We receive many questions about Travel Consent Letters and based on them, we understand there are many misconceptions out there about what this document is and who needs it for travel with whom.
Travel Consent Letters are generally prepared when a child or children travel with one parent and without the other. Such situations are not limited to separated or divorced spouses but we will focus on them in this post.
Travel Consent Letters are not a requirement but they do make these travel situations simpler. When an Immigration officer sees a single parent travelling with a child or children alone, a travel letter, signed by the other parent, will go a long way in addressing any concerns about the children's potential safety. While many parents find the preparation of the Travel Letters cumbersome, we ask: "is this not preferable to having to deal with situations where children travel without the other parent's knowledge or may even be abducted?"
What is important to realize is that a Travel Consent letter will not guarantee your leaving the country with your child or children without further questions. Immigration Canada retains the right to investigate the legitimacy of the proposed trip, even if you have a Letter in hand. That being said, Travel Letters do help and we highly recommend them.
2 other points:
1. we have heard the following before, post-trip: "don't know why I bothered, they did not even ask for the letter" - you may not be asked but our policy is - better safe than sorry - see 2. below
2. we have also heard the following before the trip: "I will just take a risk, they did not ask the last time so I am not going to fuss with this now" - we say again, better safe than sorry - we know of actual instances when parents were turned away at the border because they did not have a Travel Letter and the other parent could not be contacted immediately to verify that the trip was authorized.
Here is a link to some further useful, official information about Travel Consent Letters:
Government of Canada Travel Consent Letter information
Travel Consent Letters are generally prepared when a child or children travel with one parent and without the other. Such situations are not limited to separated or divorced spouses but we will focus on them in this post.
Travel Consent Letters are not a requirement but they do make these travel situations simpler. When an Immigration officer sees a single parent travelling with a child or children alone, a travel letter, signed by the other parent, will go a long way in addressing any concerns about the children's potential safety. While many parents find the preparation of the Travel Letters cumbersome, we ask: "is this not preferable to having to deal with situations where children travel without the other parent's knowledge or may even be abducted?"
What is important to realize is that a Travel Consent letter will not guarantee your leaving the country with your child or children without further questions. Immigration Canada retains the right to investigate the legitimacy of the proposed trip, even if you have a Letter in hand. That being said, Travel Letters do help and we highly recommend them.
2 other points:
1. we have heard the following before, post-trip: "don't know why I bothered, they did not even ask for the letter" - you may not be asked but our policy is - better safe than sorry - see 2. below
2. we have also heard the following before the trip: "I will just take a risk, they did not ask the last time so I am not going to fuss with this now" - we say again, better safe than sorry - we know of actual instances when parents were turned away at the border because they did not have a Travel Letter and the other parent could not be contacted immediately to verify that the trip was authorized.
Here is a link to some further useful, official information about Travel Consent Letters:
Government of Canada Travel Consent Letter information
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