If you get sick when you are travelling

Many Canadians become ill and require medical assistance when they are outside of Canada.  If you get sick when you are travelling, here’s how to get help:

• Most major tourist hotels have in-house doctors who can provide medical care. Hotels can also arrange appointments with local physicians.
• If you need urgent care, the best option is often the nearest hospital. In some countries, ambulances may not be common. Use whatever form of transportation you have to get to a hospital.  

Medical emergencies

If you have a medical emergency while abroad, officials at the nearest Canadian government office can help.  They can provide the following services:

• Supply names of local medical providers and facilities. (Some Canadian embassies and consulates post lists of local medical providers on their website.)
• Visit you in hospital and provide basic translation services if required.
• Assist in arranging for medical evacuation if treatment is not available locally. You must have appropriate travel health insurance to cover the costs, or pay the costs yourself.
• Help with travel health insurance issues.
• Contact your next of kin, with your authorization, if you have an accident or are hospitalized, or in the event of your death.
• Provide advice about burying a Canadian abroad or repatriating the remains to Canada.
• Assist you in obtaining financial help from family and friends.
• Make alternative travel arrangements for you, including obtaining visas and other travel documents.

The Canadian government does not:

• Pay medical, travel or other expenses.
• Pay for the burial, cremation or repatriation of a deceased Canadian. 

Consular services for travellers

• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has more than 260 offices around the world. Consular officials can assist Canadians travelling, working or living abroad.
• Canadian government offices abroad offer 24-hour assistance, seven days a week.
• For a complete list of Canadian consular services and more information on planning a safe and problem-free trip, check the publication Bon Voyage, But…
• You can also visit the Consular Services website for more information
• You can reach Consular Services by phone at:
  
  1-800-267-6788 (in Canada and the U.S.) or (613) 944-6788
  
  TTY: 1-800-394-3472 (in Canada and the U.S.) or (613) 944-1310

• In some countries, you can use a toll-free number to speak to a consular officer in Ottawa. You can make a collect call (where available) to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa at (613) 996-8885.
• If you leave a recorded message, make it clear and leave a complete telephone number or contact address.
• You can also contact the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa by e-mail at sos@international.gc.ca or by fax at (613) 943-1054.
• In locations where Canada does not have a local office, some Australian or British government offices can provide you with emergency services and contact the nearest Canadian government office on your behalf.

Before you leave Canada, check the List of Canadian Government Offices Abroad.