Travel information Program - FAQ

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada not only offers consular services to Canadians around the world but also provides them with official travel information and advice, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to promote their safety and security overseas. The information must be credible and the advice timely to enable Canadians to be well prepared before departure, to minimize risks, and to make informed judgements and responsible decisions while abroad .

Country Travel Reports

Q: What is the purpose of Country Travel Reports?

A: The purpose of our Travel Reports is to provide Canadians travelling abroad with the Government of Canada’s official safe-travel information and advice on countries worldwide. Travel Reports may include a Travel Warning for a country, or region(s) of a country, where security conditions are dangerous (see the “Travel Warnings” section below). Travel Reports help Canadians make their own well-informed decisions regarding destinations and itineraries, in addition to planning and preparing for travel, to ensure a safe and positive experience abroad.

A: Travel Reports are aimed at all Canadian travellers, including tourists, business travellers, expatriates, and others who venture abroad.

A: We obtain continuous accounts of the safety and security situation abroad through our Emergency Operations Centre, which monitors world events 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information is gathered from a variety of sources, including Canadian Government Offices abroad, other Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada divisions, such as the Foreign Intelligence Division and geographic bureaus, and a number of electronic information services. We also consult with other federal government departments and the foreign affairs departments of like-minded countries. In addition, we examine information about consular cases occurring abroad. Travel Information Program (TIP) officers analyze, confirm, and synthesize this information to ensure that our Travel Reports are accurate and up-to-date at all times.

Q: How often are Travel Reports revised?

A: Travel Reports are revised and re-issued once every nine months. TIP officers also monitor evolving situations and events worldwide, updating Travel Reports as required.

Q: What principles are Travel Reports based upon?

A: Our priority in publishing Travel Reports is the safety and security of Canadians abroad. The information must be credible and the advice timely. Travel Reports must be consistent across regions and worldwide, while providing clear, concise, and balanced information to enable Canadians to make responsible decisions before leaving Canada and to minimize risk while abroad.

Travel Warnings

Q: What is the purpose of Travel Warnings?

A: The purpose of our Travel Warnings is to provide formal advice, recommending that Canadians postpone or avoid travel to a country, or specific region(s) of a country, when credible information suggests that it is not safe to travel. While Travel Warnings constitute an integral part of the Travel Reports in which they appear, they serve a distinct purpose in conveying the Government of Canada’s official travel advice.

Q: What principles are Travel Warnings based upon?

A: The following principles are critical in creating and maintaining consistent and credible Travel Warnings:

There are many events that can trigger a Travel Warning, including the threat of terrorism, civil unrest, war, rebellion, natural disasters, political instability, and health emergencies.

Q: How often are Travel Warnings revised?

A: We closely monitor safety and security conditions in foreign countries, particularly countries for which we have posted a Travel Warning. As new information becomes available, the threat level is reassessed, and the Travel Warning may be upgraded or downgraded to reflect new safety and security conditions.

Q: What do the different levels of Travel Warning mean?

A: There are nine different levels of Travel Warning. When compelling information indicates that it is not safe for Canadians to travel to a specific country or region, a formal Travel Warning is issued, recommending that Canadians avoid “all travel” there, and in some cases, depart that country or region. When the threat is lower, the warning will recommend that Canadians avoid “non-essential travel” to a country or region. Whether or not travel is essential is a matter of personal assessment, based on each individual’s family or business needs, concern for one’s safety, personal knowledge of a country or region, and other issues.

Current Issues

Q: What is the purpose of Current Issues?

A: Current Issues provide Canadian travellers with event-driven and timely information and advice on such matters as security, natural disasters, demonstrations, and health hazards, all of which could seriously impact on travel abroad. Current Issues enable the Government of Canada to communicate information to the general public quickly, clearly, and concisely.

Q: What do the different Current Issue categories mean?

A: Their meaning is as follows:

Middle East provides information on the ongoing situation in the region.

Security deals with such issues as terrorism, coups d'état, civil unrest, and other imminent security threats to Canadian travellers.

Avian Influenza contains questions and answers about avian influenza as well as advice to travellers abroad.

Demonstrations covers imminent or ongoing demonstrations that could affect travel.

Hurricanes includes general information about the annual hurricane season and advice about impending hurricanes.

Natural Disasters provides information on natural hazards, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, monsoons, and floods, which could interrupt travel.

Health addresses emerging health issues of importance to Canadian travellers (e.g. SARS, Ebola).

Travel Documentation reports on recent changes in visa requirements, the mandatory validity period of passports, and other issues related to travel documentation.

General deals with diverse travel topics such as religious pilgrimages, the Olympic Games, temporary embassy closures, and fuel shortages.

Upcoming Elections includes information on approaching elections and encourages travellers to be vigilant and avoid situations where political violence and demonstrations may occur.

Travel Updates

Q: How can I keep track of the safety and security situation abroad?

A: Travel information and advice is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the Consular Affairs Web site. You can subscribe electronically to “Travel Updates” or call our Emergency Operations Centre at 1 800 267-6788 or (613) 944-6788.