The legal framework
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who commit specified sexual offences against children abroad can be prosecuted in Canada as though the conduct had occurred there. Registered offenders must report intended absences, and passports can be refused or revoked to prevent travel.
Canada's Criminal Code allows prosecution of Canadian citizens and permanent residents for specified sexual offences against children committed abroad, and the prosecution can proceed whether or not the conduct was an offence where it happened. A conviction brings registration under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act, which includes reporting obligations for international travel — a measure aimed squarely at repeat offending abroad.
Key points
| Basis | Criminal Code, section 7 |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | Canadian citizens and permanent residents |
| Dual criminality | Not required for the listed offences |
| Register | Obligation to report intended travel |
| Passport | Refusal or revocation possible |
| Reporting | Cybertip.ca and local police |
| Cooperation | Information shared with destination countries |
In practice
- Cybertip.ca receives reports about child sexual exploitation, including abroad.
- Failure to report travel is itself an offence for registered persons.
- A report on return to local police is enough to start the process.
- Passport measures are used preventively, before departure.
Cost and coverage
Reporting is free everywhere listed here.
Where to go
- Cybertip.ca, the national reporting centre.
- Local police service or the RCMP.
- Canadian embassy or consulate.
- Global Affairs Canada consular services.
Worth knowing
The removal of dual criminality is the whole point of these provisions: an act tolerated where it happened can still be prosecuted at home. There is no jurisdiction that operates as a refuge.
Frequently asked questions
Does the conduct have to be a crime in the other country?
No. For the listed offences against children, Canadian law applies to citizens and permanent residents regardless of the law at the place of the act. This is deliberate: the provision exists precisely because some destinations do not prosecute.
Who can report a suspicion from abroad?
Anyone. Hotel and tour staff, other travellers, non-governmental organisations and consular officials all pass reports to police in the traveller's home country, usually through Interpol channels. You do not need proof, only a specific and honest account: a description, a date, a place and a name or room number. Reporting to the local police as well is worth doing where it is safe to do so.
Official sources and links
- Cybertip.ca — national tipline for child sexual exploitation
- RCMP — international investigations
- Canada.ca — official government portal
- Justice Laws Website — federal statutes and regulations