ROCA — the Registration of Canadians Abroad — is a free Government of Canada service that lets you register your travel plans so officials can reach you in an emergency. It takes a few minutes to set up and costs nothing. Here’s everything you need to know.
From travel insurance to emergency travel medical coverage, there are a lot of ways you can prepare for the unexpected when you’re traveling outside Canada. But did you know that the government has a service for Canadians traveling abroad?
The Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) is a free and confidential service that notifies Canadian citizens outside the country of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home. Whether you’re a Canadian traveling or living abroad, signing up for the service ensures you’ll receive the latest information.
“We strongly recommend that all Canadian citizens traveling or living abroad sign up for Registration of Canadians Abroad to receive important information on how to stay safe and secure,” a representative told Daily Hive in an email.
They said that so far, “approximately 420,000 Canadians have registered their presence outside Canada.”
ROCA has been handy in several emergencies in the past.
In early 2020, during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada helped 62,580 Canadian citizens and permanent residents return home, and stranded Canadians received updates through the ROCA registry.
When internet access is an issue, you’ll receive emergency updates via SMS messages. This feature was beneficial in providing flight times and locations for Canadians affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
So, how do you register?
Sign up on the website, where you’ll be asked to provide your details and contact information.
You can register for yourself or groups of travelers. And if you’re going on a cruise or planning to visit several countries on the same trip, you can also register for multiple countries.
In addition to signing up for ROCA, Canadians are being urged to do the following:
- Ensure family and friends in Canada have your travel itinerary and contact details
- Make sure family and friends have contact details for the Emergency Watch and Response Centre
- Carry contact information for the Canadian government offices abroad in the countries you plan to visit
Head to the registration page for more information. Will you be using this service the next time you travel abroad?
Don’t forget to protect yourself Before you travel.
Registering with ROCA is one part of being travel-ready — but it doesn’t protect you from the health risks you may encounter abroad. Before your next trip, book a travel health consultation at Destinations Travel and Immunization Clinic in Orléans, Ottawa.
Our team can advise on destination-specific vaccines, antimalarials, and other health precautions tailored to your itinerary. We stock specialty travel vaccines including Japanese Encephalitis and are a certified Yellow Fever vaccination centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
ROCA stands for Registration of Canadians Abroad. It is a free and confidential service from the Government of Canada that allows officials to contact you in case of an emergency while you are travelling or living outside Canada.
Yes, completely free. There are no fees to register and no ongoing costs.
No, registration is voluntary. However, the Government of Canada strongly recommends that all Canadian citizens register before travelling or living abroad.
The best time to register is before you leave Canada, but you can also register while you are already abroad.
Yes. After entering your first destination, select “Add Additional Destination” to register for each country on your itinerary.
Yes. You can register up to 15 co-travellers or household members, including minors under 18, in a single registration.
Government officials will contact you by phone, email, or SMS depending on what contact information you provided. SMS is used when internet access is unavailable.
No. Registering with ROCA does not guarantee consular assistance. The decision to travel is your responsibility, and you remain responsible for your personal safety abroad.
If you registered online, sign in to your account at travel.gc.ca to update your information. If you registered by another method, email roca@international.gc.ca.
Primarily yes, though by special agreement, Australia and Israeli citizens may also register in some countries. Non-citizens with Canadian family members should register the Canadian citizen first, then add themselves as a co-traveller.
Yes. You can register at any point, whether you are still in Canada or already at your destination.
You will need your personal details including date of birth, the countries and dates of your trip, your accommodation information, emergency contact details for someone in Canada, and a phone number or email where you can be
Stay Connected with Destinations Travel and Immunization Clinic!
If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and Follow to stay up to date on our latest travel health tips, updates, and wellness advice.
And follow us on social media
Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.