LAST UPDATED: October 21, 2025

With more and more snowbirds heading to international countries for the winter - in addition to the U.S. - it's important to remember that should you run into trouble while travelling, you may need the help of the Canadian embassy or consulate in that country.

So before you head off to your winter destination, it is highly recommended that you register with Canadian Consular Services prior to leaving Canada - although you can also register once you are in your destination.

This is particularly true if you are going to more exotic destinations such as Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean or Asia. But even if you are only going to the United States or Europe, you should still register.

Registering is fast, easy and free. The benefit is that the Canadian government will be able to contact you and provide assistance in the case of emergencies in your destination, such as extreme weather events, a terrorist attack, political unrest, etc...

And before you travel, be sure to check out the Canadian Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination. This will provide updates on issues such as health, political unrest, crime, emergencies, and more.

What do consular services do?

Canadian consulates and embassies can assist Canadians travelling abroad with a variety of issues, including:

• lost or stolen passports
• providing an emergency or temporary passport
• if you have been arrested
• if you are in need of medical assistance
• if you have been the victim of a crime, such as assault or fraud
• if you or anyone in your family dies while travelling
• helping families in the case of missing persons and
• local emergencies like flooding, civil unrest, etc…

A complete list of Canadian embassies and consulates can be found here.

Why should you register?

Registering with the government’s Canadians Abroad service enables the Canadian government to:

• contact you in the case of an emergency
• provide instructions of what to do during an emergency
• let you know if any urgent changes have been made to the Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination.

When registering, you will be asked to provide your travel information and details such as your date of birth, where you will be staying and your emergency contact information in Canada.

The government website also recommends that you do the following before leaving Canada:

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

How to register & stay in touch

Register Online: For fast and easy registration, you can register online with Canadian consular services.

Register In-Person: You can also register in person at a Canadian government office abroad.

Follow

In addition to registering, you can also follow the Government of Canada’s latest travel information on Twitter and Facebook

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/travelgoc?lang=en 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelGoC/