Canada's Annual Consular Report Shows 3% Rise in Cases and 60% Jump in Arrests of Canadians Abroad
Global Affairs Canada's consular report for April 2025 to March 2026 recorded 7,436 cases, a 3% increase. Arrests and detentions of Canadians rose 60%, notably in the United States despite a 25% drop in visits there. Officials also managed major emergencies in Cuba, Mexico, and the Middle East.
Global Affairs Canada has released its Annual Consular Data Report covering the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The report details a year marked by significant international emergencies and shifting travel patterns for Canadian citizens abroad.
During the reporting period, Canadian consular officials managed 7,436 consular cases, representing an increase of approximately 3% from the previous year. Officials responded to 289,254 enquiries through the Emergency Watch and Response Centre and the contact centre dedicated to Canadians in the United States. Additionally, consular staff issued 33,437 apostilles to authenticate Canadian public documents for use abroad, and Canada received 208,174 passport applications from outside the country.
International emergencies required substantial consular resources. Canada facilitated the return of more than 28,000 travellers from Cuba due to fuel shortages. In Mexico, officials responded to more than 2,700 enquiries during periods of cartel-related violence. Support was also provided to more than 1,500 people leaving affected areas in the Middle East.
Public engagement with government travel resources grew over the year. Travel.gc.ca received 27.1 million visits, including 18.5 million visits specifically to Travel Advice and Advisories. Registrations with the Registration of Canadians Abroad increased substantially, growing from 452,160 to 574,338 over the course of the year.
The report highlighted a sharp rise in legal difficulties faced by Canadians overseas. Arrests and detentions of Canadian citizens jumped 60 per cent between April 2025 and March 2026. This increase occurred even as visits by Canadians to the U.S. declined by 25 per cent during the same period. U.S. President Donald Trump has expanded immigration raids, which may be linked to the rise in arrests, though the report does not explicitly state causation.