Is your child going on a trip in the near future? A statutory declaration is often required when a minor child is travelling overseas without both parents or legal guardians, alone, or with a third party. This statutory declaration is often called a letter of consent, consent to travel, minor child's authorization, or simply a consent letter.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada strongly recommends that children travelling abroad carry a notarized consent letter from every person with the legal right to make major decisions on their behalf, if that person is not accompanying the child on the trip. Children travelling alone, or with grandparents, school, camp, church, band groups, or with only one of their custodial parents, should always travel with a consent letter.
Brosgall Legal | Notary Services regularly prepares and notarizes consent letters, and we would be pleased to assist you with your statutory declaration and notarization requirements. If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment, please send us an email or call us at 604-685-ADAM [2326]. You may also visit our VancouverNotary.biz home page for further information.
Contents of a Consent to Travel Letter
The consent to travel declaration indicates who the child will be travelling with, where they are going, and sometimes includes a basic itinerary. The declarant confirms that they grant the travel guardian full permission to take temporary custody of the child, and gives them full responsibility for the child's welfare while travelling. The declaration includes the name of the parent giving consent and their address. The name of the person travelling with the child is also given, as well as their relationship, occupation, address, and passport number. Finally, the child's name, gender, date of birth, and passport number are recorded. Once the solemn declaration is completed, it is then sworn and signed by the parent or guardian before a commissioner of oaths - usually a lawyer or notary public, who will then apply their signature, stamp, and seal. The child must then carry the notarized consent letter with their passport and ID when travelling.
A consent letter will usually facilitate entry of a Canadian child into another country. However, carrying a consent letter does not always guarantee entry, as permission to enter another country is entirely the decision of that country, and enforcement is not always consistent. However, due to international child abduction, it is becoming more common for foreign countries to require consent letters. In addition to a consent letter, there may be other country-specific entry requirements. The list below provides the contact information for all the consular offices located in Vancouver, B.C. To be safe, contact the Vancouver consular office of the country your child will be visiting, to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding specific entry and exit requirements.
Types of Consent Letters
There are various forms of consent letters, depending on the circumstances. If a minor is traveling with one parent, the absent parent is expected to provide notarized consent. If only one parent has legal custody, that parent should be prepared to provide a court order of child custody to airlines and international authorities. A step father/mother cannot sign unless the child has been legally adopted. If a minor is traveling alone, both parents or the sole, documented custodial parent must provide notarized consent. If a minor has a different surname, the parent should be prepared to provide evidence to airlines and official authorities, such a birth certificate or adoption decree, to prove parentage. If the minor has one deceased parent, a copy of a death certificate may be required. If the minor only has one parent, that parent must produce a birth certificate to that effect.
A sample of a typical consent letter is attached at the bottom of this article.
Vandcouver Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths, and Lawyer
Brosgall Legal's owner and principal, Adam Brosgall, is an experienced Vancouver Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths, and Lawyer. He is fully qualified, licenced, and insured to draft and swear travel consent letters. If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email, or call 604-685-ADAM [2326] to book an appointment or mobile visit. Same day service and walk-ins are welcome. Please see our Vancouver Notary home page for our other services, and we look forward to seeing you.
Vancouver Consular Offices
- Australia 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3G2, Canada Tel (604) 694-6160 Fax (604) 684-1856
- Austria 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T5, Canada Tel (604) 687-3338 Fax (888) 665-4615
- Barbados 19984 - 76th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V2Y 1S1, Canada Tel (604) 533-4622 Fax (604) 533-4622
- Belgium 166, West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Y 1R8, Canada Tel (604) 879-7782
- Belize P1 - 1250 Blackwood Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V4B 3T9, Canada Tel (604) 531-2212 Fax (604) 648-9095
- Brazil 666 Burrard Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2X8, Canada Tel (604) 696-5311 Fax (604) 696-5366
- Burkina Faso 1185 West Georgia Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E6, Canada Tel (604) 688-0788 Fax (604) 688-0778
- Chile 1250 - 1185 West Georgia Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E6, Canada Tel (604) 681-9162/307-2245 (24h) Fax (604) 687-0624 Web www.chilevan.ca Email consulado@chilevancouver.com
- China 3380 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3K3, Canada Tel (604) 734-7492 /(604) 731-6863 / (778) 238-0003 (24h) Fax (604) 737-0154 / (604) 736-4343 / (778) 238-0003 (24h)
- China 288-1338 West Broadway, Vancouver, V6H 2E6, Canada Tel (604) 734-0704 Fax (604) 734-0311
- China 2215 Eddington Drive,Vancouver, V6L 2E6, Canada Fax (604) 738-1801
- Colombia 1090 West Georgia Street, Suite 1340,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3V7, Canada
- Costa Rica 1611 Evelyn Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7J 3S9, Canada Tel (604) 983-2152 Fax (604) 983-2152
- Cote d'Ivoire 48-4100 Salish Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6N 3M2, Canada Tel (778) 241 7922 Fax (604) 266-6529
- Cyprus 435 Donald Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V3K 3Z9, Canada Tel (604) 936-2268 Fax (604) 936-2168
- Czech Republic 112-118 Homer Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 6L5, Canada
- Denmark 101 - 245 Fell Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7P 2K1, Canada Tel (604) 982-8892 Fax (604) 985-2855
- El Salvador 938 Howe Street, Suite 411,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1N9, Canada Tel (604) 732-8142 Fax (604) 696-0038
- Estonia 570-1285 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4B1, Canada Tel (604) 683-3000 x 105 Fax (604) 662-3457
- Finland 1188 West Georgia Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2, Canada Tel (604) 688-4483 Fax (604) 687-8237
- France 1130, West Pender Street, Suite 1100, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A4, Canada Tel (604) 681-4345 Fax (604) 681-4287 Web http://consulfrance-vancouver.org Email consulat_france_bc@mindlink.bc.ca
- Germany World Trade Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, Canada Tel (604) 684-8377/218-1390 (18h to 24h) Fax (604) 684-8334 Web www.canada.diplo.de Email info@vancouver.diplo.de
- Greece 500 - 688 West Hastings Street,Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1P1, Canada Tel (604) 681-1381 (604)721-6077 or 925-2039(24H) Fax (604) 681-6656
- Greece 2574 Cornwall Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Guinea 404-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E2, Canada Tel (604) 641-1393 x 510
- Hungary 1770 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 4Y6, Canada Tel (604) 730-7321 Fax (604) 730-7339 Web www.hungarianconsulatebc.com Email amolnar@telus.net
- Iceland 940 Younette Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7T 1S9, Canada Tel (604) 922-0854
- India 325 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1Z7, Canada Tel (604) 662-8811 Fax (604) 682-2471/682-3556 Web www.cgivancouver.com Email indiapscg@telus.net
- Indonesia 1630 Alberni Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6G 1A6, Canada Tel (604) 682-8855 Fax (604) 662-8396
- Indonesia 1300 - 1500 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, V6G 2Z6, Canada Tel 778-373-4916 Fax 604-685-1520
- Ireland 210-837 Beatty Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2M6, Canada Tel (604) 683-9233 Fax (604) 683-8402
- Italy 510 West Hasting Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1L8, Canada Tel (604) 688-0809 or (604) 684-7288 Fax (604)685-4263 Web www.consvancouver.esteri.it Email consolato.vancouver@esteri.it
- Japan 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K9, Canada Tel (604) 684-5868 Fax (604) 684-6939
- Jordan 950-789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 1H2, Canada Tel (604) 685-9200 Fax (866) 285-8886
- Korea, Republic 1090 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3V7, Canada Tel (604) 681-9581/2 Fax (604) 681-4864
- Korea, Republic 780-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, V6C 3E1, Canada Tel (604) 683-1820 Fax (604) 687-6249
- Lesotho 555 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1Z5, Canada Tel (604) 681-9887 Fax (604) 681-8087
- Lithuania 1088 Salsbury Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5L 4A7, Canada Tel (604) 999-1904 Fax (604) 874-4180
- Luxembourg Suite 1100-925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L2, Canada Tel (604) 408-5616 Fax (604) 408-5637
- Malaysia 1805-111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4M3, Canada Tel (604) 685-9550 Fax (604) 685-9520
- Malta 1880 - 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3X1, Canada Tel (604) 688-7861 Fax (604) 688-0426
- Mauritius 1453 Laurier Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 1Z2, Canada Tel (604) 520-1013 Fax (604) 520-1413
- Mexico 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Canada Tel (604) 684-3547, 684-1859 Fax (604) 684-2485 Web www.consulmexvan.com Email mexico@consulmexvan.com
- Mexico 200 Granville Street, Vancouver, V6C 1S4, Canada Tel (604) 682-3648 Fax (604) 682-1355
- Mexico United Kingdom Building 409 Granville Street, Suite 658, Vancouver, V6C 1T2, Canada Tel (604) 669-2845 Fax (604) 669-3498
- Monaco PH-2225 Twin Creek Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7S 3K4, Canada Tel (604) 925-0210/cell 862-6878 Fax (604)-925-0210
- Mongolia c/o Heenan Blaikie LLP, 1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2E9, Canada Tel (604) 891-1194 Fax (866) 591-8103
- Montenegro 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Canada Tel (604) 608-1766 Fax (604) 608-1744
- Netherlands 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1C4, Canada Tel (604) 684-6448 Fax (604) 684-3549
- New Zealand 888 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3K4, Canada Tel (604) 684-7388 Fax (604) 684-7333
- Norway 1480 - 1188 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2, Canada Tel (604) 682-7977 Fax (604) 682-8376
- Pakistan Suite 1400 - 510 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1L8, Canada Tel (604) 569-1415 Fax (604) 569-2180 Web www.pcgv.org Email info@pakistanconsulatevancouver.com
- Peru 505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1M3, Canada Tel (604) 662-8880 Fax (604) 662-3564 Web www.consuladoperu.ca Email infovan@consuladoperu.ca
- Philippines 700 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1G8, Canada Tel (604) 685-7645 / (604) 613-0942 (24h) Fax (604) 685-9945
- Philippines 675 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, V6B 1N2, Canada Tel (604) 682-5770 Fax (604) 692-0887
- Poland 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Canada Tel (604) 688-3530/688-4730 or 988-4062 (24h) Fax (604) 688-3537
- Portugal 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L2, Canada Tel (604) 688-6514, 806-0990 Fax (604) 685-7042
- Romania 555 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1M8, Canada Tel (604) 633-0986 or (604) 369-3286 (24h) Fax (604) 633-0757
- Russia 212-475 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2X6, Canada Tel (604) 559-7877 Fax (604) 620-5009
- Senegal 555 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1M8, Canada Tel (604) 684-5356 Fax (604) 443-5001
- Serbia 7411 Vantage Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 4J5, Canada Tel (604) 940-3535 Fax (604) 946-5418 Email consul@scgconsulate.bc.ca
- Singapore 1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2M6, Canada Tel (604) 622-5281 Fax (604) 685-2471
- Slovak Republic 289 Abbot Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2K7, Canada Tel (604) 682-0991 Fax (604) 682-0991 Web www.slovak.org Email stan.lisiak@gmail.com
- Slovenia 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J5, Canada Tel (604) 905-8599 Fax (604) 938-9409
- Solomon Islands Suite 500 - 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3P6, Canada Tel (604) 638-6548 Fax (604) 637-9616 Web www.siconsulate.com Email canada@siconsulate.com
- South Africa 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3C9, Canada Tel (604) 688-1301 Fax (604) 688-8193
- Spain 1035 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 3A3, Canada Tel (604)687-8153
- Sri Lanka 55 Water Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1A1, Canada Tel (604) 646-3556
- Sweden 1188 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A2, Canada Tel (604) 683-5838
- Switzerland World Trade Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E1, Canada Tel (604) 684-2231 Fax (604) 684-2806 (24h)
- Syria 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4H1, Canada Tel (604) 608-4220 Fax (604) 682-3161 Web www.sawsanhabbal.com Email sawsan@telus.net
- Thailand 1040 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3Z3, Canada Tel (604) 687-1143 Fax (604) 687-4434
- Thailand 1009-1166 Alberni Street, Vancouver, V6E 3Z3, Canada Tel (604) 687-6400 Fax (604) 683-6775
- Tunisia 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3H1, Canada Tel (604) 687-5700 Fax (604) 687-6314
- Uganda 1361 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 1C6, Canada Tel (604) 687-6631 Fax (604) 687-5724
- Ukraine 938 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1N9, Canada Tel (604) 331-2505 Fax (604) 331-2515
- United Kingdom 1111 Melville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3V6, Canada Tel (604) 683-4421 Fax (604) 681-0693
- United States of America 1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E9, Canada Tel (604) 685-4311 Fax (604) 685-5285, 685-7304
- Uruguay 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1C4, Canada Tel (604) 664-5828 Fax (604) 664-5838 Web www.northstar.ca Email s.shepherd@northstar.ca
- Venezuela 1101-1030 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2Y3, Canada Tel (604) 998-8080 Fax (604) 630-2111 Internet www.consulvenvancouver.org Email info@consulvenvancouver.org
- Vietnam 605 Robson Street, Suite 800, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5J3, Canada