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Financial Assistance
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If I have financial difficulties while overseas, what should I do? |
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I need assistance in transferring funds. Where can I get help? |
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Will the government pay to bring me back home to Canada? |
Q: If I have financial difficulties while overseas, what should I do?
A: To avoid financial problems, you should carry only a small amount of the local currency and
use ATMs or traveller's cheques in the appropriate currency or in U.S. dollars for the rest of your
spending needs. Plan your finances ahead of time and budget your expenses while abroad. In
most instances, you can transfer funds from your own bank account or another private source
using one of the many commercial agencies, such as Western Union, that perform this service for
a fee.
Q: I need assistance in transferring funds. Where can I get help?
A: If it is not possible to transfer funds from your own bank account or another private source
using one of the many commercial agencies, such as Western Union, the nearest Canadian
government office abroad can assist you in arranging financial transfers from Canada. There will
be a fee of C$75. Three or four days are required for these transactions.
- Contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad and provide information on the
transfer, including details on the source of the funds and where you can be contacted. You
will also need to advise the source of funds in Canada that you authorize the transfer.
- Officials in Ottawa can make arrangements for a wire transfer from your bank. If you do this by yourself, you should advise your bank that the transfer should be to:
The Royal Bank of Canada
Lester B. Pearson Branch
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8V5
Tel.: (613) 564-2005
Fax: (613) 789-4796
For the electronic transfer to the Royal Bank, transit number 1016 and institution number 003 are to be used. The wire transfer should be made payable to the "Receiver General for Canada, Attn: L. Tessier." Your bank should ensure that the Royal Bank informs the responsible case management officer once the funds have been transferred.
- The transfer fee of C$75 will be deducted from the transferred funds.
- The Canadian government office will advise you once the transferred funds are available.
Q: Will the government pay to bring me back home to Canada?
A. The Canadian government will not pay for your return to Canada; however, Canadian government officials abroad will assist you in contacting relatives and friends to ask them to provide money or tickets for you.
In certain emergency situations and if it is not possible to arrange for funds from private sources, the nearest Canadian government office abroad can provide limited financial assistance out of public funds for a return ticket to Canada. This service is offered only as a last resort and is subject to strict rules. Fees apply.
This loan must be repaid as soon as possible after you return to Canada. You will be required to surrender your passport as a condition of such a loan, and you will have to sign appropriate documents. Your passport will not be returned or reissued until the loan is repaid. These loans carry an interest rate established by the Department of Finance.
Financial assistance is not a right, and it is provided depending on the individual circumstances of each case.
