If you are a parent planning to travel with your child or apply for a Canadian passport for your child, understanding the updated proof of parentage requirements is crucial. Recent years have seen changes aimed at protecting children and strengthening the Canadian passport system.

What Documentation Do You Need?

As of 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires proof of parentage with every child passport application, no matter if a passport has previously been issued. The goal is to protect Canadian children and ensure clarity in custody and travel matters.

Acceptable Documents for Proof of Parentage:

• A detailed (long-form) birth certificate issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics office, showing the child’s and parent(s)’ names.
• A court-issued adoption order with the adoptive parent(s)’ names.
• A foreign birth certificate listing the parent(s) (plus a certified translation in English or French if necessary).

If your surname or your child’s surname is different from what appears on the proof of parentage document, you must provide additional documents showing the legal link, such as a marriage certificate or a legal name change certificate.

Additionally Requirements When parents Are Separated or Divorced

If you and your co-parent are separated or divorced, you must also provide:

• Court orders or legal documents regarding custody, decision-making responsibility, access, parenting time, or mobility of the child.
• A copy of any divorce judgement, order, or separation agreement that refers to the child.

These requirements exist to ensure that all legal rights and responsibilities are respected and that no unauthorized travel occurs.

Language Requirements

All documentation must be in English or French. Any document in another language must be accompanied by an official translation.

Guarantor Requirements

The child’s application also requires a guarantor who knows the child (or knows parent applying) and who will sign the application and one passport photo. The guarantor must have known the parent for at least two years.

Important Things to Know

• Start gathering documents early to avoid delays.
• Only detailed, parent-naming birth certificates will be accepted as proof of parentage.
• If there are changes to your legal status, provide up-to-date court orders or agreements.
• Check the latest requirements directly with IRCC or a legal professional, as rules can change.

For the latest and most detailed information, visit Canada.ca’s Child Passport Application Page.

This blog was updated from an original FamilyLLB.com blog originally posted in 2011.