Canada › Child taken abroad
My child was taken out of Canada by the other parent — what to do now
If your child was taken out of Canada without your consent, act through official channels right away: report to police, contact the correct Central Authority for your province, consult a lawyer experienced in Hague cases, and — if your child is in another country — notify Global Affairs Canada's consular service. Acting within the first days matters. Lawful action is what protects your case.
Call the police and report it today
Report the removal to your local police. A report creates an official record and can help activate lawful location channels, including through Interpol if the child's country is unknown. Bring any custody order or parenting agreement, and ask for the file/report number.
Contact the right Central Authority — for your province
Canada has a federal Central Authority (within Global Affairs Canada) and a separate one for each province and territory. Your case is usually handled by the Central Authority where the child habitually lived. It is a free service. Don't wait for perfect paperwork — make first contact now. Find the right office →
Get a lawyer who has done Hague cases
International child abduction is specialised. Ask directly: "Have you handled 1980 Hague Convention return applications?" If cost is a barrier, ask about legal aid in your province. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a return or offers to "recover" your child outside the law — that endangers your child and your case.
Notify Global Affairs Canada (consular)
If your child is now in another country, Canada's consular service can provide country information and welfare-related assistance. This is separate from the Hague return process, which your Central Authority and lawyer drive.
Preserve evidence — calmly and lawfully
Keep and back up: custody orders and agreements; proof of your child's life in Canada (school, medical, address history); any travel details you already know; and a dated timeline you update daily. Do not access the other parent's accounts, phone, or mail — it can be illegal and can damage your case.
What NOT to do
- Do not try to take your child back across a border yourself — "re-abduction" is a crime in most countries and can end your case.
- Do not confront, threaten, or follow the other parent.
- Do not track, spy on, or hack anyone's devices or accounts — location must come through police, courts, and Central Authorities.
- Do not post about the case or share your child's photos and details online.
- Do not sign anything under pressure without legal advice.
Canada's federal Central Authority
Justice Legal Services — Global Affairs Canada (federal Central Authority)
125 Sussex Drive, Tower B, 4th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
+1 343 551-1689
Languages: English, French · See your province's Central Authority · Full official contacts (HCCH)
Verified 2026-07-05.
What happens next
A Hague return application asks a court in the country where your child now is to order the child's return to Canada — it does not decide custody. The Convention aims for a decision within six weeks; in the most recent global study the average was about 207 days. Canada ↔ United States is a fast, well-worn Hague corridor. Check whether the Convention applies to your pair →
Last verified: 2026-07-05 · Sources: HCCH (Canada authority page), Justice Canada, travel.gc.ca · Reviewer: pending professional review (beta).