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Last Updated:
October 22, 2007 15:36
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:30 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Section 1, 2 and 3 of this Travel Report have been updated. Since January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens transiting the United States when travelling to and from Dominica by air must comply with entry requirements to the U.S. For more information, please see our Current Issues page. The hurricane season extends from June 1st to November 30th. For more information, please see our Current Issues on the hurricane season. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Dominica
Canadians should exercise a high degree of caution in this country due to limited medical resources, generally poor road conditions, unreliable public transportation, and moderate crime rates. 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. Petty crime increases during annual celebrations such as the carnival in February and the creole music festival in October. Visitors should exercise caution and ensure personal belongings and travel documents are secure at all times. Robberies and violent assaults have occurred near tourist facilities. Avoid unpatrolled beaches and unpopulated areas, especially after dark. Check with local authorities to determine which beaches are safe. Do not carry large amounts of cash or wear jewellery. A guide should be used for mountain expeditions. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with authorities at the High Commission for the countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean Sates and, to the best of our knowledge, was valid on July 9, 2007. 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 and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the High Commission for the Countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. For travel to Dominica, Canadians are only required to be in possession of valid official photo identification (such as a driver's licence) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate). However, travellers may encounter difficulties upon entry/departure without a valid passport. All travellers to Dominica must also be in possession of an onward or return ticket. Since January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens transiting the United States when travelling to and from Dominica by air must comply with entry requirements to the U.S. For more information, please see our Current Issues page. Tourist Visa: Not required Business Visa: Not required Student Visa: Required An airport tax is charged upon departure. 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 Dominica. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Barbados - BRIDGETOWN, High Commission of Canada Address: Bishop's Court Hill, St. Michael, PO Box. 404, Bridgetown, Barbados BB11000 Tel.: (246) 429-3550 Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 1-888-949-9993 Fax: (246) 437-7436 E-Mail: bdgtn@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.bridgetown.gc.ca For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in Bridgetown, Barbados, and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa toll-free at 1 888 949-9993. BACK TO TOP 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 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Possession of illegal drugs (including marijuana) may lead to large fines or imprisonment. It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in army or camouflage clothing or carry items made of camouflage material. Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning the temporary import or export of items such as business equipment, food and beverages, paints, varnishes, and chemicals. Canadians interested in purchasing property or making other investments should seek legal advice from appropriate professionals in Canada and in this country before making commitments. Disputes arising from such activities could be prolonged and costly to resolve. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Traffic drives on the left. Roadside assistance is not widely available. Roads are narrow and steep with few guardrails. Lack of traffic signs, lane markings, and warnings pose hazards. Roads outside the capital are unlit. Night driving should be undertaken with care. Road maps are essential. Car rentals are available. Travellers should purchase sufficient car insurance. A temporary driver’s licence can be obtained from the police in Dominica. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC $). U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE The hurricane season extends from June to the end of November. You are advised to visit the Web site of the National Hurricane Center for information on weather conditions. Flooding and mudslides may occur during this period with possible disruption to transportation and utility services. The water in Dominica's Boiling Lake has fluctuated in the recent past and toxic fumes could be spewed out, making it dangerous for visitors to approach. 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 As in many other areas of the The rate of HIV/AIDS infection is high. Travellers face a greater risk of exposure to the virus when engaging in unprotected sexual activity or when exposed to infected blood products. 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. Adoption: 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. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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