Canada's Passport Alert Program: Preventing International Child Abduction for Ontario Parents

For a separated or divorcing parent worried the other parent might try to take a child out of the country without consent, Canada's passport system offers one layer of protection: a way to flag a child's file so a new passport isn't issued without the concern being addressed first. This tool works alongside — not instead of — the protections an Ontario family court order can provide.

If international travel is a genuine worry in your family situation, it's worth understanding what this federal program actually does, who can use it, and — just as importantly — what it can't do on its own.

This guide covers the basics of the passport alert program and how it fits with the family law tools available in Ontario.

What the Passport Alert Program Does

• Places a note on a child's file with the federal passport authority
• Is intended to prevent a new Canadian passport being issued to the child without the flagged concern being addressed first
• Applies specifically to Canadian passport applications — it doesn't control what a foreign country's passport or entry authorities do
• Is a preventive administrative measure, not a court order, and doesn't by itself resolve a parenting dispute

Who Can Request an Alert

• A parent or legal guardian of the child; no one else can make the request
• A parent with or without a court order; any order about decision-making responsibility, parenting time or mobility is sent with the request
• A person who can provide their ID and the child's birth certificate

Exact eligibility rules, required documents, and the request process are set by the federal passport authority and can change. Your family lawyer can help you prepare the request.

How This Fits Alongside a Family Court Order

Ontario family courts can include travel-related terms in a parenting order where doing so serves a child's best interests — for example, requiring both parents' written consent before international travel, or requiring passports to be held by a third party. Ask your lawyer whether this kind of order fits your situation, in addition to or instead of a passport alert request.

Limits Worth Understanding

• The program can't retrieve or cancel a passport the child already has
• It has no effect on passports issued by other countries, which matters if your child holds dual citizenship
• It's an administrative safeguard, not a guarantee — no single tool eliminates the risk of an unauthorized trip entirely
• It works best as one part of a broader plan that may also include a specific court order and clear communication with border and travel authorities

Frequently asked questions