IMPORTANT: New Passport Requirements for Children

[tone.def]

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/articles/20110512.aspx?lang=eng

To protect Canadian children against child abduction and to further enhance the security of the Canadian passport programme, Passport Canada will soon require that travel document applications for children under 16 years of age be accompanied by proof of parentage documentation*.



Effective December 1, along with standard application requirements, parents or legal guardians must provide with their child’s travel document application, either:



• A detailed birth certificate indicating the name of the parent(s) issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial vital statistics agency if the child was born in Canada. This document will serve as both proof of parentage and proof of citizenship;

o A certified copy of birth registration (original only) is also accepted for a child born in Ontario; and

o A copy of an act of birth (original only) issued after January 1, 1994, by the Directeur de l’état civil of Quebec is also accepted for a child born in Quebec;



• An order of adoption indicating the name of the adoptive parent(s); or

• A foreign birth certificate indicating the name of the parent(s) (documents in a language other than English or French must be translated into either English or French) if the child was born outside Canada.



All legal documents that refer to custody, the mobility of, or access to the child must be provided. If a divorce has been granted, a copy of the divorce judgment or order must also be provided. If a separation agreement exists, it must also be provided with the application.



*Exception: Applications submitted on behalf of a child will be accepted without proof of parentage only if all the following criteria are met:

• A Canadian travel document has previously been issued to the child in his or her name;

• The previously issued travel document is still valid or expired for less than one year; and

• The previously issued travel document accompanies the new application.



Passport Canada wishes to make Canadian travellers aware of these changes well in advance of the implementation date and encourages Canadians to initiate their travel document application process as soon as they begin to plan to travel to ensure that the proper documentation is obtained in time for a trip abroad.



It is important that parents and legal guardians factor in additional time to acquire proper documentation prior to submitting a travel document application for their child. Failure to provide the proper documentation will result in your child’s travel document application being rejected.

 

[sjsjbrook]

I have to say I have already had to provide all these documents everytime I have applied and renewed my childrens passports.

The last time I renewed my DD 15 3/4 (at the time) passport I had my seperation agreement that said it superseeded any divorce judgement, it had been 10 years since my divorce and honestly I didn't even remember the document. I had to go to the court house and pay $2 to get a copy of it that said nothing about my child just the day of that my divorce was final.

I could have waited 3 more months for her to turn 16 and complete an adult passport, but that would have been $50 more.

I find it interesting that they are just officially requireing these documents this year.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

So if my kids (8 and 9) have passports ... then I don't need to do anything until they need to be renewed? Correct?

Ted

 

[Tower]

So if my kids (8 and 9) have passports ... then I don't need to do anything until they need to be renewed? Correct?

That's my understanding. I'll find out more when we renew DD8 and DS10 in September, but by then this thread will be gone. (Sorry, I'm not THAT much of a keener!)

 

[dvcdisney]

So if my kids (8 and 9) have passports ... then I don't need to do anything until they need to be renewed? Correct?

Ted

That is also my understanding. However, the exception seems to indicate that if your children already have passports, it'll be fine renewing without the added document. Or am I reading this incorrectly?

It almost seems like the new documents is required when applying for a new passport. But if you are renewing, it sounds like this is the exception. :

*Exception: Applications submitted on behalf of a child will be accepted without proof of parentage only if all the following criteria are met:

• A Canadian travel document has previously been issued to the child in his or her name;

• The previously issued travel document is still valid or expired for less than one year; and

• The previously issued travel document accompanies the new application.

Am I mistaken?

 

[tone.def]

I read this as NEW youth passport application are affected, not renewals before expirations...

 

[Tower]

I imagine that Canadian Immigration Authorities are not DIS'ers?

 

[sjsjbrook]

So I went to passport canda's website. This is what they are requiring for new and renewals of passports for children under 16. I know this is all the documentation that I was required to show when I renewed passports for my 16 and 9 year old and for the new passport for my baby.

I wonder if in some provinces they didn't ask for this information and that is why they are announcing it?? Very interesting to say the least. However since I have all those documents, it really doesn't change much for me.

I have to say I loved how the person had to read through all 50 pages of my separation agreement, it was really boring stuff.

 

[lizabu]

I'm not sure if I understand. So they're requiring the long form birth certificate and custody papers? I have custody papers but only the small wallet sized birth certificates. I'm not sure what the other documents they list are. So we need a passport to go to the US then? I was never sure about this.

 

[sjsjbrook]

I'm not sure if I understand. So they're requiring the long form birth certificate and custody papers? I have custody papers but only the small wallet sized birth certificates. I'm not sure what the other documents they list are. So we need a passport to go to the US then? I was never sure about this.

Yes basically they are saying in not so easy to read lingo

the long form birth certificate, which is a copy of your registration form you filled out when you registered your child. It is easy enough to get.

Your custody papers, if you are divorced your divorce judgement (not the certificate), any separation agreement, ( these documents I carry when we cross the border anyway just in case)

If you fly or come by water you need a passport for the children. If you drive you only need the small birth certificate for children under 15 and it can be a photo copy (but personally I would have the original). They put this in for school trips and hockey teams, dance competitions.

 

[lizabu]

thanks so much

 

[Tinkermom76]

So if my kids (8 and 9) have passports ... then I don't need to do anything until they need to be renewed? Correct?

Ted

I would say that is probably not correct. I renewed my DD6's passport and had the old one that had NOT expired yet and they told me they couldn't issue me a new one unless I had the long form birth certificate. I also have custody papers that say I have sole custody and can obtain a passport for the child and travel out of the country with the child without the permission of the other parent and they still wanted the long form

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Also if you are a widow(er), remember to bring a death certificate. i was asked for one on our return the last trip.

 

[Kat&Dom]

I have to say I have already had to provide all these documents everytime I have applied and renewed my childrens passports.

The last time I renewed my DD 15 3/4 (at the time) passport I had my seperation agreement that said it superseeded any divorce judgement, it had been 10 years since my divorce and honestly I didn't even remember the document. I had to go to the court house and pay $2 to get a copy of it that said nothing about my child just the day of that my divorce was final.

I find it interesting that they are just officially requireing these documents this year.

Same for me. My son is 5 and for his first passport, we had to have the long version birth certificate.

At his renewal, his dad and I were divorced so I had my divorce judgement that stated I have Sole Custody of my son and can travel outside of Canada without the written permission of his father - plus my ex had signed off on the application but the agent asks me for a copy of the separation agreement! I didn't have a separation agreement as our divorce processed quickly so we didn't get one. It seemed to be a big issue to the agent that I didn't have a separation agreement but did have the Divorce Judgement!

 

[CanadianPaco]

I would say that is probably not correct. I renewed my DD6's passport and had the old one that had NOT expired yet and they told me they couldn't issue me a new one unless I had the long form birth certificate.

Oh bother! I can't even think where I put it!!!!!!!!!!

 

[encinc]

Oh bother! I can't even think where I put it!!!!!!!!!!

That's two of us. I should probably just order a new one now. DS's passport doesn't have to be renewed until September, but with my luck, something will take way longer than expected and we'll be caught without.

 

[SaraMc]

Its not like you even get the long for version.. WE just have the short little birth cert cards. It really just sounds like another way for the government to get more money out of us.

 

[Mickey Fanatic]

Also if you are a widow(er), remember to bring a death certificate. i was asked for one on our return the last trip.

I have carried my DH's death certificate every time we have crossed the border since his death, (only in March). They have never asked to see it but it is good to know that I am not crazy to be taking it with me, that maybe one day they will ask. It would be easier if the gov't put some kind of note in the child's passport so it wouldn't be necessary.

 

[youngb]

All i have is the wallet birth certificate. Can I still get passports with that. I need to get passports for august. Am I reading it correctly it doesn't come in effect until dec. 1

 

[endy]

I needed the long form 5 years ago.
I just renewed our passports last month and someone called me requesting the long form again. Of course I didn't know where it was and had to go to the registry to get a new one couriered. Cost $45 in AB.
If you have time o get them mailed I think it was around $30. If you're in AB call around to registeries for prices. I found a $5-30 difference between the few I called.