A while back, I received an email from a divorced man taking his kids from the US to Canada for a vacation. The question: did he need a letter of authorization from his estranged wife-- the mother of the kids?
The question grabbed my attention, as I was about to fly from Canada to San Francisco with one of my sons. Did I need authorization from my husband to make this trip?
It seems that concerns about parental abductions -- where one divorced parent steals the child away from the other one-- have prompted extra caution at the border, when officials find that only one parent is with the child.
When only one birth parent is traveling with a child-- or if a child is traveling with a grandparent or guardian-- the safest course of action is to to carry a letter of authorization from the absent parent, if borders are crossed.
It's quite likely that you won't be asked to show a letter of authorization or other travel consent document -- better safe than sorry, though!
Which Countries Require Travel Consent Documents?
A good resource is the US Department of State section that lists the travel documents required by numerous countries around the world.
But what about travel between Canada and the US...
...where cross-border travel is so common that people sometimes change countries for a shopping trip?
At time of writing, the Canada Border Services Agency site says:
- "Divorced or separated parents should carry copies of the legal custody agreements for the children."
Also "If you are travelling with minors, you must carry proper identification for each child such as a birth certificate, passport, citizenship card, permanent resident card or Certificate of Indian Status. If you are not the parent or guardian of the children, you should also have written permission from the parent/guardian authorizing the trip. The letter should include addresses and telephone numbers of where the parents or guardian can be reached."
It's always a good idea to check the latest info about document requirements, in case the security climate changes. For Canada, the US State Department site is a good source; or try the Canada Border Services Agency).
What's a "Notarized" Travel Consent Letter?
A "notary public" is a person authorized to legally witness another person signing a document. In the case of the divorced father traveling to Canada, the child's mother would prepare a letter consenting to the child's travel, and sign it in the presence of the notary. The mother would be required to show proof of identity; and the notary would certify that the letter had indeed been signed by her.
For my own travel across the border, I carried a signed -- but not notarized-- letter from my husband: he simply wrote a letter authorizing our son to travel with me to the US on certain dates. (And when we traveled, no one asked for any sort of letter at all.)
Generally it's not necessary to go to the trouble and expense of getting a notarized travel consent letter. However some countries may be more strict; also, requirements change over time. So do check the the entrance policies for the particular country you're visiting: the U.S. State Dept.'s Bureau of Consular Affairs lists Entry Requirements for many countries. If you're still uncertain, contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country you're visiting, and ask what documentation you'll need.
And of course always have proper ID along: children need their own passports for international travel. It's also a good idea to bring along your child's birth certificate which specifically lists you as a birth parent. (In Canada, this is called the "long-form" birth certificate.)
