Travel Advice and Advisories - FAQ
The answers to the following frequently asked questions (FAQ) provide information that supplements our Travel Advice and Advisories.
- Travel Advice and Advisories
- Risk levels and Travel Advisories
- Stay connected
1. Travel Advice and Advisories
What are Travel Advice and Advisories?
Travel Advice and Advisories give you official Government of Canada information and advice on situations that may affect your safety and well-being when you are travelling or living outside Canada. They may include an advisory for a country or region where security or health conditions have changed.
Who should read Travel Advice and Advisories?
Anyone planning to travel or live outside Canada should read the Travel Advice and Advisories for their destination(s). Anyone already outside Canada should keep up with updates made to their destination's Travel Advice and Advisories.
How are Travel Advice and Advisories developed and maintained?
We analyze trends and incidents affecting international travellers, monitor world events and collect updated reports from different sources. We use this information to update the Travel Advice and Advisories on situations that may affect your safety and security when you are travelling or living outside Canada.
How often are Travel Advice and Advisories pages updated?
The pages are updated regularly and revised as security or health conditions in a country or region change.
How do I determine if it is safe to travel?
The decision to travel is yours alone. Following the Government of Canada’s official travel advice will enable you to make well-informed decisions for your personal safety and security.
2. Risk Levels and Travel Advisories
A risk level is our official measure of the safety and security of a destination, country or region. There are four risk levels:
- Exercise normal security precautions
- Exercise a high degree of caution
- Avoid non-essential travel
- Avoid all travel
What do the four risk levels mean?
Exercise normal security precautions
Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.
Exercise a high degree of caution
There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.
IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.
Avoid non-essential travel
Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.
Avoid all travel
You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.
A Travel Advisory is issued by the Government of Canada when it assesses that the security or health situation in a country or region poses a significant threat to the personal safety and security of Canadians travelling or living there. This could be caused by the threat of terrorism, civil unrest, war, rebellion, a natural disaster, political instability or a health emergency.
How often are Travel Advisories revised?
We monitor safety and security conditions in over 230 destinations worldwide, particularly in those for which we have issued Travel Advisories. As new information becomes available, the level of risk is reviewed, and a Travel Advisory may be issued, upgraded, downgraded or removed.
Should I cancel my trip if a Travel Advisory has been issued?
The decision to travel is yours alone. Following the Government of Canada’s official travel advice will enable you to make well-informed decisions for your personal safety and security.
If a Travel Advisory is issued for your destination, it may affect your travel insurance. Make sure you understand any terms and conditions in your insurance policy related to Travel Advice and Advisories from the Government of Canada. See Travel insurance for more information.
3. Stay connected
How can I keep track of safety and security conditions outside Canada?
Whether you are planning a vacation or living outside Canada, sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service, which allows us to notify you in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to our daily Travel Updates to receive emails on changes made to our Travel Advice and Advisories.
- Date modified: