Arrest or Detention - Consular Affairs

If you are arrested or detained in another country, you should clearly inform the arresting authorities that you wish to have the nearest Canadian government office abroad notified immediately of your arrest.
The arresting authorities have an obligation, under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to advise you of your rights of access to a consular representative and to make arrangements for such access. They are not required to inform a Canadian diplomatic or consular office of your detention or arrest unless you specifically ask them to do so.

Note: If you are arrested in the country where you hold dual nationality, the Canadian government's ability to provide assistance may be limited by the laws and practices of that country. Nonetheless, you should request access to Canadian consular officials. Consular officials aim to provide protection for all Canadian passport holders, regardless of whether they are dual nationals.