June 20, 2014 - The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), today reminded Canadians of the importance of careful preparation before leaving on their summer vacations.
Canadians love to travel. Each year, they make more than 61 million trips abroad, and while most vacations go off without a hitch, it is important for Canadians who are planning trips to get to know the road ahead of them.
“Our government has developed tools and services to help Canadians stay informed about safe and smart travel abroad,” said Minister Yelich. “We are committed to ensuring that Canadians get the advice and information they need, wherever they are in the world.”
Canadians travelling abroad are strongly urged to visit Canada’s revamped one-stop-shop for travel advice, travel.gc.ca, to read up on country-specific travel advice and advisories pages. These contain up-to-the-minute information on more than 220 countries worldwide—including information on security and safety, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, health precautions, border wait times and so much more.
Canadians should also sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service so they can be contacted for assistance in the event of an emergency. In addition, Canadians are strongly encouraged to purchase adequate supplementary travel insurance before leaving Canada—even for a day trip to the United States.
“To prepare for the unexpected, Canadians are urged to always purchase travel and medical insurance before they leave Canada,” said Minister Yelich. “In almost all circumstances, the Government of Canada—and taxpayers—cannot help pay for a ticket back to Canada.”
Canadians who require consular services while abroad can call the nearest Canadian government office. For emergency consular assistance after regular business hours, the government created the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, which can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted) or by email at sos@international.gc.ca.
“Our government has made safe travel for Canadians a priority,” said Minister Yelich. “We encourage all Canadians to make full use of these resources so they can make informed decisions regarding their well-deserved vacations.”
A backgrounder follows.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Saro Khatchadourian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)
613-944-2300
Saro.Khatchadourian@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada and @TravelGoC
Like us on Facebook: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada-DFATD
A single accident requiring hospitalization or medical treatment outside Canada could result in years of debt for anyone who is not prepared. Purchasing travel insurance is the best way to avoid large expenses and protect yourself.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for travel insurance:
- Do not rely on your provincial or territorial health plan to cover costs if you become ill or are injured while abroad. Even if you plan to go on a day trip to the United States, make sure you have travel insurance.
- You should buy a travel insurance package that includes coverage for health, life and disability; driving and vehicle; flight cancellation and trip interruption; as well as lost luggage.
- Make sure to check the country travel advice and advisories page when you are planning your trip and again shortly before you leave. If a travel advisory is issued for your destination, it may affect your travel health insurance or trip cancellation insurance.
- When applying for travel health insurance, provide all information on your medical history or you could invalidate a subsequent claim.
- Carry details of your travel insurance and tell your family or friends at home how to contact your insurer.
In 2013, there were almost 21 million Canadian passports in circulation; a valid passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document for Canadians travelling to another country and returning to Canada.
Here are useful tips to ensure your passport stays safe and sound:
- Check the expiry date of your passport before planning your trip. Many countries require that your passport be valid for several months after the date you plan to leave the country. Each country sets its own rules, so consult the country travel advice and advisories pages for the countries you will be visiting.
- If your passport is damaged, apply for a new one immediately or you could face delays or be denied entry at border crossings or boarding of flights.
- Confirm your travel insurance has document replacement and trip interruption coverage. If you lose your passport and must extend your stay, your additional costs could be covered.
- If you have dual citizenship and are travelling on the passport of your non-Canadian citizenship, you may also need your Canadian passport to re-enter Canada. Check re-entry requirements before you leave.
- The best way to ensure your passport isn’t lost or stolen is to always keep it in a safe place. This can include a hotel safe, money belt, purse or an inside pocket. Don’t leave it unattended in your luggage, vehicle, hotel room or elsewhere.
Finally, here are other tips Canadian travellers can keep in mind to help avoid delays in replacing a lost or stolen passport:
- Before leaving, ensure family or friends at home have photocopies of your travel documents, including your passport.
- Carry a photocopy of your passport photo page (page 2) with you when you travel, separate from your passport.
- Take two identical passport photos with you; this will speed up passport replacement.
- Keep the contact information of the Canadian government office nearest your destination close at hand to facilitate the submission of your replacement passport application.
- If your passport is lost or stolen while abroad, report it to the local police and to the nearest Canadian government office.
To access more travel information and services while abroad, stay connected to Canada through our Travel Smart mobile web app and travel email updates, as well as RSS feeds, and follow us on Twitter or find us on Facebook.
For more information, visit the Travel insurance page and read the sections on travel health insurance in the publications Bon Voyage, But… and Well on Your Way.
