Video:Tips for Crossing the Canadian Border With Kids

SHARE ON                

Transcript:Tips for Crossing the Canadian Border With Kids

Hi, I'm Kaytie Sproul, here for About.com, and today we're going to take a look at how to cross the Canadian border with kids, using information from About.com's GoCanada site.

What to Know About Crossing the Canadian Border With Kids

Traveling to Canada means crossing an international border, with all of the usual documentation required. This is further complicated when you are traveling with children. Here are some quick tips to help you navigate the hurdles.

Documents for Crossing the Canadian Border With Kids

When we think of the documents needed for border crossings, passports immediately come to mind. If you're crossing the Canadian border by land or sea with a child who is 15 years of age or younger, a certified birth certificate can be used in lieu of a passport. However, if you are traveling into Canada by plane, a passport is required for any passenger, regardless of age. As one might imagine, traveling with children is always a bit more complicated. The Canadian Border Services Agency recommends that you have proof of guardianship for any children traveling across the border with you. Paperwork such as a letter from your lawyer, doctor, or their hospital of birth is ideal, and should be carried with you at all times. When a child is traveling across the Canadian border with a divorced parent, copies of any legal custody documents should be available. This, along with a letter from the other parent granting the child permission to cross the border, will be required. Even if the parents are not divorced, a letter granting the traveling parent permission will likely be required at the border when the child is crossing into Canada with one parent and not the other. If the child is traveling across the border as part of a church, school, or group trip, they will need a letter of permission signed by both parents, including contact information. In cases such as this, the border guard may call to verify permission.

Additional Tips for Crossing the Canadian Border With Kids

Just a tip: If the child is old enough to speak, the border guard may ask him or her some questions. Along with having all of the proper paperwork, be sure to prepare the children with whom you'll be traveling for this possibility. Also, if you are traveling in a convoy or group, make sure that both parents are in the same car as their children; this will speed up the border crossing process. Crossing the border into a foreign country such as Canada can sometimes be an involved process, further complicated when children are present. Preparing all of the necessary paperwork in advance is the best way to avert any complications to your travel.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.