in Visiting Canada

Tips for Traveling with Child/Children in/out of Canada

Information on this page can help you in traveling with child to or outside Canada as his/her parents, guardian, etc.

It is certainly possible traveling with child in and outside Canada. This is also applicable to your child or children who are less than 18 years old.

Besides, children within this age range are referred to as minors in Canada.

Minor children are also required to act in accordance with the preexisting conditions followed by all other foreigners to enter or exit Canada.

If you intend traveling with child or children to or outside Canada, it is important for you to provide all of the child/children’s traveling documents, including passports.

There will be close monitoring for minors who are traveling to Canada without possessing the requisite documents or are entering Canada without their parents or guardians.

Hence, the documents needed for minors to enter Canada are contingent on if the child is travelling alone or with their parent(s), guardian or any person whatsoever.

On this post, we will explore various tips that are helpful in traveling with child or children in and outside Canada.

What you should know about your child’s passport

The information in this section will help you know about children’s passport.

  • Photographs on child’s passport

Emphatically, your child/children’s passports must possess two (2) recent photographs in it. Both photographs are expected to look exactly alike.

Of course, the photograph should not have exceeded the last six (6) months.

Furthermore, one of the photographs needs to feature a guarantor’s signature at the rear, as well as the photographer’s stamp, which features the date and studio information.

  • Signature on child’s passport

Signing on your child’s passport will indeed void it. Thus, you can leave the signature field on the passport if your child is less than 16 years old.

Moreover, it is allowable for children below 11 years old to sign their passport. Children between age 11 and 15, as well as 16+ years of age need to sign on their passport.

  • Completing the emergency contact field on passport

It is mandatory for parents to complete the emergency contact field on their child’s or children’s passport.

Besides, information on this field can be updated later on peradventure the person changes his/her/their contact information.

Additionally, the emergency contact is supposed to be someone who is not travelling with the child.

Who can apply for a child’s passport?

  • His/her parents (the signature of the child’s father and mother are required except when a court order states differently or if one of the parents is dead)
  • The child’s guardian (he/she must show a proof of legal guardianship like a court order)
  • Divorced parent with decision-making responsibility (must avail a copy of divorce certificate, order or judgment from the court).

Besides, each of the child’s guardian(s) needs to sign on the passport’s application form.

Parents can also request a judge for an order to sign the form by their selves if the guardian(s) is/are unavailable.

What are the documents required to apply for a child’s passport in Canada?

  • Application form
  • Two (2) photographs that looks alike
  • Evidence of the child’s citizenship, which include a birth certificate or a Canadian citizenship certificate
  • Proof of parentage, which include a long-form birth certificate, a court-issued adoption order or a foreign birth certificate that features the names of both parents
  • Evidence of child custody, legal separation or divorce

Traveling with child with/without passport outside Canada

There is emphatically no way for children to travel internationally from Canada without a passport. Even newborns must have a passport of their own in order to travel outside Canada.

Of course, you may need to take any means of I.D. for the child, as well as a proof of relationship when travelling within Canada with a child.

Hence, the child’s birth certificate can serve the function of a means of identification. A parenting order or guardianship order is useable as a proof of your relationship with the child.

Minor children visiting Canada

Generally speaking, minor children can travel alone to or outside Canada without their parents or guardians.

Nevertheless, the child needs to have the following documents.

  • His/her valid passport
  • Copy of birth certificate
  • English or French authorization letter, which must be duly signed by both parents or by his/her guardian.

It is equally important for the letter to have the parent or guardian’s contact information such as home address and phone number.

The authorization letter should also include the name and contact information of an adult who will monitor the child in Canada.

Traveling with child with one parent

Of course, it is allowable to travel in and outside Canada with a child with either father or mother.

In a situation where a minor child needs to travel internationally with just one parent, the parent who is traveling with the child is required to hold the following documents.

  • The child’s passport
  • A copy of the child’s birth certificate
  • A consent letter, which is usually written in English or French language. The letter should feature the signature of the parent who is absent from the journey.

Moreover, the consent letter should contain the residential address, phone number, as well as a photocopy of the absent parent’s signed passport or national I.D. card.

Traveling with child without one parent due to legal separation or divorce

Undoubtedly, the Government of Canada allows one parent to travel with child in or outside Canada in case their marriage has been legally dissolved.

In this situation, the parent travelling with child in or outside Canada needs to fulfill few conditions as noted below.

  • Holding copies of the legal custody documents issued after legal separation or divorce
  • May also need to get an authorization letter from the other parent with custody to travel with the child internationally

Traveling with child in case of sole custody after separation/divorce

There are often cases where both parents are divorced, and only one of them has custody of the child or children from the marriage.

Therefore, you may need to get a signed consent letter from the parent who has sole custody of the child.

A copy of the custody decree is also required while traveling with child without one parent in case of sole custody.

Traveling with child when one of the parents is deceased

If you intend to travel with a child who has only one parent alive, you need to take a copy of the deceased person’s death certificate along with you.

How to Transit through Canada as a Foreigner

Traveling with child below 18 years old with a guardian or adoptive parents

In this case, the child must have a copy of either guardianship document or adoption document.

Traveling with child when not his/her parent or guardian

Undeniably, it is permissible for a minor child to travel in and outside Canada with someone else who is not his or her parents or guardian.

Hence, an adult who holds a written authorization letter from the child’s parents or guardian need to watch and direct the child throughout the journey.

Furthermore, the letter needs to feature both parents’ contact information such as home addresses and phone numbers. It is unnecessary for the authorization letter to be certified.

Besides, the authorization letter should have a photocopy of the parents’ or guardian’s signed passports or national I.D. cards.

Additionally, keep in mind that the border services officer is likely not to request for these documents upon the child’s visit to Canada.

Without doubt, the child may be disallowed entry to Canada if you are unable to prove authorization to the border services officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the validity period of passports for children who are below 16 years old?

A period of five (5) years

Can I renew my child’s passport after it expires?

No, you need to reapply for another passport for your child.

What are the documents required by minors to study in Canada?

Without doubt, minor children need a valid study permit to enroll for studies in Canada. You can apply for one using the documents stated below.

What should I do if I feel that the other parent will not return my child to me?

It is necessary that you seek legal assistance on time peradventure you are feeling that the other parent or guardian will probably not return your child to you.

Thus, you can request a court to withdraw the child’s passports from the other parent/guardian without informing him/her in advance.

What do I need to travel in or outside Canada without the other parent?

  • The child’s passport
  • Child’s long-form birth certificate
  • Consent letter from the parent or guardian who is absent from the trip
  • Death certificate peradventure the other parent or guardian is dead
  • Adoption order (if necessary)
  • Court order, which gives you authorization by a judge to travel with the child

Conclusion

All things considered, traveling with child to or outside Canada is not difficult as you may think. This article has just touched various areas to provide you with necessary information and advice.

Thanks for reading!