🍁 Canada

Official government travel advice

UK government travel advice for Canada

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 83% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Requirements differ by passport, so start with the official site linked below. A visitor visa is needed by some travellers whatever way they arrive. Others must hold an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) if they arrive by air, and some, US citizens for example, need neither. People applying for a visitor visa do so online with IRCC, then go to a visa application centre for fingerprints and a photo. The official site lists current fees, eligibility rules and processing times; apply well ahead of the trip and do not pay any agent who promises approval.

IRCC - What you need to enter Canada OfficialWho needs a visitor visa, an eTA or neither.
IRCC - Visit Canada OfficialVisitor visa and eTA information.
IRCC - eTA OfficialWho can use an eTA and how to apply.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada OfficialOfficial immigration portal.
Canada Border Services Agency OfficialWhat to declare and bring.
Destination Canada OfficialOfficial tourism organisation.

Culture and safety - take note

Politeness is the norm in Canada: people respect queues, apologise readily and keep to their own personal space. Tips of 15-20% are expected in restaurants, and in taxis too, and taxes get added when you pay at the till. The official languages are English and French, although Quebec mostly uses French. Vehicles drive on the right. In winter, driving calls for winter tyres and extra care. Around wildlife, bears and moose in particular, stay at a distance and obey park rules. Winter weather can turn extremely cold, so wear layers. For adults cannabis is legal, though taking it across borders is not allowed. Visitors face high healthcare costs, so travel insurance should be bought. Anyone transiting the USA should also look up the US visa and rules. In big cities, halal food is common.

Travel.gc.ca OfficialGovernment travel advice (for Canadians, useful for everyone).
Environment Canada - weather OfficialOfficial forecasts and warnings.

Emergency

911 for police, fire and ambulance.

Local laws and customs

Cannabis, drugs and driving

Illegal drugs carry severe penalties, even for transit passengers, UK advice says. Recreational cannabis is legally available but rules vary by province or territory, and taking it across the border needs a permit or exemption from Health Canada. Traffic laws vary by province or territory too, including on turning right at a red light, and an international driving permit may be needed. Hire car firms often set stricter requirements on driving experience and age.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Canada, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)

Who can help

local government

Emergency number 9-1-1 (Royal Canadian Mounted Police page)

Helps with: The RCMP website tells people to dial 9-1-1 for emergency help. Canada has no national tourist police, so visitors use the local police through this number.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Canada who needs emergency help.

Phone: 911

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Foreign representatives accredited to Canada (Global Affairs Canada)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The Office of Protocol page links to a list of diplomatic missions in Canada and search tools.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Canada

Helps with: The UN migration agency's one Canadian office, in Ottawa. Its main work relates to Canada's refugee and humanitarian resettlement programme and to partnerships on migration.

Who qualifies: Refugees and migrants in resettlement programmes, and partner organisations. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +1-613-237-0651

Email: [email protected]

Address: 280 Albert Street, Suite 800, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5P3, Canada

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Toronto Police Service

Helps with: Toronto's police service. Dial 911 in an emergency; the non-emergency line and a text-phone line are listed on the City of Toronto page.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Toronto who needs the police, residents and visitors alike.

Phone: 416-808-2222

Address: 40 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2J3

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

311 Toronto

Helps with: The City of Toronto's contact line for non-emergency city services and information. The page says help is available in more than 180 languages and that 311 runs around the clock.

Who qualifies: Residents, businesses and visitors in Toronto with a non-emergency city question.

Phone: 311

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04