Safety tips for travelling outside Canada during pandemic from Travel Canada

Stay in Canada, but if you must travel outside Canada during COVID-19 pandemic, follow these tips from Travel Canada to stay safe and secure.

Possible risks

• You may have difficulty returning to Canada or may have to remain outside Canada for an unknown length of time. Foreign governments continue to implement strict travel regulations, sometimes without notice. There are fewer international transportation options and they could be reduced at any time. There will be no more repatriation flights.
• You may have problems obtaining essential products and services.
• You may have limited access to timely and appropriate health care.
• You may suddenly face strict movement restrictions and quarantines at designated facilities at your expense.
• Your travel insurance may not cover some COVID-19 related expenses, and your insurer may limit the options to extend your policy after you depart.
• We may be able to provide only limited consular services.

 How to reduce travel disruptions

 At your destination

• Check your destination’s Travel Advice and Advisories regularly.
• Check your destination’s quarantine requirements.
• Monitor local media to stay informed of the situation.
• Follow the advice of local authorities, including public health advice, such as wearing a face covering in public and lockdown or shelter-in-place guidance.
• Make sure you have enough money, medication, food and water in case you can’t leave your home or accommodations due to movement restrictions.

Documents

• Keep important documents in a safe, but easy to access, place.
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least another 6 months. If you need to renew it, call the closest Government of Canada office serving your location. If the office is closed, your call will be transferred to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. The centre operates 24/7 and may be reached directly at +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available) or sos@international.gc.ca.
• Check with your travel insurance provider to find out if you are covered for medical treatment if you become infected with COVID-19.

Staying connected to Canada

• Contact your family and friends as soon as you can, even if you have not been affected, and continue to update them on your situation until you return to Canada.
• Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Make sure your contact information is complete and up to date. This will allow consular officials to contact you, provide updates and confirm your situation.
• Make sure you have a local SIM card and charger for your mobile phone.

Help for Canadians outside Canada

In case of emergency, call the closest Government of Canada office serving your location. If the office is closed, your call will be transferred to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. The centre operates 24/7 and may be reached directly at +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available) or sos@international.gc.ca.

If you are outside the country and are directly impacted by COVID-19, you might be eligible to apply for the Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad to help you return to Canada and to cover your short-term needs while you work toward returning.

Each application is assessed according to your specific situation and needs.

Source: Travel Canada