CANADIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD MUST RESPECT THE LAWS OF THEIR HOST
COUNTRY

While we are fortunate to live in a country that respects and promotes
human rights, other countries may have a different interpretation of
those rights. Recent high-profile cases of Canadians arrested abroad
highlight the need to be fully informed of the implications of
travelling with dual citizenship.

Citizenship laws are complicated and vary from country to country. If
you have dual citizenship and travel under another passport, you must
be aware that if you encounter problems, Canadian authorities may not
be able to assist you. Canadian officials may have difficulty acting
on your behalf because you are not a Canadian citizen in the eyes of
local authorities.

For example, in a case such as Zahra Kazemi's, Canadian officials were
not notified of her incarceration, were unable to negotiate her
release or the eventual return of her remains to Canada. Even as a
visitor, you and your children could be subject to mandatory military
service and/or domestic taxation laws.

It is important to remember when you travel that you must respect
local laws, especially regarding illegal drugs. More than 2,000
Canadians are in jails throughout the world -- many of them for
drug-related offences. If you break the law in another country, you
are subject to that country's judicial system and can even face the
death penalty. Drugs and medical supplies legal in Canada, may be
considered illegal in some countries, require a prescription, or may
lead to delays or problems with officials and customs and immigration
authorities. Be sure to take appropriate precautions when travelling
with such supplies: carry a copy of the prescription (with both the
generic and trade names of the drug included), and a doctor's note
describing why you are taking the medication.

If you have dual citizenship and/or dual passports, please check with
Canadian authorities before you leave.

Contact the Citizenship and Immigration call centre at 1-888-242-2100
or visit its Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade also offers
practical country-by-country advice to dual nationals travelling
abroad at www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.

My office can assist you as well.