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Last Updated:
November 5, 2007 14:40
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:17 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2, 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 the 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. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times. Break-ins and thefts from hotel rooms and vehicles occur. Tourist facilities and services are limited. There are a few hotels on Majuro and Ebeye. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the authorities of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and was valid on June 20, 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 Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit the Marshall Islands. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of an onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds. Cholera immunization is required from travellers arriving from infected areas. HIV testing is required for visitors staying more than 30 days and for applicants of residence and work visas. Visas are issued upon arrival at the airport. A fee of US$20 is required upon departure. Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required Student Visa: Required 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 the Marshall Islands. Canadians in the Marshall Islands can obtain consular assistance and further information from the Australian Embassy in Pohnpei, Micronesia (under the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement), at the following address: Micronesia (FSM) - POHNPEI, Australian Embassy Address: H & E Enterprises Building, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Micronesia Postal Address: P.O. Box S, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Tel.: 691 320-5448 Fax: 691 320-5449 The High Commission of Canada in Canberra, Australia, has consular responsibility for the Marshall Islands. The address is as follows: 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 For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in Canberra, Australia, and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. 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. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Exercise caution when driving after dark. Majuro has one paved road but there are few traffic signs and no traffic lights. Majuro has a cheap shared taxi system and there are also minivan taxis that circulate on the main road. Be careful of animals roaming the streets. Some roads flood after heavy rains. Flights are often cancelled. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. The currency is the U.S. dollar (USD). Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and a few restaurants. U.S. dollar traveller's cheques are recommended. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE The islands border the typhoon belt. However, full-blown tropical storms and typhoons are rare. The rainy season extends from May to November. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. 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 Medical facilities are available only on Majuro and Ebeye and can provide adequate service for routine medical problems. In the event of a major accident or illness, medical evacuation is often necessary. Canadian travellers should be aware that medical transport is very expensive and payment is often required up front. 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. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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