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Entry requirements for Canadian passport holders

January 10, 2017 | Lois Farley

With recent news stories reporting Canadian travellers being denied boarding at airports across the country, it’s important for you to know what the entry requirements for a Canadian passport holder are for the country or countries you plan to visit.  Your professional travel consultant will advise you of passport and visa requirements when you are booking a trip.  But, it’s good to know the general rule regarding passports and their validity.

Let’s say your passport expires the 30 June, 2017.  You would think that you could travel anywhere with this passport right up until that date, right?  Not necessarily.  Many countries require your passport be valid 3 or 6 months beyond your intended stay in that country.  Always double check with your travel consultant as to the requirements for your specific journey, as well as checking for any connecting countries along the way.

You can check out the countries you plan to visit at the Government of Canada travel website at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

Most countries require 3 months but some require 6 months, such as Nicaragua, which was one of the countries highlighted on a recent news story. However, her neighbour Costa Rica, only requires a 1 month validity beyond your stay.

Other countries may require a visa in addition to your valid passport.  It’s always best to check and double check so you don’t face a nasty surprise at the airport when you’re checking in!