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Spread your wings, but stay on your toes   

For many of us, international travel is all about leaving familiar ground, soaring and exploring the world near and far. But taking off without a “flight plan,” without informing and preparing ourselves for what lies ahead in a foreign land, can have serious consequences, causing our international adventures to run aground.

This booklet is a companion to your Canadian passport. It offers vital information about:

It also includes:

• a directory of Canadian government offices abroad and contact information for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Emergency Operations Centre; and
• an Emergency Contact Card for you to note the coordinates of the nearest Canadian government office abroad and carry with you in case you need help.

We urge you to read this booklet before you leave home. Keep it close to you while exploring the world. And have a safe and enjoyable journey.

What are Canadian consular services?

With more than 260 points of service in 150 countries worldwide, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is ready to assist Canadians travelling, working, studying, or living abroad. Before you leave Canada, it is important to know which services we do and do not provide and to realize that not all Canadian government offices abroad provide the same services. The following list includes some examples of consular services. The $ symbol indicates which services are provided for a fee. 

Services offered by consular officials

In emergencies

• Arrange help in a medical emergency by providing you with a list of local doctors and hospitals.
• Arrange for a medical evacuation if a necessary treatment is not available locally ($).
• Provide advice and contact information on local police and medical services to victims of robbery, sexual assault, or other violence.
• Provide assistance in cases of missing persons or the abduction of a child to another country.

When legal issues arise

When other issues arise

• Replace a lost, stolen, damaged, or expired passport ($).
• Transfer funds if urgent financial assistance is required ($).
• Contact relatives or friends to request assistance in sending you money or airline tickets.
• Contact next of kin, with your authorization, if you have had an accident or are detained by police.
• Accept citizenship applications for approval by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Provide advice about burying a Canadian abroad or assist in repatriating the remains to Canada.
• Advise local police in Canada to contact next of kin in case of death.
• Request that local authorities investigate suspicious circumstances in the event of an alleged or apparent crime or death (although consular officials cannot interfere in a local investigation or legal matter).

Services not offered by consular officials

When legal issues arise

• Intervene in private legal matters.
• Provide legal advice.
• Obtain a criminal record check on your behalf.
• Post bail or pay fines or legal fees.
• Get you out of prison.
• Take possession of an abducted child.
• Enforce a Canadian custody agreement overseas or compel a country to decide a custody case.
• Investigate a crime or death.
• Ask local authorities to give preferential treatment to Canadians.
• Issue letters of guarantee.

When other issues arise

• Make travel arrangements.
• Compensate or reimburse you for delayed or cancelled travel.
• Pay your hotel, medical, travel, or other expenses.
• Store personal effects or search for lost items.
• Acquire local permits or licences on your behalf, including foreign visas or work permits.
• Assist with job hunting.
• Help you find accommodation.
• Accept mail on your behalf.
• Issue pension or social security benefits.
• Perform marriage ceremonies.
• Pay the burial, cremation, or repatriation costs of a deceased Canadian.
• Coordinate and pay for search-and-rescue efforts to locate missing Canadians.

Emergency consular services

Emergency consular assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For emergency help during office hours, contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad or the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa, where an experienced consular officer is always on hand. You may be asked to leave a message for a prompt return call. Make sure your message is clear and that you provide a telephone number or contact address.

Where there is no Canadian office, an Australian or British government office will provide you with emergency services. These and possibly other foreign offices can also contact the nearest Canadian government office on your behalf. 

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Before you go

Before you leave Canada, take time to learn about your destination and make sure it is safe to travel there. Some countries experience ongoing wars, insurgencies, or sporadic unrest that could impact on your travel plans. Trip cancellation insurance may be null and void if a Travel Warning is already in effect when a trip is booked.

Your Canadian passport

A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for Canadians. You and each family member must have a valid passport for travel outside Canada. Application forms are available at:

• The Passport Canada website;
• Passport Canada offices;
• Service Canada centres;
• Canada Post outlets; or
• Canadian government offices abroad.

Canadian travellers should plan ahead and apply for a passport before booking an international flight. To avoid delays in obtaining your passport, ensure your application is complete. Processing times may vary depending on the volume of applications received and, in certain cases, the complexity of routine verifications and security checks. Consult Passport Canada's website for the latest processing times.

Keep your passport safe

Do not leave your passport unattended. Keep it safely on your person, in an inside pocket, or in a hidden security wallet.

Make photocopies of your passport’s identification page and of your identification cards. For added security, keep copies separate from originals when travelling and leave copies with a friend or relative at home. In addition to your Canadian passport, we recommend that you carry your birth or citizenship certificate. These precautions may speed up the replacement of a lost passport.

If you are required to send away your passport to obtain a visa, we suggest that you use a secure courier service and enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged

Report the loss or theft immediately to the local police (either in Canada or abroad) and to Passport Canada or the nearest Canadian government office abroad. 

Before a new passport can be issued, you must complete an application form, present documentary evidence of your Canadian citizenship (e.g., a birth or citizenship certificate), submit new photographs, pay the required fee, and complete a Statutory Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Damaged, Destroyed or Inaccessible Canadian Passport or Travel Document form (PPTC 203).

If you regain possession of a passport that was reported lost or stolen, do not use it for travel, as you will encounter difficulties. Return it immediately to Passport Canada or the nearest Canadian government office abroad.        

If your passport is damaged, apply for a new one. Otherwise, you could encounter significant delays at passport checkpoints, airlines might prohibit you from boarding, and you may be refused entry or exit at border crossings.

Visas and other entry requirements

You need a visa to enter certain countries. The most common categories are business, work, student, and tourist visas. Be sure to obtain any visas and fulfill all entry requirements well before travelling. For details, consult with your travel counsellor or the destination country’s embassy or consulate in Canada (see our website for a list of foreign government offices accredited to Canada).

Some examples of entry requirements include:

• a certified criminal record check (provided by the RCMP);
• a medical certificate;
• proof of HIV testing; and
• a yellow fever vaccination certificate (if you are arriving from an infected area).

Some countries will allow you to enter only if you can prove you will be leaving and have enough money to support yourself during your stay. Be prepared to show your return or onward ticket, a bank statement, or any visas that demonstrate that you plan to visit another country.

Children travelling abroad 

All children need a valid Canadian passport to travel abroad. The practice of adding a child’s name to a parent’s passport is no longer permitted. Make sure you and/or your child also carry supporting identification, such as birth certificates, baptismal certificates, citizenship cards, records of landing, or certificates of Indian status. Check with each destination country’s embassy or consulate regarding additional entry conditions and documentation that may be required, including divorce papers, custody court orders, or a death certificate (if one parent is deceased). These documents will also help prove your citizenship, residency, and custodial rights when returning to Canada. Keep some form of identification in your child’s pocket in case you are separated. Carry recent photographs of your child for emergency identification purposes.

We strongly recommend that children under 18 carry a consent letter to facilitate entry into the destination country. A letter should be obtained from every person or organization with custodial rights, guardianship rights, or parental authority (in Quebec only). For example, children travelling alone, with groups, or with only one custodial parent should carry a consent letter proving they have permission to travel. We recommend that you have the consent letter certified, stamped, or sealed by an official with the authority to administer an oath or solemn declaration (i.e., a commissioner for oaths, notary public, or lawyer), so the validity of the letter will not be questioned.

Seek advice from a lawyer if you cannot obtain the consent of the other parent or if a custody dispute might develop while your child is abroad. Custody arrangements in Canada may not be recognized in another country. In some cases, you or your child may not be allowed to leave that country. Check your status with the country’s embassy or consulate in Canada before going abroad. If you have questions about custody issues, contact our Children’s Issues Section at 1-800-387-3124 (in Canada) or 613-996-8885.

Some airlines will escort and supervise an unaccompanied child from check-in through arrival. Note that airlines require a parent or guardian to stay at the airport until a flight has departed. The person greeting the child at the point of arrival must have appropriate identification and authorization. Be sure to contact the transportation company in order to observe any other policies that may apply.

For further details, see our fact sheet entitled Travelling with children or visit our Children and Travel section.

Travel with a same-sex spouse

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, they are not recognized in many countries. Same-sex civil unions are more widely recognized. Attempting to enter another country as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. In addition, homosexual activity is a criminal offence in certain countries and could result in a prison or death sentence. Consult our Country Travel Reports or the destination country’s embassy or consulate in Canada for specific information.

Dual citizenship

You are permitted by Canadian law to have more than one nationality. However, your Canadian citizenship may not be recognized in the country of your second citizenship, where authorities may prevent Canada from providing you with consular assistance. This situation is especially likely if you do not use your Canadian passport to enter the second country. However, your Canadian citizenship may still not be recognized in certain countries, even if you travel with a Canadian passport.

If you are considered a national of another country, you may be compelled to do military service, required to pay taxes, or subject to increased scrutiny by immigration and security officials. Dual citizenship can also cause problems in a third country if there is confusion over which citizenship you used to gain entry. To avoid unpleasant surprises, find out if you, your spouse, or any other family member may be a citizen of another country.

Where permitted by the laws of the country in question, the Government of Canada encourages Canadians to use their Canadian passport when travelling abroad and to present themselves as Canadians to foreign authorities. For more information, see our booklet Dual Citizenship: What You Need to Know.

Travellers with disabilities

Travellers with visual, hearing, mobility, or other impairments may have difficulty meeting their needs in certain countries. For information on government services for disabled travellers, meeting special needs, parking privileges, and travelling with a service animal, see the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website.

Protecting your health

(Provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada)

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include obtaining sound medical advice before going abroad. Contact a travel medicine clinic or your physician at least six weeks before departure for an individual health assessment. Your physician will assess your need for vaccinations, preventive medication, and advice on precautions you can take to avoid disease while travelling. 

Vaccination, preventive medication, and personal protective measures

International travel can expose you to infectious diseases not frequently seen in Canada. Based on your current health status, immunization history, and anticipated itinerary, a healthcare provider can assess your individual health risks and advise you on vaccination requirements, your need for preventive medication (e.g., for malaria), and personal protective measures.

Ensure that your routine immunizations, such as tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, are up-to-date. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required to enter some countries. Be aware that some vaccinations and preventive medications can take time to become effective.

If you are travelling with infants or small children, you may need to arrange an alternative or accelerated childhood immunization schedule for them. For further information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health website.

Medication

If you take medication, be sure to pack an extra supply in case you are away for longer than expected. Carry a duplicate of your original prescription, listing both the generic and trade names of the product, in case your medication is lost or stolen.

Do not try to save luggage space by combining medications in one container. Keep all medications in the original, labelled container to avoid customs problems.

Some medications that are sold over the counter in Canada are illegal or require a prescription in other countries. Find out whether your medication is legally available in the country you plan to visit. For travel to some countries, it is advisable to obtain a note from your doctor stating the medical reasons for your prescription and the recommended dosage.

If you need syringes for a medical condition, such as diabetes, it is important to take along an adequate supply. You should also carry a medical certificate that indicates the syringes are for medical use.

WELL ON YOUR WAY

The booklet Well on Your Way offers valuable advice on how to protect your health while abroad, including information on:

• assessing travel health risks;
• taking preventive measures before, during, and after international travel;
• coping with a health emergency abroad; and
• obtaining consular services in the event of a health emergency.

To order your booklet today, call 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada) or 613-944-4000, or download or order a copy online.

Supplemental travel health insurance

Do not rely on your provincial or territorial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. Out-of-country health care can be costly, and your health plan may not cover any medical expenses abroad. It is your responsibility to seek information from your provincial or territorial health authority and to obtain supplementary travel insurance and understand the terms of your policy.

Carry details of your insurance with you while travelling and leave a copy with a friend or relative at home.

Your provincial or territorial health insurance plan will become invalid if you live elsewhere beyond a certain length of time. Personal medical insurance is available for individuals and their dependants living outside Canada for extended periods. Check with your insurer before you leave Canada.

You may also want to purchase a travel insurance package that includes flight cancellation, trip interruption, and/or lost luggage coverage. Doing so can prevent major disruptions and additional costs.

Post-travel medical matters

See your doctor if you become sick or feel unwell after returning to Canada. Inform the doctor, without being asked, that you have been travelling or living outside Canada and where you have been.Explain your travel history and any treatment you received.

Travelling by car

Keep in mind that each country has its own driving regulations. In some countries, a driver may be questioned and/or detained by police following even a minor accident. You may be required to obtain an International Driving Permit and/or additional insurance to drive a vehicle in another country. For further information, consult our Country Travel Reports or the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).

Money matters

Canadian currency and traveller’s cheques are rarely accepted abroad. Before you leave Canada, consult a bank or foreign currency agent to find out the most appropriate currency to carry.

It is always a good idea to have a small amount of local currency on hand when you arrive, unless importing local currency is a crime. There may be restrictions on the amount of money you can take into or out of a country. Check currency regulations with your travel agent or the country’s embassy or consulate in Canada.

Be aware that your debit or credit card may not be accepted abroad. Check with your bank for information on ATM services in other countries.

Before departure, make arrangements to obtain additional funds if needed.

Avoiding customs difficulties

Before taking valuable items abroad, you can use a free identification service at any office of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). For more information, consult the CBSA publications I Declare or Travelling Outside Canada.

Transport of dangerous goods

Passengers are generally not permitted to transport dangerous goods aboard aircraft, whether in carry-on luggage, in checked baggage, or on their person. Certain goods, such as medicinal products, toiletry articles, and alcoholic beverages (in retail packaging), are allowed. Be especially aware of restrictions on liquids, gels, and aerosols packed in carry-on luggage. Their containers cannot exceed 100 ml and must fit in a single clear, closed, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of one litre. Consult your airline or Transport Canada’s website to find out what you can and cannot take with you.

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On your way

Taking precautions

The same safety rules apply while abroad as at home, only more so. Foreigners are usually at greater risk than locals. In some countries, foreigners are specifically targeted.

• Be sure not to wander into unknown areas—find out how safe they are first.
• Never leave drinks unattended while in bars or nightclubs and never accept food or drink from strangers. Drugs may be present that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.
• Do not pick up hitchhikers or cross borders with people you have just met.
• Watch your luggage and make sure it is locked.
• Never take anything, even an envelope, across a border for someone else.
• Do not display large amounts of money or expensive jewellery in public.
• Use a money belt or a case with concealed sections for valuables.
• Remember to telephone home, particularly if you have promised family members or friends that you will do so. Consular Services receives thousands of calls every year from worried family members or friends who have not received a promised call.
• Keep a separate record of your traveller’s cheques and credit cards.
• Never carry your passport, travel tickets, identification documents, cash, credit cards, and insurance papers together. If you do so, you risk being left with no identification or funds in case of theft or loss.
• Use the safety deposit box at your hotel. Never leave valuables in your room.

Foreign laws and customs

When travelling or living in a foreign country:

• Familiarize yourself with the way of life. Respect that country’s laws, religions, culture, class structure, and economic conditions. Although you may not agree with some of the country’s beliefs, remember that you are a visitor.
• Respect local dress codes. In many countries, appropriate attire for both sexes is very important and may even be legislated. Penalties for disobeying local laws can be severe.
• Be especially respectful of religious sites, such as temples, mosques, churches, and synagogues. Many are off limits to foreigners or people who are not members of that faith. Ask permission before taking photographs of religious artifacts, buildings, or local people.
• Never take photographs of military facilities, a harbour where naval vessels are docked, or industrial installations such as oil refineries. Your camera could be confiscated, and you could even come under suspicion of espionage.

Crime and punishment

Thousands of Canadians are currently imprisoned abroad for a wide range of offences. The legal systems of other countries can be very different from that in Canada, and ignorance is no defence when a crime is committed.

While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and regulations. Your Canadian citizenship offers no immunity.

If you find yourself in trouble, Canadian consular officials abroad can provide a list of lawyers with the necessary expertise, contact your family and friends, and ensure you receive fair treatment according to the standards of that country. They cannot, however, wield any influence to reduce your sentence or fine.

Judicial process

Never assume that the legal system of another country is the same as at home. “Innocent until proven guilty” is not a universal principle.

If you are accused of a crime, you may be detained for an indefinite period, with no opportunity for bail, pending a verdict. In certain countries, you may not have a right to legal representation or to a trial in your own language.

Some countries do not recognize or respect religious freedom; freedom of association, speech, or the press; or equality of the sexes. For instance, guilt by association is often presumed, and you may be charged just for being in the company of a person suspected or found guilty of a crime.

Even if you are an innocent bystander at a riot or demonstration, you may be considered a participant and be rounded up with those involved.

If you do find yourself in legal trouble, contact the nearest Canadian government office at once. If you cannot do so yourself, have someone else do it for you.

Illegal drugs

While recreational drugs may be readily available in some countries, their purchase, consumption, import, and export are prohibited almost everywhere. Buying and using drugs, even in countries where such practices are common, can lead to criminal charges, heavy fines, and long prison sentences. If you break the law in another country, you are subject to that country’s judicial system.

Choose your travel companions wisely. Never cross a border with a hitchhiker or as a hitchhiker. Although you may not be carrying anything illegal, your companions may be. And never take a package that is not yours across a border. For details, consult our Drugs and Travel section.

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Coming home

Departure tax

Some countries impose a departure tax or service fee at the airport or point of departure. Before leaving a foreign country, make sure you set aside enough money in local funds to pay this tax. See our Country Travel Reports for more information.

Duty- and tax-free personal exemptions

(Provided by the Canada Border Services Agency)

When you return to Canada, you may qualify for a personal exemption, depending on the length of your absence. Your personal exemption allows you to bring goods of a certain value into Canada without paying duty and taxes.

Alcoholic beverages

If you meet the minimum age requirements of the province or territory where you enter Canada and have been absent for at least 48 hours, you can include limited quantities of alcoholic beverages (products that exceed 0.5% alcohol by volume) in your personal exemption. You may bring back only one of the following maximum quantities of alcoholic beverages free of duty and taxes:

• 1.5 litres (52 oz.) of wine;
• 1.14 litres (40 oz.) of alcoholic beverages; or
• 8.5 litres of beer or ale.

Tobacco products

If you are 18 years of age or older, you may bring back up to five units of the following tobacco products, free of duty and taxes within your personal exemption for personal use. Each unit of tobacco products consists of one of the following:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 50 cigars;
• 200 tobacco sticks; and
• 200 grams (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco.

Unless they are marked “Canada-Duty Paid-Droit acquitté,” tobacco products included in a personal exemption are still subject to a minimum duty (in accordance with the Excise Act,2001).

Be aware and declare

You must declare all items purchased or acquired abroad, whether they are intended for yourself or as gifts, as well as goods bought at a Canadian or foreign duty-free store. Keep your original receipts for possible inspection.

The brochure Travelling Outside Canada, published by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), describes what you can and cannot bring back to Canada if you have been away for less than a year.

If you have any questions about what you can bring home, contact the CBSA Border Information Service Line.

Illegal souvenirs

There are restrictions on bringing certain goods into Canada. If you are considering bringing back meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruits or vegetables, plants, animals, or products made from their skins or feathers, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) beforehand for guidance—it could save you a lot of trouble. For accurate and timely information on import requirements, consult the Government of Canada’s Be Aware and Declare! website.

For information on importing weapons, contact the Canada Firearms Centre.

A list of products banned in Canada due to safety hazards can be found on the website of Health Canada.

There are more than 30,000 species of wild animals and plants regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). A violation of CITES could lead to seizure of your purchase, as well as a fine and/or prison term. Contact Environment Canada for details.

Also, be aware that it may be illegal to bring home cultural property, such as antiques or fossils, whose sale or export is banned or controlled by the country of origin. Strict penalties may be imposed, and cultural property may be confiscated and returned to the country of origin. For more information, contact Canadian Heritage or the embassy of the country you are visiting.

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Consular Services

Consular Services website
www.travel.gc.ca

General
Tel.: 1-800-267-6788 (in Canada and the U.S.) or 613-944-6788
TTY: 1-800-394-3472 (in Canada and the U.S.) or 613-944-1310
E-mail: travel@international.gc.ca

Emergencies
Tel.: 613-996-8885 (call collect from abroad, where service is available)
E-mail: sos@international.gc.ca

Drugs and Travel Information Program
www.travel.gc.ca/drugs

Publications (free)
Access our smart-travel publications or order them by calling 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada) or 613-944-4000.

Country Travel Reports
Our Travel Reports provide vital information on safety and security, local laws and  customs, health conditions, and entry requirements for approximately 200 travel destinations. This information is also available by phone: 1-800-267-6788 (in Canada and the U.S.) or 613-944-6788.

Diplomatic Offices
Canadian government offices abroad:
www.travel.gc.ca/offices

Visit our For More Information page.

Publication Information

Published by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Information in this publication is readily available for personal and public non-commercial use and may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. We ask only that:

• Users exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced;
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada be identified as the source department; and
• the reproduction not be represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

All information in this publication is provided on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate. The reader is also encouraged to supplement this information with independent research and professional advice.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

To obtain more information or free copies of this publication, write to:

Enquiries Service
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2
Tel.: 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada) or 613-944-4000
E-mail: enqserv@international.gc.ca

We would like to receive your comments on this publication. Write to us at the address above or e-mail us at travel@international.gc.ca.