Government of Canada Travel Advisories

Before you travel, check the official Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination. Travel advisories can change quickly and may affect your coverage under your GMS TravelStar policy or any other GMS policy with a travel benefit. GMS does not issue or control travel advisories. Travellers are responsible for reviewing the official Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories page before purchasing a TravelStar plan, before departure, and while travelling.

A travel advisory can affect whether coverage is available and what benefits may apply.

Emergency Medical Coverage
If, before your departure date, an official Government of Canada advisory is in effect for your destination stating “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel,” coverage may not be available for that trip. 

Trip Cancellation Coverage
If an official Government of Canada advisory stating “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” is already in effect for your destination when you purchase your Trip Cancellation Plan, you may not be eligible for coverage.

There is an insured risk for when your trip destination has a travel advisory announced by the Government of  “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” that is issued after the later of the booking date of your trip or the purchase date of your policy for a period of time that includes your travel dates.  

There are some exclusions regarding government advisories you should be aware of:

• a) any cancellation or interruption caused by or related to the threat or fear of any event or happening that does not prompt an official travel advisory to be issued by the Canadian Government stating “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” for the country, region, city, or other destination (including cruise ships) that are part of your travel arrangements.
• b) any cancellation caused by any event or happening for which the Canadian Government issued a travel warning stating “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” for the country, region, city, or other destination (including cruise ships) that has been removed more than 2 weeks before the scheduled departure date. The travel warning must be in place for the duration of your travel dates or still in place within 2 weeks of your originally scheduled departure date.
• c) any trip interruption event or happening or any trip delays if you choose to still travel on your trip when the Canadian Government prior to your departure date issued a travel warning stating “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” for the country, region, city, or other destination (including cruise ships) that is still in place for your trip dates.
• d) any event or happening for which the Canadian Government has issued a global travel advisory of “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel”.

Anticipated Events
Your policy does not cover expenses resulting from situations or events you knew about, could predict, or reasonably should have known might cause cancellation, interruption, or delay. 

Your Responsibility
It is your responsibility to understand your coverage before you travel. Please review your policy wording carefully and contact GMS if you have questions about your coverage.

The destination information below is provided as a general resource to help travellers stay informed on some of the larger known events. This is not an all encompassing list.  Customers should always refer to the official Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories page for the most current advisory status.

If you are planning a trip, or are already travelling, we encourage you to:

1. check the current Government of Canada advisory for your destination
2. review your policy wording and purchase confirmation
3. understand how advisory timing may affect emergency medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, and delay coverage
4. contact GMS if you need support understanding your policy

Middle East 

On February 28, 2026, at 1:30 AM the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and Iran has been reported retaliating across the region. This has quickly broadened to involve missile activity in multiple Gulf states. Several countries have declared their airspace closed or restricted for civilian flights. Global leaders and aviation regulators are warning of high conflict and high risk to civil aviation.  

As a result of the conflict the Government of Canada increased the travel warnings to “avoid all travel” and “avoid non-essential travel to several countries in the middle east.  

If you are travelling to or are in the middle east it is essential that you check prior to departing or while on your trip to monitor the Government of Canada’s travel advice and advisories.  

Emergency Medical Coverage   

• There is no coverage when you depart to a destination that has a Government of Canada travel warning of “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” to the country, region, city, or other destination (including cruise ships). 

TravelStar Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance   

• Any Single-Trip TravelStar Trip Cancellation plans for the middle east purchased on or after February 28, 2026 at 1:30 AM CST will not have coverage for conflict, as it is an anticipated event. 
• Any Multi-Trip Annual TravelStar Trip Cancellation plans purchased on or after February 28, 2026 at 1:30 AM CST will not have coverage for conflict for trips to the middle east when the later of:
• the booking date of your trip, or
• the purchase date of your plan is on or February 28, 2026 at 1:30 AM CST.  

Return Home is Delayed   

• If you are in the middle east and your flight has been delayed returning to your province or territory of residence, you have an automatic 72-hour policy extension that will keep your coverage in effect.   

If your delay will be longer than 72 hours, please contact us:   

• Email: @email   

Call Centre Hours (CST)  

• Mon: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Tue: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Wed: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Thu: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Fri: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Sat & Sun: Closed  

For Customers (Toll-Free)  

• 1-800-667-3699 

For Collect

• 1-306-352-7638 

For Brokers (Toll-Free)

• 1-855-821-6881 

Cuba

The Government of Canada is advising travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Cuba. The travel advisory was upgraded on February 11, 2026 at 19:28 ET due to worsening shortages of electricity, fuel, and basic necessities, including food, water, and medicine, which can also affect resorts. The situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate, disrupting flight availability on short notice. Aviation-related supply constraints have also been reported, which may contribute to flight delays, schedule changes, or cancellations.

 

TravelStar Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance 

As of February 11 at 1:00 p.m. CST, the fuel shortages are considered an anticipated event. 

The policy does not cover expenses resulting from any situation, occurrence, circumstance, or medical condition that you knew, or reasonably should have known, might be a cause for cancellation, interruption, or delay. 

If your policy was purchased on or after February 11 at 1:00 p.m. CST 

• There is no coverage for claims caused by, or related to, the shortages in Cuba, including travel disruptions associated with limited jet fuel availability.
• The policy is not eligible for coverage We are not able to provide benefits to this destination until the warning is removed.
• Our Customer Care representatives will be processing policy refunds. 

If your policy was purchased prior to February 11 at 1:00 p.m. CST 

Your policy includes an insured risk for when the Government of Canada issues an “avoid all travel” or “avoid non-essential travel” advisory after the booking date of your trip or the purchase date of your policy, and the advisory period includes your travel dates. Those impacted from the “avoid non-essential travel”  advisory on and after February 11, 2026 at 19:28 ET can submit eligible claims to GMS.  

Due to this situation, GMS will be accepting eligible claims for customers impacted by the fuel and supply issue that occurred between February 9, 2026 and February 11, 2026, when the travel advisory was “exercise a high degree of caution.” 

Important: The travel advisory must be in place for your travel dates, or within 2 weeks of your originally scheduled departure date. 

Emergency Medical Coverage 

• For trip departure dates after February 11, 2026 at 19:28 ET, travel to Cuba will have no coverage due to the Government of Canada “avoid non-essential travel” warning.
• For trip departure dates prior to February 11, 2026 at 19:28 ET, you have coverage, as there was not an “avoid non-essential travel” or “avoid all travel” warning for Cuba. 

Return Home is Delayed  

• If you are in Cuba and your flight has been delayed returning to your province or territory of residence, you have an automatic 72-hour policy extension that will keep your coverage in effect.  

If your delay will be longer than 72 hours, please contact us:  

• Email: @email  
   

Call Centre Hours (CST)  

• Mon: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Tue: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Wed: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Thu: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Fri: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• Sat & Sun: Closed  

For Customers (Toll-Free)  

• 1-800-667-3699 

For Collect

• 1-306-352-7638 

For Brokers (Toll-Free)

• 1-855-821-6881 

Important: This page is intended as a general information resource only and should not be relied on as a substitute for the official Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories page or your policy wording. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, limitations, eligibility requirements, and purchase confirmation applicable to your plan.