Guide

Consular Emergency Abroad: Contact Canada and Know the Limits

Find Canadian help after an accident, arrest, disappearance, crisis or loss of documents.

Immediate local danger

Call the country’s emergency services first. Then contact the nearest Canadian office or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

Contact Canada

From outside Canada, call +1 613 996 8885, use the emergency form or email SOS@international.gc.ca. Consular emergency assistance is available 24/7.

Prepare information

Give full name, birth date, contact details, location, passport number when available, people involved and the nature of the danger. Identify a trusted contact in Canada.

What consular staff can do

They can provide local contacts, notify relatives with consent, explain procedures, assist with some documents or monitor detention under applicable rules.

What they do not guarantee

Canada does not automatically pay medical, hotel, ticket, bail or legal costs and cannot override local law. Activate travel insurance and preserve invoices, reports and case numbers.

Emergency assistance abroad — Travel.gc.ca · Consular services — Travel.gc.ca

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Official sources are linked in the guide. Reviewed August 29, 2026; confirm current instructions and deadlines with the responsible authority.
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