Paperwork

The first step before going abroad is to arrange the necessary paperwork:

1. Do you have a passport?
If so, is it valid?

2. Will you need a visa?
If so, what do you need to submit to obtain your visa? Visa requirements vary from country to country. You should contact the Canadian embassy in your region to find out what the requirements are and to apply for a visa.

3. Do you have a job offer or a class schedule? A work contract with an institution or an organization?

4. Do you have proof of insurance?

You may also find some other documents very useful, such as :

5. International Driver's Licence;

6. International Student Card.

7. Prescriptions

Make sure that all pharmaceutical drugs are in their original package and properly labelled as each country has different regulations about drug use.

Make photocopies of all of your documents: passport, visa, credit and debit cards, travel insurance, airline ticket, work contract (if necessary) or registration at a post-secondary institution (if necessary).

Leave a set of copies with a family member or friend and take another set with you. Make sure your photocopies are not in the same place as your original documents. In the event of theft or loss, you will be happy to have this back-up.

Finally, a few days before you leave, register with your embassy in Canada. This process will help protect your safety in the case of emergency.

For more information about travel planning, consult Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada's Travel Publications.