passengers without an approved eTA, in the same way U.S. carriers enforce ESTA for ESTA-eligible nationals.

You also need an eTA, on a special partial-visa-exemption basis, if you are a citizen of one of 13 designated countries (including Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay) and meet IRCC’s eligibility criteria, including a valid Canadian visitor visa within the last 10 years or a current U.S. nonimmigrant visa.

How to Apply for an eTA

Apply on the official IRCC eTA portal at canada.ca. You need:

A valid passport from a visa-exempt country
A current email address
A credit, debit, or prepaid card to pay the CAD$16 fee
About 15 minutes to complete the application

Avoid third-party websites that mimic the IRCC portal; they charge a markup and provide no value. Once approved, your eTA is linked to the passport you applied with. If you renew or replace your passport, you need a new eTA. Print the email approval and travel with it; airlines and CBSA can pull up the record electronically, but a printed confirmation is faster at the gate.

When You Do Not Need an eTA

You do not need an eTA if you hold:

A Canadian or U.S. passport (Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, must use a Canadian passport to fly to or from Canada)
A valid Canadian visitor visa (TRV), which already authorizes air entry
U.S. lawful permanent resident status with a valid green card and a valid passport (effective April 26, 2022, U.S. permanent residents need a valid green card or proof of permanent residence, plus a valid passport)
A Canadian permanent resident card (PR card) or PRTD

Citizens of visa-required countries (China outside Hong Kong, India, Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines without a partial-exemption qualifier, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and dozens more) need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) instead of an eTA. The TRV is a different application, with biometrics and a CAD$100 per-person fee.

Visitor Visa (TRV) and Other Travel Authorizations

For visa-required foreign nationals, the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) replaces the eTA. The TRV is a sticker placed in the passport, costs CAD$100 per person (with a CAD$500 family cap for five or more applicants), is usually valid for up to 10 years or until passport expiry, and authorizes up to six-month stays per visit. Biometrics (CAD$85 single, CAD$170 family) are required for most applicants.

Permanent residents who lost or expired their PR card while overseas need a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to fly back to Canada. The PRTD is issued by a Canadian visa office abroad, costs CAD$50, and is single-entry. PRTDs are not a substitute for the PR card once the resident lands in Canada; you renew the PR card after entry.

For a deeper view of the wider costs and rules of moving to the country, our guide to how much it costs to immigrate to Canada breaks down PR application fees, settlement funds, language tests, and the full IRCC fee stack beyond travel-document costs.

How to Get the Authorization Letter Notarized

The notarization process for a Canadian travel consent letter is short and inexpensive. Five steps cover almost every situation:

Download the Travel.gc.ca template. Use the interactive PDF for fillable typing or the Word document if you want to edit the wording. Either is accepted.
Fill in the eight required fields. Child’s name, parents or guardians, accompanying adult, trip dates, destination, signature block. Do not sign yet.
Book an appointment with a Notary Public. Lawyers, paralegals (in jurisdictions where authorized to notarize), commissioners of oaths, and dedicated notarial firms all serve walk-in or online consent-letter clients.
Sign in front of the notary. Bring two pieces of government-issued photo identification (a passport plus a driver’s licence is the standard pair). The notary witnesses the signature, applies their seal, and dates the document.
Pack the original. Place the notarized original, plus a photocopy of the non-travelling parent’s signed passport, in the carry-on of the travelling adult. Keep a digital scan on your phone as a backup.

If the non-travelling parent is in another country at signing time, a notary in that country can witness the document, and you can request authentication through Global Affairs Canada or, for Hague Apostille countries, an apostille that Canada now recognizes since the country acceded to the Convention on January 11, 2024.

Common Border Mistakes That Delay Families

Most families who reach secondary inspection at a Canadian airport with a minor were missing one of the following:

No consent letter at all. The most common avoidable issue. Even when both parents are amicably divorced, an officer cannot read minds; they need the document.
Photocopy instead of an original. A photocopy can be accepted, but officers prefer originals because they are harder to forge.
Mismatched names. Children whose surname differs from the travelling parent’s surname (for example, after a remarriage) need a long-form birth certificate to confirm the relationship.
Expired or short-validity passport. Most foreign destinations require six months of validity remaining; Canada requires the passport to be valid for the duration of the visit, but airlines may apply the six-month rule defensively.
No eTA on a visa-exempt foreign passport. Without an approved eTA, the airline will not let the passenger board. This is the new February 2026 reality with full no-board enforcement.
No long-form birth certificate. A short-form (provincial wallet card) does not list both parents. Carry the long-form for cross-border travel.
Outdated 2009 grandparent citizenship assumption. Bill C-3 (in force December 15, 2025) changed the rules; do not rely on older summaries of Canadian citizenship by descent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a notarized letter to travel with a child to Canada?

A notarized letter is not legally required by Canadian law, but Travel.gc.ca, CBSA, and most airlines strongly recommend a notarized authorization letter to travel to Canada whenever a minor crosses the border without one or both parents. Officers are less likely to question a notarized letter, which means faster processing and fewer questions at the counter.

Does a Canadian consent letter need to be in English or French?

Yes. Travel.gc.ca recommends the consent letter be in English or French. If the original is in another language, attach a sworn translation by a certified translator and bring both versions to the airport.

How long is a Canadian travel consent letter valid?

There is no fixed expiry date set by Canadian law. The letter should match the dates of the specific trip it is written for. For families who travel often, a letter that lists “any travel between [start date] and [end date]” within a 12-month window is generally acceptable, but airlines and foreign immigration officers can request a fresh letter for each trip.

Can I write my own travel authorization letter, or do I need a lawyer?

You do not need a lawyer. The Travel.gc.ca recommended consent letter template, available as a fillable PDF and Word document, is what Travel.gc.ca and CBSA expect to see. A Notary Public, commissioner of oaths, or family lawyer can witness the signature; the witness adds credibility but does not draft the document for you.

Do grandparents need a consent letter to travel to Canada with grandchildren?

Yes. When a grandparent travels with a grandchild and neither parent is on the trip, both parents (or any party with legal decision-making responsibility for the child) should sign an authorization letter that names the grandparent as the accompanying adult. The same rules apply to aunts, uncles, family friends, and chaperones.

Can a child travel to Canada with one parent?

Yes, with the right paperwork. The travelling parent should carry the child’s passport, the child’s long-form birth certificate (to confirm the relationship), a signed consent letter from the non-travelling parent (notarized is best), and a photocopy of that parent’s signed passport. If the parents share custody under a court order, bring a copy of the order.

What happens at the border if I forget the consent letter?

CBSA officers can refuse entry if they are not satisfied that the parents or guardians have authorized the child’s travel. In practice, secondary inspection is more common than refusal: officers may call the non-travelling parent at the phone number listed on the long-form birth certificate to confirm consent verbally. Airlines can also refuse boarding before you ever reach Canada. The fix is to carry the letter on every trip.

Can I get Canadian citizenship through my grandparents?

The rule changed on December 15, 2025. Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, removed the first-generation limit on Canadian citizenship by descent. People born or adopted abroad before that date face no generational cutoff. People born or adopted abroad after that date inherit citizenship if their Canadian parent has at least 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada before the birth or adoption. For the full pathway, see our guide to how to become a Canadian citizen.

Final Thoughts: Travelling to Canada With Children

A Canadian travel authorization letter is a small piece of paper that prevents a long list of border problems. Download the Travel.gc.ca template, fill in the eight required fields, get a Notary Public to witness the signature, and put the original in the travelling parent’s carry-on. Add the long-form birth certificate, the child’s Canadian passport (or the foreign passport plus a current eTA), and any custody or adoption order that applies to your family. That stack clears almost every airline counter and CBSA primary inspection.

For travellers who are still researching the move to Canada itself rather than a single trip, our migrate to Canada guide connects the visiting-Canada phase to the broader immigration system, including the permanent resident application pathway and the costs that come with it. For complex family situations (international custody disputes, denied consent, suspected child abduction), contact a family lawyer admitted in your province before you book the flight. This guide is informational and does not constitute legal advice.