Notarizing a child travel consent letter in Ontario.

Why Ontario families need one

A child travel consent letter demonstrates that a child travelling without both parents or guardians has permission to do so. It is not, strictly speaking, legally required to leave Canada — but the Government of Canada strongly recommends carrying one, and border officers in Canada and in destination countries may ask to see it. Some airlines ask as well. A missing letter is a genuine risk of being turned back at the airport.

Notarization is what gives the letter weight. A notary verifies the identity of the signing parent or guardian and witnesses the signature, which makes the document far harder to dispute at a border than an unsigned note.

Who has to sign

Generally, every parent or guardian with decision-making responsibility who is not travelling should sign. If a child is travelling with one parent, the other parent signs. If the child is travelling with a grandparent, a group leader, or alone, both parents normally sign.

Both parents can attend the same remote appointment even from different locations, which is often simpler than coordinating an in-person visit. Because a second signer is charged at $26 rather than a second base fee, both parents signing costs $75.99 rather than $99.98.

Sole custody and the harder situations

Where one parent has sole decision-making responsibility, the practical answer is usually not a consent letter at all — it is documentary proof of that responsibility. A certified true copy of the relevant Ontario custody or parenting order, notarized alongside your own consent letter, is what border officials tend to want to see.

If the other parent is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate serves a similar purpose. If the other parent cannot be located or refuses to sign, that is a family-law question rather than a notarial one, and you should speak to an Ontario family lawyer before travelling — a notary cannot substitute for a missing consent.

How the Ontario appointment works

1. Prepare the letter, unsigned. Global Affairs Canada publishes a recommended template that border officials recognize.
2. Both signing parents attend by video. From anywhere, together or separately.
3. Show photo ID. Each signer verifies identity on camera.
4. Sign while the notary watches. The notary then applies signature and seal.
5. Receive it the same day. Print a copy and carry it with the travel documents.

Practical details people miss

• Take a paper copy. A notarized letter on a phone screen is not much use at a border kiosk.
• Match names to passports. Use the child's full legal name exactly as printed.
• Check the destination. A few countries impose extra requirements — tell us where the child is going.
• Cover the whole trip. Include return dates, not just the outbound flight.
• One letter per child. Siblings travelling together are usually cleanest as separate letters.

See also the general travel consent letter guide, the cost breakdown, and the Ontario page.