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Last Updated:
November 5, 2007 14:37
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 22:55 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Travel Report have been updated. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no Official Warning for this country.
Most Canadian visitors to 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. Violent crime in Demonstrations and public protests, which may turn violent, should be avoided. Attacks on backpackers have occurred. Travellers, especially backpackers, should ensure that their personal belongings are secure, particularly in crowded places. Robberies of safe-deposit facilities are common at inexpensive hotels and hostels. The emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire services is 000. Many regions in the interior of When swimming on public beaches always obey the lifeguards and swim between the designated flags. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with Australian authorities and was valid on April 12, 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 and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Australian High Commission 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 Australia. The passport must be valid for at least the duration of your stay in the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required Student Visa: Required Canadians intending to study in Australia for more than 12 months must provide a recent medical certificate or report from a doctor as to their current state of health. Medical and radiological examinations are also required. A fee is applicable for all student visas. For more information, contact the Australian visa information service at 1-888-990-8888. 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 Australia - CANBERRA, High Commission of Canada Address: Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra ACT, Australia 2600 Tel.: 61 (2) 6270-4000 Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 0011-800-2326-6831 Fax: 61 (2) 6270-4081 E-Mail: cnbra@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/australia The High Commission of Canada in Australia - SYDNEY, Consulate General of Canada Address: Level 5, Quay West Building, 111 Harrington Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Tel.: 61 (2) 9364-3000 Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 0011-800-2326-6831 Fax: 61 (2) 9364-3098 E-Mail: sydny@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/australia The Consulate General of Canada in Sydney issues passports to Canadian citizens in the states of New South Wales and Queensland, and in the Northern Territory. Limited consular services (providing passport application forms and contact information for other consular, immigration, and visa matters) are available from the Consulate of Canada in Perth and the Consulate of Canada in Melbourne at the following addresses: Australia - PERTH - , Consulate of Canada Address: 267 St. George's Terrace, Third Floor, Perth, WA 6000 Tel.: 61 (8) 9322-7930 Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 0011-800-2326-6831 Fax: 61 (8) 9261-7706 Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/australia Australia - MELBOURNE, Consulate of Canada Address: 101 Collins Street, Level 50, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Tel.: 61 (3) 9653-9674 Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 0011-800-2326-6831 Fax: 61 (3) 6270-4060 Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/australia For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in Canberra or the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in 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. However, Canada and Australia are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons which enables a Canadian imprisoned in Australia to request to be transferred to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Australian authorities. 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. Drunk driving laws are strictly enforced. The legal blood alcohol limit in many areas is .05. There is zero tolerance for drinking and driving for provisional driver's licence holders. Possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs may result in jail sentences and heavy fines. Australia has very strict rules and quarantine measures regarding the importation of food and animal products. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Traffic drives on the left. Exercise caution when driving in rural areas, particularly in the Northern Territory, due to roaming animals, excessive speeding, and "road-trains" (several semi-trailers hooked together). Drivers should pull over and allow oncoming road-trains to pass to avoid being sideswiped. Access to some remote locations may be impossible during inclement weather. Careful planning is required when travelling by car due to the great distances between settlements and many isolated outback areas. Permits are required when travelling on aboriginal territory. Ensure that your vehicle is in good repair if travelling on back roads or tracks. Carry sufficient supplies of gasoline, water, food staples, and a cellular telephone on trips. Before travelling to remote areas, tell a friend, relative, or somebody at the place you are staying: (a) where you are going, (b) what your planned route is, and (c) when you expect to be back. Public transportation is good. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. The currency is the Australian dollar. Traveller's cheques are accepted at banks or large hotels. Credit cards are accepted, but use may be restricted in small towns and outback areas. Automated banking machines are available in main cities. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE Australia is located in a seismic zone. Canadians should know the address and telephone number of the High Commission of Canada in Canberra in the event of an emergency. The cyclone season extends from November to April. Cyclones may occur along the coastal areas of Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. You are advised to visit the Web site of the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology for information on weather conditions. During times of minimal rainfall, usually from October to April, intense bushfires can occur. Canadians should follow the advice of local authorities and avoid affected or susceptible areas. 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 The standard of healthcare is high, and excellent medical care is available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Ross River virus occurs throughout Intense sunshine year-round in 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: Adoption by foreigners is almost impossible in this country. 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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