Child Abduction and Custody Issues

Your Canadian child custody arrangements may not be recognized in another country. In extreme cases, you or your child may not be allowed to leave the country once you have arrived. Confirm your status and that of your child with the country's embassy or consulate in Canada before travelling.

See Children and Travel for recommendations on travel documents and precautions to take when children are travelling alone or with only one parent or guardian.

Assistance

If a custody dispute arises while your child is abroad, or if your child or a child you know is missing and may have been abducted, contact the Case Support and Children’s Issues

Division of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada toll-free through the Emergency Watch and Response Centre. Consult our publication International Child Abductions: A Manual for Parents for further information.

Our Missing Children is a national program that aims to locate and recover missing and abducted children. The program is linked to all Canadian police and related agencies, U.S. police agencies and most foreign police agencies. The Missing Children Database is an important component of the program.

Once an abducted child has been located, the Travel/Reunification program helps parents or legal guardians who cannot afford to transport the child back home.

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