Published
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.
The issue: the officer had doubts about the child’s travel, the adults involved, or consent.
The fix: consent letters, custody orders and proof of the travelling adult’s authority; or judicial review.
The deadline: 60 days from notice of the refusal if you’re outside Canada, 15 days if you’re in Canada (IRPA s. 72). Reconsideration doesn’t stop the clock.
Why a lawyer: custody questions and refusals need legal answers. Why a lawyer
The lawyers who review these refusals
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 are assessed under the same visitor rules as adults, but officers look closely at who they’re travelling with and whether both parents agree. Refusals for children often involve a missing consent letter, a custody arrangement that wasn’t explained, a child travelling with relatives, or the same ties and funds concerns as their parents. Where the parents’ own applications were refused, the child’s usually is too. The fix is the right documents for your family’s situation, and where the officer ignored them, judicial review within the deadline.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, handles refused visitor visas for children and the custody issues behind them; this guide is by Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha.
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The documents that usually fix it
- A consent letter from any parent not travelling; see children visiting Canada.
- Custody or guardianship orders after a separation.
- A death certificate where a parent has died.
- The travelling adult’s status and relationship to the child.
When the parents were refused too
A child’s refusal usually follows the parent’s. Fix the parent’s file first; see visitor visa refusals.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- getting the officer’s decision notes and reading them against what you filed;
- deciding whether the refusal belongs in court or in a better application;
- filing judicial review in the Federal Court within the deadline;
- if reapplying is better, building the new file around the officer’s exact concern.
The choice between court and reapplying is a legal judgment about whether the officer made a reviewable error. Getting it wrong costs either the court deadline or a second refusal on file.
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 from the parent staying home.
- Not explaining a separation or custody order.
- Reapplying for the child alone after the parents were refused.
Frequently asked questions
The other parent won’t sign. What now?
A court order may be needed; get legal advice before reapplying.
Can grandparents bring the child?
Yes, with consent letters from both parents and proof of the grandparents’ status.
What should I do right now?
Request the officer’s notes, gather consent and custody documents, and check the travelling adult’s own documents.
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
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 72
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.