Frequently Asked Questions: General Travel Advisory Information
How do I view Government of Canada travel advisories?
For official Government of Canada travel advisories, visit the Travel Advice and Advisory section at: travel.gc.ca and select your destination country. You will be redirected to official information and recommendations from the Government of Canada. Read all sections carefully to ensure you are aware of all relevant information.
How can I prepare myself before I leave in case a travel advisory is issued?
Before you travel, review the official Government of Canada travel advice and advisories for your destination and check for any updates leading up to your departure. If you have questions about how a travel advisory could affect your travel coverage, you can contact Travel Assistance for guidance.
We also strongly recommend registering with the Registration of Canadians Abroad. This free service allows the Government of Canada to contact you in case of an emergency at your destination or at home, and to share important updates during events such as natural disasters or civil unrest.
What if my trip is affected by a travel advisory?
If a Government of Canada travel advisory affects your trip, start by reviewing the official advisories for your destination to understand the latest instructions, safety information, and recommended actions. Please contact Travel Assistance to learn how the advisory may affect your travel coverage and to get guidance on the support available to you under your plan. Then speak with your airline or travel provider, if applicable, to review any options they may offer, such as changes, cancellations, or refunds.
Can I purchase or add benefits if I travel to a region affected by a travel advisory, and will I still be covered?
When a Government of Canada travel advisory is active for your destination, it can affect certain parts of your travel insurance, depending on the type of advisory. Advisories to “avoid all nonessential travel” or “avoid all travel” are the ones that may limit coverage.
Most benefits, such as Emergency Medical, Baggage, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment, are not affected by these advisories. However, Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption can be affected depending on when you purchase the coverage.
If you purchased Trip Cancellation and Interruption before the Government of Canada issued the advisory for your destination, here is how coverage may apply:
- Trip Cancellation: If the advisory is still in place seven days before your scheduled departure, the change in advisory can be considered an eligible reason to cancel your trip.
- Trip Interruption: If the advisory applies to any country or region you are travelling to or stopping over in, it may qualify as an eligible reason for trip interruption.
If you purchase Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage after the Government of Canada issued the advisory for your destination, then the advisory is considered a known event at the time of purchase. In this situation, you will not have coverage for Trip Cancellations or Interruptions related to the advisory.
It is also important to keep in mind that advisories are just one factor. All travel policies include additional limitations and exclusions, such as situations involving war, civil unrest, terrorism, pregnancy, illegal acts, substance use, or highrisk activities. These may limit or remove coverage even when a travel advisory is active.
For full details on how these limitations and exclusions apply, please review your travel policy booklet.
Can I purchase or add Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) if I travel to a region affected by a travel advisory?
If you want coverage that allows you to cancel your policy due to a known event, or for reasons that are not otherwise covered, you may purchase the Option: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) rider.
*This option is still subject to all other exclusions and limitations, as outlined in your policy.
CFAR must be purchased within 5 days of making any form of trip payment (deposit, partial, or full) or any time before travel penalties apply.
I am already on my trip; will my Trip Cancellation and Interruption benefits cover me?
If a new Government of Canada travel advisory to “avoid all nonessential travel” or “avoid all travel” is issued for your destination after you have already started your trip, your Trip Cancellation and Interruption benefits remain in effect. Because the advisory was not in place at the time you purchased your coverage, it is considered an unknown event.
However, please remember that travel advisories and policy exclusions are separate considerations. All travel policies include limitations and exclusions for certain types of events, such as pregnancy, substance use, illegal acts, acts of war, civil unrest, terrorism, and participation in high risk activities. When any of these situations occur, coverage may be limited or may not apply, even if a government advisory is active during the trip.
For complete details on the limitations and exclusions that apply to your plan, please review your travel policy booklet.
Would I have coverage under my Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) if I travel to a region affected by a travel advisory?
If you want coverage that allows you to cancel your policy due to a known event, or for reasons that are not otherwise covered, you may purchase the Option: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) rider. This option provides additional flexibility; however, it is still subject to all other exclusions and limitations in the policy.
If you have questions about a potential or existing claim related to this option, please contact Travel Assistance for support and guidance.
When a situation develops that qualifies as civil unrest/act of war, would I have coverage under my travel policy?
Under all travel policies (Single-Trip, Multi-Trip Annual, Top-Up and all covered benefits), situations or claims related to civil unrest and/or acts of war are not eligible.
However, your policy does provide coverage for situations or claims unrelated to civil unrest and/or acts of war (i.e., covered events or medical emergencies). Claims will be subject to all other exclusions and limitations outlined in your policy.
I am unable to return home from the affected region. Am I eligible to purchase a trip extension?
If there is an active “avoid all non-essential travel” or “avoid all travel” Government of Canada travel advisory in place, you are not eligible to purchase a trip extension. You are advised to return home as soon as possible.
If a lower-level Government of Canada travel advisory is in place, you are eligible to purchase a trip extension.
I am unable to return home from the affected region. Am I eligible to purchase a Top-up policy to add days to my travel benefit through my Personal Health Plan, Group Plan, or Credit Card plan until I can return home?
Yes, you are eligible to purchase a Top-up policy as long as your current travel coverage is still active, and you have not exceeded the total number of days.
Does my policy include an automatic trip extension if my travel home is delayed by the airline carrier?
Yes, there is an automatic 24-hour extension if your return trip is delayed by a carrier delay, a traffic accident, or mechanical failure of the private vehicle used to return from your trip.
What if my trip is delayed more than 24 hours?
If your travel is delayed by more than 24 hours, we encourage you to contact the airline for the status of your flight. The airline should contact you to let you know the status of the rescheduled flight and whether it’s within the 24-hour period.
If the airline carrier delay is more than 24 hours, please contact Travel Assistance to discuss.
If you need to stay longer for a reason not related to an airline carrier delay, a traffic accident, or mechanical failure of a private vehicle, please contact Travel Assistance to discuss.