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Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2019, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 12, 2026: Government of Canada guidance on children travelling checked that day.
Visa: children need their own visa or eTA, like adults.
Consent: a child travelling without both parents should carry a consent letter from the parent or parents not travelling.
Why a lawyer: custody disputes and refused child visas need legal answers, not just forms. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
Children visiting Canada need the same travel document as an adult from their country: a visitor visa or an eTA. Border officers watch closely for children travelling with only one parent, with relatives, or with friends. The Government of Canada recommends a consent letter signed by the parent or parents not travelling, and officers may also ask for custody or guardianship documents. Separated parents, a deceased parent, or a parent who won’t sign all need different documents. Missing paperwork can mean questions at the border, a refused visa, or a child turned back.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, handles visitor visas for children and the custody questions that come with them; this guide is by Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha.
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Documents by situation
| Situation | Documents |
|---|---|
| Travelling with both parents | Passport, visa or eTA, birth certificate |
| Travelling with one parent | A consent letter from the other parent, with contact details |
| Separated or divorced parents | The consent letter and the custody order or agreement |
| One parent deceased | The death certificate |
| Travelling with relatives or friends | Consent letters from both parents, with contact details |
The Government of Canada publishes a recommended consent letter template.
If the child’s visa is refused
See a child’s visitor visa refused.
Why talk to a lawyer when a child is travelling?
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- advising on the documents your family’s situation needs;
- dealing with a parent who won’t consent;
- preparing the child’s visa application;
- challenging a refusal in the Federal Court.
Most trips need only a letter. But custody disputes and refused child visas need legal advice, and a mistake can strand a child at the border.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can take a refusal to the Federal Court. An immigration consultant cannot file or argue it there.
Mistakes I have seen
- No consent letter when one parent stays home.
- A letter without the other parent’s contact details.
- Forgetting the custody order after a separation.
Frequently asked questions
Does the consent letter need to be notarized?
It isn’t legally required, but a witnessed or notarized letter carries more weight.
What if the other parent won’t sign?
Get legal advice; a court order may be needed.
What should I do right now?
Check the child’s visa or eTA, get a signed consent letter from any parent not travelling, and pack the custody papers.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
- Government of Canada: Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 179
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.