Share with Your Clients: Essential Information for Canadian Travellers

Canadians love to travel and Canadian travel professionals love to help plan their trips. But in order for travel to be as fulfilling and carefree as possible, there are a few key things travellers need to take care of before they go. 

To keep it quick and simple, we’ve broken the advice into three areas: travel insurance, travel documents and final preparations. 

Travel insurance: Do you need it? 

The short answer is yes — always.  

Imagine getting sick or injured while you’re travelling. Medical bills can add up quickly, easily reaching thousands of dollars, and hospitals abroad may not treat patients who don’t have enough insurance or money to pay. That’s why trip interruption and travel health insurance is so important for those planning to travel outside Canada, even for just a day. It can help cover the cost of medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage, and other unexpected events. 

When seeking the best travel insurance product, travellers should make sure it covers: 

• Medical evacuations to Canada or the nearest place with medical care
• Pre-existing conditions
• Repatriation in case of death
• Trip cancellations and interruptions
• Lost or stolen luggage

Many travel insurance policies may not cover you if you travel to regions where the Government of Canada advises to “avoid non-essential travel” or “avoid all travel.” This is why it’s important for travellers to check the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories before booking a trip, and to sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive important information, such as changes to the risk level, during travel.

Travel documents: Be prepared

Below is a list of key travel documents that travellers should have or may need:  

Passport: Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the planned return date. Some countries won’t let travellers enter if their passport is close to expiry. 

Visas: Visa requirements can vary significantly depending on the country. Travellers should check if they need a visa to enter a destination or extend a stay beyond initial travel dates.

Proof of vaccination: Some places might need proof that visitors have been vaccinated against certain diseases, like yellow fever. 

Emergency contact information: It is wise to keep contact information for the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate handy. 

Copies: Travellers should make photocopies or keep digital copies of important documents and keep them in a separate location from the originals. Leaving a copy with a trusted person in Canada can also be beneficial.

It is important to check the entry and exit requirements in the Travel Advice and Advisories for destination-specific requirements. 

Final preparations  

A few last things for travellers to remember in preparation for travel:  

• Read up on the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories for their destination(s). This provides important information such as safety and security, laws and culture and health advisories.
• Travellers should register their trip with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. This helps the Government of Canada make contact in case of an emergency.
• When booking with a professional travel advisor, travellers can always reach out if they need help. They should also carry contact information for the nearest Canadian office serving the destination or for Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

For more detailed information and resources, visit the Government of Canada’s travel website.