Arrest or Detention

	How do I get assistance if I'm arrested abroad?
	Can consular officials arrange for my release from prison?
	What can consular officials do for a Canadian imprisoned abroad?
	As well as being a Canadian, I'm a citizen of the country where I was arrested. Does being a dual national affect what consular officials can do for me?

Q: How do I get assistance if I'm arrested abroad?

A: You should clearly inform the arresting authorities that you wish to have Canadian consular officers notified immediately of your arrest. The arresting authorities have an obligation, under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to advise you of your rights of access to a consular representative and to make arrangements for such access. They are not required to inform a Canadian diplomatic or consular office of your detention or arrest unless you specifically ask them to do so.

For further assistance, contact the Department's Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa or the nearest Canadian government office abroad.

Q: Can consular officials arrange for my release from prison?

A: No. You are subject to the criminal justice system of the country in which you are travelling. Although Canadian consular officials can provide assistance and support to Canadians in jail, they cannot:

• arrange for your release from prison;
  
  
• post bail, pay lawyers' fees or pay fines; or
  
  
• seek preferential treatment for you, or try to exempt you from the due process of local law.

Q: What can consular officials do for a Canadian imprisoned abroad?

A: Consular officials can:

• ensure equitable treatment under local laws, consistent with the standards of the host country, and assist in ensuring that your legal rights, as provided locally, are protected;
  
  
• conduct prison visits and ensure treatment consistent with what could reasonably be expected by the host country’s own citizens;
  
  
• notify your next of kin, at your request, about your situation; let them know whether, and how, they can help; and keep them informed;
  
  
• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and information about local legal aid;
  
  
• direct you to sources of information about local laws, regulations, cultural customs and visas; and
  
  
• provide a loan, but only as a last resort and in exceptional circumstances (i.e. there is no one else who can help you). You must meet strict rules. You may be required to surrender your passport as a condition of such a loan, and you will be required to sign appropriate documents. These loans carry an interest rate established by the Department of Finance. Your passport will not be returned or reissued until the loan is repaid.

Q: As well as being a Canadian, I'm a citizen of the country where I was arrested. Does being a dual national affect what consular officials can do for me?

A: Yes. If you are arrested in the country where you hold dual nationality, the Canadian government's ability to provide assistance may be limited by the laws and practices of that country. Nonetheless, you should request access to Canadian consular officials. Consular officials aim to provide protection for all Canadian passport holders, regardless of whether they are dual nationals. Also, consult the Department's publication Dual Citizenship: What Travellers Should Know.