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Last Updated:
November 15, 2007 18:00
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 21:32 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been updated (exercise normal security precautions; contact information). BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no Official Warning for this country. Antarctica
There are no serious safety and security concerns. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings and passports are secure. OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. There is no telephone or other communication services in Research stations and scientific expeditions are fully dedicated to scientific research and, with rare exceptions, have no capacity to provide support of any kind to tourists or casual travellers. Independent travellers must be fully self-sufficient from the time that they leave the departure country until their return. Other than a privately run base on the interior ice that caters to mountaineering-type expeditions, there are no tourist facilities on land. Various tourism companies can arrange excursions to the continent. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) publishes a list of its members, which is available at: IAATO Secretariat P.O. Box 2178, Basalt, CO, 81621, Tel.: F E Web site: www.iaato.org Any travel that is not part of an international scientific expedition or organized through a recognized tour operator is strongly discouraged because of its potential harmful impact on the environment and the lack of emergency facilities. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS A Canadian passport and/or visas may be required for travel through the country or countries that you transit en route to and from Antarctica. Please refer to the separate Travel Reports for those countries. Travellers on Canadian expeditions, Canadian vessels and those operating Canadian aircraft need a permit to be in the Antarctic, except when granted permission from another Party to the Madrid Protocol or in the case of an emergency. Detailed information about permit applications and application forms are available at Environment Canada's International Relations site. There is no fee associated with processing a permit to travel to the Antarctic. For further information, contact: Environment Canada Director General Multilateral and Bilateral Affairs Division 10 Wellington Street, 4th floor TLC Gatineau QC K1A 0H3 Tel: (819) 994-4404 Fax.: (819) 994-6227 A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. 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. 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. 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. 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. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS There is no resident Canadian government office in Antarctica. Canadians visiting Antarctica for longer than three months should advise Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa of their travel plans prior to leaving. For emergency assistance, contact the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS The Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection (Madrid Protocol), adopted in 1991 by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, designates Antarctica as a natural reserve. Several areas have ecological, scientific, historical, or other value and are afforded special protection. It is forbidden to bring any non-native species into Antarctica. This includes poultry, pet dogs, cats, and household plants. It is also prohibited to take or harmfully interfere with Antarctic wildlife except in accordance with a permit issued by a national authority. The Madrid Protocol came into force in 1998. Ratified by 30 countries, the protocol designates the Antarctic as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. Under the Madrid Protocol, parties are required to regulate the activities of expeditions organized in or proceeding from their territory to the Antarctic, as well as the activities of their vessels, aircraft and Antarctic stations. Canada ratified the Madrid Protocol in December, 2003, and developed the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act (AEPA) and its supporting regulation to implement the Protocol in Canada. In so doing, the Canadian Government oversees the activities of its citizens in the Antarctic, and provides the means to address potential future environmental risks in the Antarctic. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY N/A BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE Antarctica is the coldest, driest, highest (on average), and windiest continent, with 99% of its area covered by a permanent ice sheet. Weather conditions are severe and changeable. BACK TO TOP 9. 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 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. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION There are no organized or stand-by search and rescue or emergency evacuation facilities in Antarctica. Costs for search and rescue (or for the evacuation of private parties) will generally be charged to the party. Check whether your medical coverage includes provisions for emergency evacuation. Visitors should ensure they have equipment and clothing that meet Antarctic standards. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist 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. See Canada's Health Portal. 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. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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