Canada

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 1/4 — Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 1/4

Health notices

• ☐ Hepatitis A in Canada (level 1)
• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ Canada requires that any foreign citizen wishing to enter must obtain a temporary resident visa from one of the Canadian diplomatic missions unless they hold a passport issued by one of the 54 eligible visa-exempt countries and territories or proof of permanent residence in Canada or the United States.

Practical

• ☐ Plug type A/B, 120V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 911
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 911
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 911
• ☐ SIM: Canada is part of the North American Numbering Plan (along with the US and most of the Caribbean) and uses the country code +1. Area codes and local phone numbers follow the same format as the United States: 1 — three digit area code — seven-digit local phone number. The leading '1' is omitted when making local landline calls and optional on local mobile calls. For long-distance calls,
• ☐ Money: Credit/debit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard being accepted in most places, and American Express somewhat less frequently. Discover and Diner's Club are usually accepted at places geared towards foreign tourists such as hotels and car rental agencies. UnionPay and JCB cards are sometimes accepted in larger stores and tourist areas, particularly those aimed at Asian tourists. Un
• ☐ Tipping: Tipping in Canada is similar to that in the United States due to the close cultural nature of the two countries but tends to be somewhat lower because of higher minimum wages. Restaurant wait staff in Canada typically receive 15–18% on the before-tax total. Tipping is not appropriate in cafeterias, fast food establishments and takeaway stands. One is not normally expected to tip hotel housekeeping

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Illegal Border Crossing — Entering the United States from Canada at an unmarked border location can result in lengthy interrogation and potential jail time.
• ☐ Squeegee Interference — Soliciting money for cleaning windshields while traffic is stopped is expressly illegal under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Canada — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM