Passports, Visas and Travel Reports
Passports
Once you have decided that you will go abroad, you will need to get a passport. You can apply in person or send an application by mail. If you already have a passport, check its expiry date. Many countries specify that your passport must be valid for least six (6) months after you are scheduled to leave their country.
If you do not have a passport, check:
This website has the directions on how to obtain a Canadian passport. Application forms can be found at passport offices, post offices and on-line.
If applying in Canada, the current costs of a Canadian passport are:
- 24 page passport $87
- 48 page passport $92
The nearest passport offices to Nanaimo are:
Nanaimo
Service Canada Centre
Suite 201
60 Front Street, Nanaimo
Office hours: 08:30-16:00
Receiving agent
Victoria
Passport Canada
1318 Blanshard St
Victoria
Office hours: 08:30-16:30
Vancouver
Suite 241 Sinclair Centre
757 Hastings Street West, Vancouver
Office hours: 07:30-16:30
Do not mail or use a courier services to send your application form to a local passport office.
Visas
Determine if VIU is arranging a group visa for your program or if you are responsible for getting your own visa. Your travel agent or the country’s embassy or consulate in Canada can advise you of the visa requirements. If you intend to leave the country and return, you may need a multiple entry visa. Make sure the visa you get fits your needs. Each visa will have its cost.
Apply for visas well in advance of your trip.
Once you have your visa and passport, you need to make copies of the identification and visa page.
Travel Reports
You can check the Travel Reports for the countries you intend to visit in the Travel section of the DFAIT website:
or
call DFAIT's Consular Affairs Bureau at 1-800-267-6788 (in Canada)
or (613) 944-6788.