Any person who is younger than 18 years old is a minor, according to the Canadian legislation. However, in order to enter the country, they will need to have some particular documents. These documents will prove that the parents are aware of the child’s departure in Canada. Canadian border officers treat these situations with extreme care, and they will inquire about a child who is traveling alone, or without parents. In the following, we will explain what documents does a child traveling to Canada without parents need, and tell you how to obtain them.
1) When The Child Travels Alone
If the child is unaccompanied by an adult person when he travels to Canada, some particular documents will be required. The child should bring:
? A parent’s passport
? His passport
? Copy of his birth certificate
? Letter of authorization written in French or English and signed by both parents. The letter should contain information like: parents’ phone number, address, and the address, phone number of the adult who will take care of the child in Canada.If the child is coming to Canada to visit one of his parents, this should be mentioned in the authorization letter.
2) When The Child Travels With a Legal Guardian
If the child is accompanied by a legal guardian, he should have the passport and the guardianship documents in original or copy. If required, the legal guardian should be able to prove the child’s identity, through an official document. Even though the child’s passport is enough, there are situations where the birth certificate is also required. That’s why, it’s better to bring both documents, to avoid any unpleasant events. Also, if the child is entering Canada as a tourist, he won’t need a visa, if the visit is shorter than 180 days.
3) When The Child Travels With Other PersonsThan His Legal Guardian or Parents
First of all, the adult who accompanies the child in Canada but it’s not his parent/legal guardian, should have a written permission from the child’s parents/tutors. This document should prove that they are aware of the child’s departure with the adult that accompanies him. The permission document should also contain the phone numbers and addresses of the parents. This document should be signed by the parents/ tutor, and it should also come with a copy of their passports or ID’s. Normally, these documents are not mandatory and most of the times, you are not required to present them. However, if you do and the border officer has suspicions, the child might not be allowed to enter Canada. For more information about eTA Canada and for a detailed presentation of the needed documents, please enter etacanadaonline.com.
Final Recommendations
Canada takes very seriously any suspicion of human trafficking or kidnapping. They can actually detain a child at the border if he/she doesn’t have all the necessary documentation. A child traveling to Canada without parents is a matter of suspicion for them, and they often perform double checks in that scenario.However, these papers can be obtained very simple from your Canadian embassy site, and you can fill them all in just a few minutes.
Ready for more? Check out The Battle of Young Motherhood on Puckermob!
