Unaccompanied Travel of Minors

There are a lot of hoops to jump to protect yourself and your children when they are travelling to another country to see their other parent. Protecting yourself from any questions of parental rights and residence, Protecting the children from any unnecessary drama while they are in transit, and making sure that everybody is on the same page is, well, daunting. Here is a process I’m working with. Hopefully it all works out. Next step lawyers and significant changes in parenting plans. Fingers crossed. All I want for Christmas is less drama.
You use the following at your own risk. I make no guarantee’s. I will only warrantee that I will update this document as I learn more.
Good Luck
Un-accompanied travel of minors from USA to Canada for Parental Visitation.
The following information was gathered during direct discussions with United States and Canadian officials, in addition to lawyers in both countries specializing in family law, international travel and visitation issues.
There is little literature detailing the travel requirements for un-accompanied minors between the United States and Canada. The literature that is available on the Internet is incomplete and doesn’t reflect the requirements for documentation to protect the un-accompanied children during their visitation time and travel to and from Canada from the United States. It is always best to call the consulate of each country before travel.
This process is designed to protect the parents and children in the context of international visitation. Providing the necessary documentation to avoid and or manage situations where questions or custody and residency occur. The experience for the children should be seamless and without undue questions or stress.
In addition the airline facilitating travel of the un-accompanied minors has their own requirements for documentation to support the travel of un-accompanied minors. You will have to confirm with each airline on their policies and requirements for un-accompanied minors. Many airlines are no longer providing a service to facilitate un-accompanied travel by minors.
All standards for document certification and process will default to the most stringent jurisdiction. Canada requires notarization of documents by a lawyer. This formality will also serve the un-accompanied children if there are any issues that require clarification while the children are in transit between the United States and Canada.
The following matrix describes the necessary documentation that needs to be in place to support travel and visitation from the United States to Canada.
 

Documentation	Location	United States	Travelling Unaccompanied Minor	Canada
	Child Identification	Passport	Certified copy of Identification page for each un-accompanied minor	Original Passport	Certified copy of Identification page for each un-accompanied minor
Birth Certificate	Certified copy for each unaccompanied Minor	Original Birth Certificate	Certified copy for each unaccompanied Minor
Travel Authorization	Travel Authorization Letter	Original residing parent letter, please see sample attached	Certified copy of:	Original residing parent letter, please see sample attached
Attached Travel Itinerary	Copy of Itinerary	Original	Copy of Itinerary
Divorce Decree	Court Certified Copy	Court Certified Copy	Court Certified Copy
Parenting Plan	Court Certified Copy	Court Certified Copy	Court Certified Copy
Parents Identification	Passport	Original residing parent	Certified copy of:	Original residing parent
Drivers License	Original residing parent	Certified copy of:	Original residing parent
Airline Requirements	Alaska Airlines	https://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/ChildrenTravelingAlone.asp	Completed Customs Form for Destination Country	Notes			Airline and Airport security procedures will be different in Canada and the United States. It is the parents responsibility to confirm these details before travel to ensure a seamless experience for the travelling unaccompanied minors

References
Note:
This document was not prepared by a layer but with consultation of several sources including layers. Use this information at your own risk. For your own circumstance please see your lawyer to confirm your logistics in the context of your circumstances.

The following is a sample of the parental consent letter required to support travel of unaccompanied minors between the United States and Canada
To Whom It May Concern
I , ________________ (full name(s) of custodial and/or non-custodial parent(s)/legal guardian(s)), am (are) the____________________ (lawful custodial parent and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s)) of
Child’s full name: _____________________________________ Date of birth (DD/MM/YY): _____________________________ Place of birth: ________________________________________ United States passport number:_____________________________ Date of issuance of United State passport (DD/MM/YY): ________ Place of issuance of United States passport: __________________
Child’s full name: _____________________________________ Date of birth (DD/MM/YY): _____________________________ Place of birth: ________________________________________ United States passport number:_____________________________ Date of issuance of United State passport (DD/MM/YY): ________ Place of issuance of United States passport: __________________
________________, and ___________________, (child’s full name), has my consent to travel to visit ______________ (name of foreign country) during the period of __________________ (dates as detailed in the attached “parenting plan”, travel dates and times are detailed on the attached itinerary. During that period, ________________ (child’s full name) will be residing with ________________ (name of person where child will be residing in foreign country) at the following address:
Number/street address and apartment number: ______________ City, province/state, country: _____________________________ Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence): _______________________
Any questions regarding this consent letter can be directed to the undersigned at:
United States Lawyer
Number/street address and apartment number: ______________ City, province/state, country: _____________________________ Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence): _______________________
Canadian Lawyer
Number/street address and apartment number: ______________ City, province/state, country: _____________________________ Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence): _______________________
Signature:______________________________________ Date:_________________ (Full name(s) and signature(s) of custodial parent, and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s))
Witness and certification of this document must be done by the aforementioned lawyer.
Signed before me, ________________ (name of witness), this _________________ (date) at ________ ______ (name of location).
Signature: ________________ (name of witness)