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Source: Passport Canada

Traveller's corner

Planning a trip

• Always carry a valid passport whenever you travel outside of Canada. It is the only proof of your nationality and identity that is accepted in all countries.
• Unlike a birth certificate or driver's licence, a passport can be replaced if it is lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed or inaccessible on your trip.
• A passport may be required for financial or legal transactions, such as cashing travellers' cheques.

Visa requirements

All countries have special entry requirements. Since those requirements may change, we suggest you consult the nearest diplomatic mission of the country you intend to visit. You may also consult the Foreign Affairs Canada's Travel Reports. These provide general information on most countries as well as information on entry requirements.

Note:

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.

Passport validity requirement

Many countries require passports to be valid for a number of months beyond the date of a visitor's entry. For that reason, before travelling to a country, ensure that your passport will be valid long enough by contacting the consular mission of the country you plan to visit. It is recommended that your passport be valid beyond your expected date of return home.

Before you leave... be prepared

1. Canadians in Canada: Try to apply for a passport during the off-season, between June and November.
2. Ensure that you are carrying a valid passport. Check that the expiry date of the passport is well beyond your return date.
3. Canadians abroad: To avoid difficulties if you are planning to re-enter Canada, travel with a valid Canadian passport.
4. Non-Canadians in Canada: Status document from Citizenship and Immigration Canada
5. Remember to sign the passport on page 3, and fill in your current address and the name of a person to contact in case of emergency on page 4.
6. Make two photocopies of the identification page of your passport.
   • Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home.
   • Bring the second copy with you on your trip. Carry this photocopy separately from the passport when you travel. This can help identifiying you if the passport is lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed or inaccessible.
7. Read the last page of the passport.

While away... Keep it safe

A passport is a valuable document. Protect it at all times. Do not leave it unattended in your baggage, automobile, hotel room or elsewhere. Keep it with you at all times, such as in your inside coat pocket, purse, or money belt.

• Carry your passport with you in a money belt or lock it in your hotel safe.
• In some countries, you may have to surrender your passport to a foreign government official or a hotel/hostel employee. If you don't get it back in a reasonable time, inform the nearest Canadian Government office abroad.

  SOURCE: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng