Registration of Canadians Abroad: A Free Service that could Save Your Life

All Canadians travelling or living abroad should sign up for our Registration of Canadians Abroad, a free service that enables government officials to contact you and assist you in case of an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of an emergency at home.

The best time to register is before leaving Canada, but you can also register while abroad.    

The registration information process

You can register online or by mail, fax or in person.

You must provide travel information and personal details, such as your passport number, residency information in the destination country and emergency contact information in Canada.

Personal information obtained through registration is confidential and is used in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

Updating your account information

If you registered online, you can sign in to update your account information.

If you registered by mail, fax or in person, you must:

• contact the responsible Canadian government office abroad to update your account information, and
• complete a new registration form for each trip abroad.

If you choose not to sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service

You are strongly advised to make the following arrangements before you leave so that the Government of Canada can contact you in case of an emergency:

• Leave a detailed travel itinerary and contact details with family or friends in Canada
• Provide family or friends with the telephone number for our Emergency Watch and Response Centre, and
• Carry contact information for the Canadian government offices abroad in the countries you plan to visit.