Spring break’s almost here! If your children are travelling alone or with adults who are not their parents, do a little extra prep before they leave Canada, to ensure a smooth trip. On top of making sure they have travel insurance for children, and any recommended vaccinations, they should be prepared to travel with some specific documents.
Travel.gc.ca has some great tips for prepping children to travel alone. Here are some that we found useful.
Make sure children travelling alone have all the right paperwork
Individuals 18 or 19 years old (depending on province) and under are considered children, and need proper documentation when they travel:
- Canadian passport
- Consent letter/form – confirms the child has permission to travel abroad (alone or with one parent)
- Supporting identification, like a birth certificate or citizenship card
- Other legal documents like custody court orders or divorce papers
Prepare children for travelling alone by air
Travelling alone by air can be a daunting experience for children. Getting them prepared pre-trip and knowing what to expect, will help put your minds at ease.
Here are some things you’ll want to know/arrange:
- Find out if the airline will escort and supervise children from check-in to arrival
- Find out if there are age restrictions for minors
- Arrange for a parent or guardian to stay at the airport until the flight has left
- Make sure the person at Arrivals has the appropriate ID and authorization to pick up your child
Get travel insurance for children
To make sure your children are protected in case of an emergency while travelling, get them travel emergency medical insurance.
Their insurance should cover the following and more:
- Continuous coverage from the time they leave Canada until they return
- Out-of-country hospitalization for illness or injury and related medical costs. (Ask if your insurance provider pays up-front or if payment is later reimbursed.)
- Coverage for doctors’ visits and prescriptions
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Medical air evacuation
Have any tips for preparing children to travel alone? Share below!
Happy travels,
Sarah
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