Canadian Government's information for travelers to Cuba
1. INTRODUCTION
This Travel Report replaces the previous one, dated January 6, 2005. Changes have been made in section 6 of this report.
2. ATTENTION
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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
There continues to be an increase in the number of Canadians who are victims of pickpocketing, theft, and assault, especially in Old Havana, in Havana near the Plaza de la Revolución (Barrio Cerro) and in various parts of Vedado, and on the beaches of Varadero and Playas del Este. Petty crime occurs at a low level. Exercise caution at all times, especially in tourist areas. Ensure personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times. Incidents should be reported to local police, even though they will often just provide a slip of paper indicating that they took a statement on a certain date. Police officers may only speak Spanish. In cases where a Canadian has been robbed of all identification and money, it is advisable to contact the Canadian Embassy before contacting the police in order to avoid being held in jail until your identity is confirmed and your solvency restored.
Driving in Cuba is dangerous. Traffic accidents are the most frequent cause of the detention and trial of Canadians in Cuba, whether you are responsible for the accident or not. Accidents that result in death or injury are treated like crimes, and the onus is on the driver to prove innocence. Prison sentences can range from one to 10 years. Regardless of the nature of the crime or accident, it can take five months to a year for the case to go to trial. In most cases, you will not be allowed to leave Cuba until the trial has taken place.
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4. LOCAL TRAVEL
Canadians should avoid driving. Road travel can be hazardous. Signs are scarce. Bicycles, pedestrians, and horse-drawn carts use the middle of the road and do not readily give way to oncoming vehicles. Many vehicles are old and poorly maintained. Inoperable vehicles are often left on the road until repaired. Few roads are lit and vehicles rarely have lights or reflectors. If you must drive, drive defensively at all times and avoid driving after dark. The Autopista Central (national highway), which runs the length of the island, is generally in good condition. Other roads are generally poor.
Canadians should be cautious when renting a vehicle in Cuba. Although insurance is offered, coverage differs from that in Canada. If the traveller is in any way at fault in an accident, rental agencies will nullify coverage and seek damages to cover the cost of repairs. Contract agreements do not cover occasional drivers and the signatory is responsible for all people driving the vehicle. Rental agencies are government-controlled and can prevent your departure from the country unless payment is obtained. Charges associated with accidents can range in the thousands of U.S. dollars.
Cubana operates Airbus 320s on its routes between Canada and Cuba. Russian Antonov-24 aircrafts are still used for internal flights. In March 2002, a Russian Antonov-2, an aircraft that is no longer being used, crashed and killed 16 foreigners.
The Viazul bus company runs a good-quality intercity service, but service is not frequent. City buses are scarce and crowded.
Tour companies offer good bus service between airports and the all-inclusive resorts. Buses used for organized day trips from hotels are also in good condition. However, buses tend to be driven at high speed along narrow roads crowded with slower horse-drawn carriages and bikes. The highway between the Guardalavaca hotels and the Holguín airport is particularly worrisome in this respect.
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5. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
The hurricane season in the Caribbean extends from June to November. Flooding can occur during this period. Transportation, utilities, emergency and medical care, as well as food, fuel, and water supplies, may be disrupted. Canadians should monitor local weather reports, avoid disaster areas, and contact the Canadian Embassy in Havana (see below) if they require assistance. Travellers should check with their travel agent or tour operator to confirm their travel plans prior to departure.
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6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and Cuba have a treaty that permits a Canadian imprisoned in Cuba to request a transfer to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Cuban authorities and takes over a year to execute.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office listed below. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so although delays contacting the embassy have occurred. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local law firms upon request.
Consular officials may not be granted access to detained Canadians for delayed periods of up to 21 days following their arrest. Canadian consular officials will be accompanied by Cuban authorities during visits with Canadians who have been arrested or detained.
Under the Cuban judicial system, charges are not laid until the investigation is complete, and you may be jailed during the entire period of investigation.
Crimes such as drug trafficking, corruption of minors, rape, and assisting in illegal migration of people from another country to a third country are punishable by long prison sentences. Although Cuba retains the death penalty, it has to date never been used on a foreigner. Drinking and driving is against the law.
Cuba is actively seeking to prevent child sex tourism, and a number of tourists have been convicted of offences relating to the corruption of minors. The legal age of consent in Cuba is 16. As in Canada, there is no allowance for a child who "looks" mature. Prison sentences range from 7 to 25 years. Release on bail before trial is unlikely. Please see our publication entitled What No Child Should Endure for further information on the risks of committing this form of sexual abuse abroad.
Travellers may be approached and offered black-market goods (e.g. cigars) or asked to change dollars for Cuban convertible pesos. Engaging in black-market transactions is illegal and can lead to difficulties with the Cuban authorities. Never transport packages for strangers. Pack all luggage yourself.
Visitors should avoid military zones and any other restricted or heavily guarded areas. These are not always identified. Photographing military or police installations or personnel, or harbour, rail, and airport facilities is forbidden.
Marriage to a Cuban citizen does not guarantee your spouse immediate access to Canada. Immigration visas will take at least ten months to process and you must initiate the sponsorship in Canada. For additional information consult with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Web site: www.cic.gc.ca / email: havan-im@internional.gc.ca).
You should also be aware that marrying a Cuban does not automatically entitle you to live with your spouse in Cuba, even for just a few days during your vacation. You must purchase the appropriate family-class visa so that you are properly registered with local authorities. Your loved one can be fined - or even jailed - if you do not follow the rules. Tourists are not allowed to invite Cuban nationals to their hotel room (even if they are married) unless they have the family-class visa mentioned above. Cubans accompanying foreign visitors, especially in bars and hotels, may be asked for identification papers and denied entry.
Canadians wishing to marry a Cuban in Cuba require the following documents:
a) valid passport and the tourist card obtained upon arrival;
b) birth certificate translated into Spanish and legalized at the Cuban Embassy in the country of issuance (in case of Canadians born outside Canada, please contact the Cuban Embassy in Canada (see below) or the Consultoria Jurídica Internacional (tel.: 537-204-2490; 537-204-2437 / fax: 537-204-2303 / e-mail: cji@cm.cu);
c) certificate or affidavit of single status; or certificate of divorce; or certificate of marriage and certificate of spouse's death.
These documents must be legalized and authenticated, translated into typewritten Spanish, without errors or corrections, and then forwarded to the Cuban Embassy or Consulate in Canada for legalization and authentication. A certificate or affidavit of single status issued more than three months prior to the date of marriage will not be accepted. For further information, please contact the Cuban Embassy or Consulate.
Two Canadians who have never been married before need to present the following documents to be married in Cuba:
a) valid passport and the tourist card obtained upon arrival.
If either of the Canadians has been married before, in addition to a valid passport and tourist card, he or she must produce the following documents:
a) if divorced, certificate of divorce;
b) if widowed, certificate of marriage and the spouse's death certificate.
Furthermore, these certificates must be legalized and authenticated by Canadian authorities, translated into typewritten Spanish, without errors or corrections, and then forwarded to the Cuban Embassy or Consulate in Canada for legalization and authentication.
According to section 22 of Canada's Divorce Act, a foreign divorce is valid in Canada if that foreign divorce meets the following criteria:
a) one of the spouses must have been resident in the legal jurisdiction where the divorce is obtained for at least one year prior to commencing the procedure for obtaining the divorce; and
b) the party granting the divorce must have the legal jurisdiction to do so (i.e. be a person officially designated to grant divorces in that place).
Tourists are allowed to enter Cuba with a maximum of 20kg of personal effects, duty-free. Personal effects include: new or used articles reasonably needed for a holiday: sports equipment, jewellery, one camera with five rolls of film, one small-mm movie camera with two rolls of film, one video camera, one digital camera, one pair of binoculars, one portable musical instrument, one portable sound recording device, one portable radio receiver and one personal mini-computer (laptop). For further details, go to http://www.aduana.islagrande.cu/ .
Tourists may bring to Cuba, duty free, 10 kg of medicine and presents worth up to US$50. Tourists to Cuba often bring items for donation to Cuban friends, families, schools, churches, etc. It should be noted that Cuban customs may seize anything that they do not consider to be for the tourist's personal use. Donations of all types over the above limits, whether by individuals, companies, organizations, or businesses, must be coordinated through the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa (see below), which in turn will coordinate with the one agency in Cuba that handles donations: ICAP (Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos, tel.: 537-55-2400; 537-55-2414 and 537-55-2420/ e-mail: icap@ceniai.inf.cu ).
Articles prohibited from entry into Cuba include, but are not limited to, walkie-talkies, satellite phones, hand-held GPS equipment, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, freezers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, electric frying pans, toasters, and irons (i.e. any item that draws heavily on electricity). Fresh fruits and vegetables and pornographic material are prohibited as well. Such items are routinely seized on arrival, without compensation.
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7. ASSISTANCE FOR CANADIANS ABROAD
Canadians in Cuba can obtain consular assistance and further information from the Canadian Embassy in Havana or the nearest Consulate of Canada at the following addresses:
HAVANA: Canadian Embassy, Calle 30, No. 518 esquina a 7a, Miramar, Havana, Cuba (country and area codes: 53-7/ tel.: 204-2516/ fax: 204-2044/ e-mail address:
havan-cs@international.gc.ca/ Web site: www.havana.gc.ca).
GUARDALAVACA: Consulate of Canada, Villa Cabanas 13-14, Guardalavaca, Holguín, Cuba (country and area codes: 53-24/ tel.: 30-320/ fax : 30-321).
VARADERO: Consulate of Canada, Calle 13 e/Avenida Primera y Camino del Mar, Varadero, Mantanzas, Cuba (country and area codes: 53-45/ tel.: 61-2078/ fax: 66-7395).
Canadians should register with the Canadian Embassy in Havana if they are going to be in Cuba for longer than three months. Registration can be done on-line. To register on-line, please proceed to http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/sos/rocapage-en.asp and complete all the required fields.
For emergency assistance after hours, call the Canadian Embassy in Havana and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. To call collect from Cuba dial 012 to reach a local operator. Advise operator that a recorded message will indicate that collect calls are accepted.
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8. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Permission to enter another country is the sole prerogative of that country. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. Contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited and obtain the specific requirements for entry. Conditions are subject to change.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Cuba. We recommend that the passport be valid for at least one week beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. In order to avoid problems you should also: (1) carry a tourist card or a business or student visa; (2) always have a return air ticket; and (3) have evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of your stay.
Canadian tourists who were born in Canada may stay in Cuba for up to 6 months, and will have to check-in with immigration authorities prior to the 90th day of their stay to apply for an extension. Canadian tourists who were born outside of Canada can be treated differently by Cuban officials and may be informed that they can only stay for 30 days, even though they are travelling on a Canadian passport.
Dual citizens (of Canada and some other country) may have difficulty entering Canada with their non-Canadian passport and proof of Canadian citizenship if a visa is required for their non-Canadian passport. Canadian citizens will not be given a visa for their non-Canadian passport. The citizenship card is not a travel document and has few security features to prevent tampering. A valid Canadian passport is preferred to returned to Canada.
Cuba insists that Cuban-Canadians who left Cuba after 1971 must re-enter Cuba on their Cuban passport. They must show a valid Canadian passport in order to return to Canada. Cuba does not recognize dual citizenship, and under its laws anyone born in Cuba is considered to be a Cuban citizen while in Cuba. Cuba will not accept passports that do not indicate the place of birth. Under Cuban law, the Government of Canada can be prohibited from providing full consular services to Canadian nationals or to landed immigrants with Cuban citizenship. Further information may be obtained from the nearest Cuban government office in Canada.
People residing in the United States, including Canadian citizens, are subject to U.S. laws regarding travel to Cuba. According to U.S. law, residents are prohibited from spending money (in any currency) relating to Cuban travel unless they are licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Furthermore, they can be fined if they travel to Cuba and get caught without a licence from the OFAC. For more information about the Cuban sanctions program, contact the OFAC, U.S. Department of the Treasury, at (202) 622-2520 (Washington, D.C.) or (305) 810-5140 (Miami). The OFAC also operates a free automated fax-on-demand service that can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (202) 622-0077.
The U.S. government has announced that it will closely monitor boat traffic in the Straits of Florida and that officials will seize any vessel without an OFAC licence if they believe it is headed for Cuba. Canadians who dock their Canadian-registered boats in Florida are subject to these measures, whereas those Canadian boats simply en route to Cuba via the U.S. will be exempt. Expect to be thoroughly searched and questioned if you are in the latter category.
Visitors are prohibited from undertaking business activities when travelling on a tourist visa. Anyone planning to do business must have the appropriate Cuban business visa. Business visa applicants can request that the visa be stamped (1) in their passport; or (2) on a separate business visa card.
Tourist Visa or Tourist Card: Required
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
Cuban tourist cards are generally provided by tour operators or airlines, or can be obtained from a Cuban government office in Canada in the case of privately organized flights. A tourist visa is required if you plan to stay at a private residence.
The airport tax, 25 convertible pesos, that travellers are required to pay before boarding their flights can only be paid in Cuban convertible pesos.
Art objects (including artifacts and paintings) purchased in Cuba must be accompanied by an export permit. State-owned galleries will usually provide customers with the document. Otherwise, the item must be registered with the Registro Nacional de Bienes Culturales (National Registry of Cultural Goods, country and area codes: 53-7/tel.: 3-9658).
You may export up to 23 cigars without producing any receipts. If you exceed that amount, you will have to show the official receipt upon leaving. The cigars must still be in their original boxes with all official seals, including the new holographic seal.
Due to a continuing spate of thefts from luggage, including locked suitcases, valuables should be removed prior to check-in at all airports. To reduce tampering with your luggage, use airport shrink-wrap facilities, which are available at a nominal charge.
For further information, contact the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, 388 Main Street, Ottawa, ON, K1S 1E3 (tel.: 613-563-0141/ fax: 613-563-0068/ e-mail: cuba@embacuba.ca/ Web site: www.embacuba.ca) or call the Cuban Consulate in Montreal (514-843-8897/843-8941) or Toronto (416-234-8181/234-8884).
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9. MONEY
Goods and services, including lodging, can no longer be purchased using US dollars or travellers cheques originating from any country. All purchases have to be made in the Cuban convertible peso (which is kept at par with the US dollar). It is possible to exchange US currency, but a 10% fee is charged to exchange US dollars in cash. It is also possible to exchange Canadian currency and travellers cheques at banks and international airports for Cuban convertible pesos without the 10% commission fee. Canadian currency can also be exchanged at major hotels.
It will be possible to exchange Cuban convertible pesos back to US dollars at the international airports before leaving the country or to Canadian dollars if available.
We recommend that you change your currency while in Cuba since it is not possible to exchange Cuban convertible pesos outside of Cuba.
Keep receipts for the traveller's cheques separately. Credit cards will continue to be accepted in major establishments provided they are not issued by an American bank. American Express cards are difficult to use, regardless of country of issuance. Debit cards are not accepted. Visa or MasterCard holders may obtain cash advances (in Cuban convertible pesos or in US dollars) at banks, hotels, or Cadeca exchange houses. If you choose to cash US dollars, you should take into account that they will not be accepted in the country to pay for goods or services. In Havana, ATM machines allowing cash advances of Cuban convertible pesos from Visa cards are located at Hotel Parque Central, Hotel Cohiba, Hotel Nacional, and Miramar Trade Centre. In Varadero, Visa's ATMs are located at Plaza America and at banks. Canadian money transfers are not accepted by Western Union in Cuba. If you use an ATM, do so during business hours at a location inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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10. GENERAL INFORMATION
Cuba (capital: Havana) is the largest and most westerly Caribbean island of the Greater Antilles group. It is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida. The official language is Spanish. Basic English and, to a lesser degree, French, are spoken in most resorts, hotels, and areas frequented by tourists. Unscheduled electric power surges and outages are common. Most tourist resorts are equipped with generators.
Radio Canada International (RCI) broadcasts on shortwave to Cuba. For a schedule of times and frequency of broadcasts, check the RCI Web site (www.rcinet.ca). You may also e-mail RCI at info@rcinet.ca or call 514-597-7500.
Telephone communication is a problem. Calls are often not answered, even at major institutions. Technical problems also exist. Calls may be connected to a different number than the one dialled. It often takes persistence to place a call to another city (particularly after rain). Reliable cellphone service is available in most major cities. Canadians can use their own cellphone as long as it is compatible with American standards. Arrange for cellphone service, preferably in advance, with Cubacel, at Calle 28 No. 510, Miramar, Havana (country and area codes: 53-7/ tel.: 880-2222/fax: 880-0000/ Web site (in Spanish only): www.cubacel.com).
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11. HEALTH CANADA'S TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
Health Canada and the World Health Organization report that the following diseases - among others - can occur in Cuba: dengue fever, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever.
Health Canada is currently monitoring the occurrence of dengue fever in Cuba. Additional information and recommendations concerning dengue fever can be obtained through Health Canada's Travel Medicine Web site (see below).
Canadians are advised to consult a physician or travel medicine specialist well in advance of travelling to determine health risks and necessary vaccinations. Important factors to be considered include the individual's state of health, current immunization status, and travel destination, as well as the local disease situation. Vaccinations and other special precautions may be required. For a list of travel medicine clinics, call Health Canada's Travel Medicine Program at 613-957-8739. Additional travel health information is available on Health Canada's Web site (www.TravelHealth.gc.ca).
Travellers should ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (eg. tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles) are up-to-date. Yellow fever vaccination may be required to enter some countries. Based on the risk of exposure, vaccines for hepatitis A, typhoid fever, or other diseases may also be recommended. Several diseases occur globally. Sexually transmitted diseases(STDs), including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B, occur throughout the world, and the traveller may be exposed to both viral and bacterial infection, particularly if engaging in unprotected sexual activity. Tuberculosis represents a significant risk at certain destinations. Influenza is also a concern, and immunization may be recommended depending on the destination and time of year. Rabies is found throughout the world and is uncontrolled in some areas; risk of exposure may be higher in remote areas. Traveller's diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites in contaminated food and water. Travellers are advised to ensure that food and drinking water are safe.
Infectious diseases not routinely seen in Canada occur and may even be widespread in other countries. Infections acquired abroad such as tuberculosis, diarrhea, STDs, among others, may be resistant to standard North American antibiotic regimens. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive and payment in advance required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance, including provision for emergency evacuation, prior to departure. Travellers should also carry their prescription medicine in the original container along with the prescription.
If you feel ill when you return to Canada, see a doctor as soon as possible. Inform the doctor - without being asked - where you have been. If you were ill while travelling, tell your doctor what your symptoms were and what treatment you received.
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12. LOCAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Cuba has good medical services, although basic medicine and equipment are sometimes not available.
The Círa García Hospital (Clínica Círa García, Calle 20 No. 4191, corner of Av. 41 and Playa; tel.: 204-2668 or 204-2489) offers health services reserved for foreigners. Guarantee of payment must be provided in advance. Other hospitals in Havana also have wards for foreigners, such as Hermanos Amejeiras Hospital, address: San Lázaro no. 701, Centro Habana; tel.: 537-877-6072 and 537-873-2934) and Comandante Manuel Fajardo Hospital, which has the only psychiatric ward for foreigners (address: Zapata y D. Vedado; tel.: 537-55-2466 and 537-33-3701). International "Servimed" clinics provide emergency medical care and are located in most major tourist areas around the island.
Registered drug users must ascertain whether or not those drugs are prohibited in Cuba. As pharmacies sometimes run out of stock, visitors should bring basic medicine, particularly if travelling to outlying areas.
Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. Some insurance companies take a lot of time to pay hospital bills, and you may not be able to leave the country until your hospital bill is paid. If this happens, you will have to pay the bill yourself, get a detailed invoice, and complete the claim once in Canada. Please see section 16 for more information.
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13. RETURNING TO CANADA
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. Certain items are restricted from entering Canada. If you are considering importing meat or dairy products, plants, vehicles, weapons, cultural property, endangered species or products derived from them, obtain more information from the Canada Border Services Agency (www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca), the Canada Firearms Centre (www.cfc.gc.ca), Canadian Heritage (www.pch.gc.ca/progs/voyage-travel/index_e.cfm), or the office of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) (www.cites.ec.gc.ca). The booklet I Declare (www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4044/) describes what you can and cannot bring back to Canada if you have been away for less than a year.
Due to increased scrutiny of international travellers by airlines and immigration authorities around the world, Canadian citizens are strongly advised to obtain a Canadian passport prior to initiating travel. Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Canadian passport should contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad to apply for one.
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14. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS
Adoption by foreigners is almost impossible in Cuba.
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15. TRAVEL TIPS
You should:
a) carry a Canadian passport for all visits outside Canada;
b) keep a photocopy of your passport's identification page with you;
c) carry passports, tickets, and money separately;
d) keep valuables and passports safe and carry only enough money for anticipated expenses;
e) leave a copy of your itinerary and proof of citizenship with family and/or friends;
f) carry legally certified documentation signed by both parents permitting a child under 18 to travel alone or with an adult (i.e. a relative or teacher), or carry legally certified documentation from the absent parent if only one parent escorts the child, in addition to a copy of any separation or divorce decree or death certificate; and
g) not visit unknown or isolated areas without first obtaining information or assistance.
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16. HEALTH AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative at home, and your travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you leave the country. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.
Hospital and clinic fees can range in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars for routine procedures. Ensure you have travel health insurance. You may not be able to leave the country until the hospital bill is paid.
Asistur (http://www.asistur.cu/quienes/quienesing.asp) is a Cuban company that provides assistance to travellers. They have offices throughout Cuba and can help with medical care, financial assistance, repatriation, and legal problems. Their 24-hour numbers are (537) 33-8527, 33-8920, 33-8339, 867-1315, and 866-4121.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
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17. FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Consular Affairs Bureau of Foreign Affairs Canada provides: (a) Country Travel Reports detailing safety and security conditions, health advice, and entry requirements; (b) information on Current Issues highlighting current and ongoing situations around the world; (c) daily e-mail Travel Updates notifying you of changes to our Current Issues and Country Travel Reports; (d) a series of free safe-travel publications to help travellers prepare for a safe and problem-free journey; and (e) Country Profiles for over 225 destinations, which include links (when available) to Canadian Government offices, general information, and trade and investment.
For additional information, you may contact the Consular Affairs Bureau by telephone: 1 800 267-6788 or 613-944-6788; e-mail: voyage@dfait-maeci.gc.ca; Web site: http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/ctry/reportpage-en.asp; and TTY: 613-944-1310 or 1 800 394-3472 (in Canada and the U.S.). Specific information may also be obtained from a consular representative by contacting Canadian government offices abroad (www.voyage.gc.ca/main/foreign/fordest/foreign_view_client-en.asp).