Canadian Consular Services Charter

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Global Affairs Canada is committed to providing effective and efficient consular service to Canadians around the world. The Government of Canada’s ability and success in resolving consular cases are conditioned, in many instances, by the laws and regulations of other countries as well as the quality and level of cooperation offered by persons and organizations outside the Government of Canada. When you request consular services abroad, Canadian officials will assess your situation and inform you as to how and when they can provide assistance or whether another provider is better placed to help. In emergency circumstances, every effort will be made to provide assistance. However, there are limits to the assistance consular officials can provide and you may have to pay for some of these services.

Assisting Canadians Abroad

Today, more and more Canadians explore remote corners of the world, work or volunteer abroad, participate in international student exchanges and retire in sunny destinations.

While most international trips are trouble-free, the Government of Canada is there to offer Canadian citizens information on safe travel and to provide consular assistance should they find themselves in trouble abroad.

This charter outlines the consular services the Government of Canada may provide to Canadians. There will be circumstances in which our ability to provide consular support may be limited. These circumstances are also outlined in this document.

Services to Canadian Citizens

Canada’s consular services program aims to:

We can assist:

If you are a dual citizen and travelling in the other country where you hold citizenship, local authorities may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services, thereby preventing Canadian consular officers from providing you with those services. See Travelling as a dual citizen for more information.

The decision to travel is a choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad.

What we ask of you:

Travel Checklist for Canadians

Consular Services Provided by the Government of Canada

Canadian officials provide consular assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through more than 260 points of service in 150 countries and through our Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

Each consular case is unique and the assistance we can provide will vary depending on circumstances.

Before you go, visit our Embassies and consulates page to find the location and contact information for the Canadian embassy or consulate closest to your travel destination. 

Always keep this information close at hand while travelling, and if you need emergency assistance, call the nearest office serving your destination.

Canadian government officials abroad can:

Canadian government officials abroad cannot:

When large-scale emergencies arise

During large-scale emergencies, such as natural disasters and civil unrest, the Government of Canada may:

Limitations to our services
Situations vary from one location to another, and there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide assistance, particularly in the case of natural disasters or in countries or regions where the potential for violent conflict or political instability is high.

Our ability to provide services in some instances may also be hindered by the laws and regulations of other countries.

What you can do if you need assistance when abroad

You may find yourself in various situations while you are abroad where some level of assistance may be required.

1. Whether you’re in Canada or out of the country and a family member has died abroad:

2. If you think your child has been abducted by the other parent, or you are facing an international custody problem:

3. If a friend or family member goes missing abroad:

4. If you or a loved one becomes ill or injured and requires medical assistance abroad:

5. If you or a loved one is arrested and detained abroad:

6. If your destination is affected by a large-scale emergency:

Your Privacy

Canada’s Privacy Act protects your personal information and consular officers are required to respect all of its provisions. The personal information they collect from you when you experience problems abroad is safeguarded by the Act against inappropriate disclosure.

However, in accordance with the Act, there are a few exceptions under which your personal information may be disclosed without your consent. In all cases, consular officers will make every effort to protect your privacy by limiting the amount of information disclosed without your consent to what is strictly required under the circumstances.

For more information on your privacy, consult the Consular Services Privacy Notice Statement or the Consular Policy Regarding the Use and Disclosure of Personal Information under the Privacy Act .


DISCLAIMER

Information on this web page is provided as a public service by the Government of Canada. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, information contained here is provided on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, express or implied.

The Government of Canada assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind and shall not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided. This publication is not intended to provide legal or other advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. The reader is encouraged to retain a lawyer and to supplement this information with independent research and professional advice.

Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive,
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2 Canada


© Her Majesty the Queen in Right
of Canada, represented by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2015


FR5-100/2015E-PDF
978-0-660-03188-0
Printed in Canada


For more information, visit our website:
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