Travel Consent Letter & Passport Rules for BC Custody Arrangements

Taking your child across the border or on an international trip after separation requires paperwork that many BC parents don't know about until they're standing at the airport. A travel consent letter isn't just a good idea — without one, border agents can refuse entry, and airlines can deny boarding.

Here's what you need for both domestic and international travel when you have a parenting arrangement in BC.

Travel Consent Letters

A travel consent letter is a signed document from the non-travelling parent authorizing the child to travel with the other parent. While Canada doesn't legally require one for domestic flights, border agencies strongly recommend them for any trip — and they're essential for international travel.

What the letter should include:

• Full legal names of the child, the travelling parent, and the consenting parent
• The child's date of birth
• Specific travel dates, destinations, and itinerary
• Contact information for the non-travelling parent
• The consenting parent's signature (ideally notarized)
• Copies of the custody order or parenting agreement (if applicable)

The Government of Canada recommends using their official consent letter template, but any format works as long as it covers all the above.

When you need one:

• International travel with only one parent
• Domestic travel where the child will be away during the other parent's scheduled parenting time
• Travel with a non-parent (grandparent, new partner) — the letter should come from both parents

Passport Applications

Under Canadian passport rules, a child's passport application normally requires both parents' consent. For separated parents in BC, the requirements depend on your situation:

Both parents are guardians (the default in BC): Both must sign the passport application. If one parent refuses to sign, the other can apply to court for an order authorizing the passport.

One parent has a court order granting sole decision-making: That parent can sign alone, but should include a copy of the court order with the application.

There's a travel restriction in your court order or agreement: Passport Canada may require evidence that the travel doesn't violate the restriction.

If you're concerned about the other parent obtaining a passport for the child without your knowledge, you can add the child to the Passport Canada lookout list by contacting Service Canada.

Your Parenting Plan Should Address Travel

The most common travel disputes between separated parents come from agreements that say nothing about travel. Your parenting plan should cover:

• Advance notice: How many days or weeks before a trip must the travelling parent notify the other? Most agreements require 14-30 days for domestic travel and 30-60 days for international.
• Itinerary sharing: Full itinerary including flights, accommodation, and emergency contact numbers.
• Communication during travel: How and when the child can contact the non-travelling parent.
• Passport possession: Which parent holds the passport between trips. Some agreements require it to be held by a neutral third party or alternate between parents.
• Cost allocation: Who pays for passports, required travel documents, and any additional trip costs.
• Restricted destinations: Some agreements exclude travel to countries that are not signatories to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

Relocation Is Different from Travel

A vacation is not a relocation. Under the Family Law Act, if a parent plans to move in a way that significantly impacts the child's relationship with the other guardian, they must give 60 days' written notice. The other parent has 30 days to file a court application to block the move. Short-term travel doesn't trigger these rules, but if the "trip" starts looking like a permanent move, the relocation provisions apply.

The British Columbia Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes travel consent templates and a holiday rotation planner that covers trip notice requirements.

See more British Columbia guides →