4. LOCAL TRAVEL
Traffic drives on the left. Travel by road is dangerous. Most roads, including major highways, are poorly maintained and traffic is congested. Drivers have little regard for traffic regulations and do not follow safe driving practices. Do not travel by motorcycle or scooter after dark. Helmets are compulsory. Use only officially marked taxis, pre-negotiate the fare and seek information from authorized service counters at airports or railway and bus stations.Although there are now four land links between India and Pakistan, all these journeys are highly restricted. Canadians require a visitor visa to enter Pakistan. The border crossing is open on a limited basis only, and travellers should inquire in advance.
Air and rail traffic is sometimes affected by cancellations and rescheduling in northern India in December and January due to fog.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required.
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5. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
The monsoon season in western and southwestern India extends from June to September. Visitors should be prepared for disruption to local ground and air transport. Authorities have asked those travelling, living and working in Mumbai to be especially vigilant during high tide days. Flooding can be more severe at these times.
If severe flooding is repeated this year, or is of longer duration, there may be power outages, greater risks to personal security, and shortages of essential goods lasting several days. During heavy rains, visitors to western India, particularly coastal areas, should remain in a safe location and not venture out.
India is located in an active seismic zone. Canadians should know the address and telephone number of the nearest Canadian government office in the event of an emergency.
In the summer, northeastern India periodically experiences heat waves. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.
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6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 7 below. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The Department publishes A Guide for Canadians Imprisoned Abroad, specifically targeted at incarcerated Canadians. Its prime objective is to inform Canadian detainees, their families, and friends about available assistance and advice.
Dual nationality is not legally recognized, which may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Canadians should travel using their Canadian passport and present themselves as Canadian to foreign authorities at all times.
The Department publishes a booklet entitled Dual Citizenship: What Travellers Should Know, specifically targeted at Canadians with dual nationality.
There are reports of female Canadian citizens being forced into marriage without their prior knowledge or consent. Parents, relatives and the community may use relentless pressure and emotional blackmail, threatening behaviour, abduction, imprisonment and physical violence to coerce young people to enter into marriage. While both men and women experience forced marriages, it is a form of violence most commonly perpetrated against women. They have been unable to return to Canada, and their passports and money have been retained by family members. Canada opposes the practice of forced marriage and urges all countries to respect their international human rights obligations relating to free and full consent to marriage. Forced marriage constitutes a human rights violation under several legal instruments, including international human rights law, to which Canada is a signatory.
If you are in Canada and you believe that you are being forced to travel overseas or to marry, you should contact provincial social welfare authorities and your local police. You may also contact the Emergency Operations Centre (tel.: 1 800 267-6788) or the nearest Canadian government office (see Section 7 below).
Growing numbers of Canadian citizens have been caught up in marital fraud and dowry abuse in India. Most cases involve Indo-Canadian males who abandon their wives in India after cheating them out of large sums of money. Other cases involve misuse of India’s Dowry Prohibition Act. This law, which was enacted to protect women and makes demanding a dowry a crime, is sometimes used to blackmail men through false allegations of dowry extortion. Individuals facing charges may be forced to remain in India until their cases have been settled or pay off their spouses in exchange for the dismissal of charges. To avoid such problems, you are advised to register your marriage in India along with a joint declaration of gifts exchanged, as well as consider a prenuptial agreement.
Penalties for possession and trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect a minimum 10-year jail sentence and fines.
Strict regulations may be enforced on the temporary import or export of items such as firearms, antiquities, electronic equipment, currency, ivory, gold objects, and other prohibited materials. The Government of India recently passed a regulation requiring the registration of antique items with the local police, along with a photograph of the item. Canadians should contact the High Commission for the Republic of India (see below) for specific information regarding customs requirements.
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7. ASSISTANCE FOR CANADIANS ABROAD
You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following addresses:
India - NEW DELHI, High Commission of Canada
Address: 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India
Postal Address: P.O. Box 5207, New Delhi 110021, India
Tel.: 91 (11) 4178-2000/4178-2100
Fax: 91 (11) 4178-2023
E-mail: delhi.consular@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/New-delhi
India - CHANDIGARH, Consulate General of Canada
Address: S.C.O. 54-56, Sector 17A, Chandigarh 160 017, India
Postal Address: Chandigarh, India
Tel.: 91 (172) 505-0300
Fax: 91 (172) 505-0320
E-mail: CHADG-G@international.gc.ca
India - CHENNAI (formerly Madras), Consulate of Canada
Address: 18 (Old 24), 3rd floor, YAFA Tower, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034, India
Postal Address: Chennai, India
Tel.: 91 (44) 2833-0888
Fax: 91 (44) 5215-9393
E-mail: cheni@gocindia.org
India - KOLKATA (formerly Calcutta), Consulate of Canada
Address: c/o RPG Enterprises, Duncan House, 31 Netaji Subhas Road, Kolkata 700 001, India
Postal Address: Kolkata, India
Tel.: 91 (33) 2242-6820
Fax: 91 (33) 2242-6828
E-mail: ccklkta@rpg.in
India - MUMBAI (formerly Bombay), Consulate General of Canada
Address: 6th floor, Fort House, 221 Dr. D.N. Road, Mumbai, 400 001
Postal Address: Mumbai, India
Tel.: 91 (22) 6749 4444
Fax: 91 (22) 6749 4454
E-mail: mmbai@international.gc.ca
For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885 or use the services offered by Canada Direct.
Canada Direct, offered by Canada's major telecommunications companies, provides travellers with toll-free and hassle-free access to the Canadian telephone network. The Canada Direct access number from India is 000167, where a Canadian operator is always available. For more information, call 1 800 561-8868 or visit the Canada Direct Web site.
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8. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Indian authorities and, to the best of our knowledge, was valid on July 7, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change.
It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
Foreign Affairs Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the High Commission for the Republic of India and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit India. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. In the case of a lost or stolen passport, Indian authorities must provide clearance for an exit visa, which can take two to three days to obtain.
All travellers with visas valid for more than 180 days must register, within 14 days of arrival, with the local office of the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, or Chennai, and with the Superintendent of Police in all other districts.
Tourists must obtain a permit from the Indian government (diplomatic representatives abroad or the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs) to visit the following areas: certain areas of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands. The minimum period of notice required for processing the applications for permits is four weeks.
Tourist Visa: Required
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
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Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.
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9. MONEY
The currency is the rupee, which is a non-convertible currency. Traveller's cheques are widely accepted and can be exchanged at banks. U.S. dollar traveller's cheques are recommended. Credit cards are accepted. ATMs are available in larger cities.
Check with your bank for information on ATM services in other countries. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ATMs around the world. Your bank can advise if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) for overseas access to your account. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ATMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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10. GENERAL INFORMATION
India (capital: New Delhi) is the largest country in South Asia, bordered by China, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and Pakistan. The official language is Hindi, but English is widely used for official and commercial purposes. Tourist facilities are widely available in major cities and at main tourist destinations.
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11. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to closely monitor and report on occurrences of avian influenza A (H5N1), or "bird flu", in humans and in birds. Further information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and recommendations for travellers can be found on the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site as well as on the World Health Organization's Web site. For more information, see our Current Issues on Avian Influenza.
The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to monitor outbreaks of chikungunya virus - a mosquito-borne disease - on islands in the south western region of the Indian Ocean and in India.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to monitor the status of poliovirus transmission globally. Until 1988, polio occurred throughout the world and the virus was endemic to over 125 countries. Polio has since been eradicated in many parts of the world.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
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12. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Medical facilities are generally good in major centres, but are usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas.
Dengue fever is prevalent in some areas of India. Residents and travellers are advised to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves from contracting dengue fever by using mosquito repellent (DEET), and avoiding swampy or low lying areas where mosquitoes are more prevalent. Using physical barriers such as mosquito nets, long sleeved shirts and other physical protections are also recommended. People experiencing flu-like symptoms (loss of energy, fever, aching joints and muscles) are advised to seek medical attention immediately.
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13. RETURNING TO CANADA
Please consult the Current Issue on returning to Canada.
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14. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS
Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
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15. TRAVEL TIPS
Please consult our Traveller's Checklist.
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16. HEALTH AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
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17. FOR MORE INFORMATION
N/A
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18. ANNEX
N/A
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