Emergencies

The Operations Centre of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An experienced officer is always available to respond to emergency calls from anywhere in the world.

Emergency Services

We are here to help you in case of an emergency.

• Emergency contact

• Services offered by consular offices in emergency situations

• Doctors/hospitals in Mexico

• Report lost bank/credit cards

• Emergency wire/transfer of funds

• Filing a police report in Mexico

To Call Reversing the Charges from anywhere in Mexico, follow the instructions below↓

Emergency Contact Info

Canadian citizens outside Canada should call collect to:  (613) 996-8885.
First dial the International Services Operator at: , then give the operator this number: 613-996-8885, asking that the call be made "collect".

For calls originating in Canada, call 1-800-267-6788 or (613) 944-6788.

You can also communicate with us via TTY by dialling
1-800-394-3472 (in Canada and the U.S.) or (613) 944-1310.

Contact us directly via our secure online e-mail form.

You can also reach the Operations Centre by e-mail at: sos@international.gc.ca.

Fax: (613) 943-1054.

The Operations Centre receives approximately 190,000 calls a year, and is busiest in the early evening, Eastern Time. The Centre uses a modern Automatic Call Distribution system. Your call will be automatically sequenced and will be answered as quickly as possible in the order in which it entered the call-waiting queue. It may be necessary, due to a large number of incoming calls, to request that you leave a message. Please do so by listening carefully to the instructions on the voice-mail system and ensure you provide the area code and telephone number where you can be reached. An Operations Officer will return your call within 15 minutes.

  Click HERE to go to Enhanced Driver's Licence page.

Replacing your lost or stolen driver’s licence.

Sometimes the unforeseeable happens and your driver’s licence gets lost, damaged or stolen. Make sure you replace it as soon as you realize the problem.

What do I do if my licence is lost, damaged or stolen?

If your driver’s licence was lost or stolen outside B.C., and you need your licence to drive where you are:

Call our licensing staff in the following manner:

Canadian citizens outside Canada should call collect to:  (250) 978-8300.

First dial the International Services Operator at: , then give the operator this number: 250-978-8300, asking that the call be made "collect".

    * from Canada or Continental U.S.:  1-800-950-1498, or
    * from elsewhere: Call Collect:  250-978-8300

They will be happy to guide you on the next steps to take.

First Dial: ,  then give the operator one of the numbers listed below asking that the call be made "collect"  to your destination.

Banks

Bank of Montreal

Bank Cards: (416) 286-9992 (Call Collect)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Visa Cards: (514) 861-9898 / (514)861-4653 (Call Collect)
Bank Cards: (902) 420-2422 (Call Collect)

Desjardins

Visa Cards: (514) 397-4610 (Call Collect)

Royal Bank of Canada

Bank/Credit Cards: (506) 864-2275 (Call Collect)

Scotiabank

ScotiaCard: (416) 701-7200 (English)  /  (416) 701-7222 (French) (Call Collect)
Visa Cards: (416) 288-1440 (Call Collect)

Toronto Dominion Bank

Bank/Visa Cards: (416) 307-7722 (7:00 am to 12:00 am) / (416) 308-3763 (12:00 am to 7:00 am)
(Call Collect)

Credit Card Companies

VISA Travel Services (please call collect):
(604) 278-4108 - Call Collect) (24 hours a day)
(512) 532-8297 - Call Collect
(804) 673-1675 - Call Collect

When calling from the USA or Canada, please use the Toll Free Number below to access the operator first:

Registration of Canadians Abroad

We offer a registration service for all Canadians traveling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home.

Registration is voluntary, and personal information provided on the registration form is used in accordance with the Privacy Act. Under the Privacy Act, personal information may be disclosed in certain cases, for instance, where disclosure would clearly benefit the client, where the public interest clearly outweighs any invasion of privacy, or pursuant to a court order. Where deemed appropriate by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, personal information may be used for the protection or well-being of registrants and their family members.

Unless otherwise notified by you or a family member, the Canadian government office responsible for the country you are visiting will consider your trip completed on the anticipated departure date specified in your original registration.

For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad or contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad.

Register Now

• Traveller's Checklist
  Take charge of your security and ensure a problem-free journey by referring to the Traveller's Checklist while preparing for your next trip abroad.
  
  
• Travel Counsellor's Checklist
  Use this practical tool in your day-to-day work to provide comprehensive and essential travel information to your clients before they leave Canada.
  
  
• Pre-boarding Information
  Everyone has to be vigilant about safety and security when travelling. These helpful hints will help you avoid unnecessary delays so that you can travel smart and secure.
  
  
• Passports
  Your passport is the only proof of your Canadian citizenship and identity that is accepted in all countries. You and all family members should have a valid passport if you plan to travel outside Canada.
  
  
• Visas
  Permission to enter another country is the sole prerogative of that country. Verify in advance whether your destination country or countries require a visa for entry, and apply well in advance.
  
  
• Children and Travel
  Travel with or by children should be planned carefully to ensure everyone's safety. Make sure you and your children leave home with proper identification.
  
  
• Frequently Asked Questions
  Answers to commonly asked questions about living and travelling abroad.
  
  
• Registration of Canadians Abroad
  We offer a registration service for Canadians who will be living in a foreign country for three months or more, as well as those who will be visiting areas with potential for problems.

• Emergencies
  The Department's Emergency Operations Centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It offers assistance in case of an emergency situation abroad.
  
  
• Coping with Culture Shock
  Many people who travel or live overseas experience what is commonly referred to as “culture shock.” Although its intensity varies from one individual to another, most people experience a period of adjustment.
  
  
• Drugs and Travel
  Canadians often get into serious trouble for buying, selling, using, or transporting drugs. Being Canadian doesn't exempt you from local laws regarding illegal drugs.
  
  
• Who We Are and What We Do
  We are committed to providing a wide variety of services to Canadians abroad, but there are some limitations.
  
  
• Studying Abroad
  Canadian students have studied in every country of the world. Studying abroad requires careful preparation.
  
  
• Working Abroad
  All countries have special entry requirements for persons intending to work. Preparation is the key to a successful international work experience.
  
  
• Retirement Abroad
  There are many factors to consider when you're thinking of retiring in a foreign country, including tax laws, medical care, and security issues.

• Leaving a foreign country
• Re-entering Canada
  

Leaving a foreign country

Transport companies, such as air, rail, and bus services, are required to ensure that all passengers traveling to Canada can produce valid, universally accepted travel documents. This includes Canadian citizens returning to Canada from abroad. Transport companies, especially international airlines, may be fined if they carry improperly documented (pdf) travellers and are often liable to return those passengers to their point of origin.

A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s license, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Re-entering Canada

Returning to Canada means a stop at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) check point. Be sure to declare everything acquired abroad, whether purchases for yourself or gifts, as well as goods bought at a Canadian or foreign duty-free store. Keep original receipts. The booklet I Declare describes what you can and cannot bring back to Canada if you have been away for less than a year.

If you are planning to bring back gifts or other consumer products into Canada, make sure that they comply with Canadian regulations. Some products can have safety requirements and may be prohibited in Canada. For more information, please consult Health Canada’s Information for Canadians Travelling Outside of Canada.

Permanent residents (immigrants living in Canada who are not yet Canadian citizens) travelling outside Canada need a valid permanent resident card to return to Canada. Travellers should check the expiry date on their card and apply for a new one at least two months before they travel.  For more information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.