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Canada has updated its Travel Advice and Advisories for six destinations, refreshing guidance for Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands and Italy as of mid-to-late September 2026, with changes spanning security notes, regional no-go zones, entry requirements and disruption risks.
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What changed, and when the updates landed
Published coverage dated September 21, 2026 points to a cluster of advisory updates affecting Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands and Italy. The changes are not uniform across the six destinations: some are editorial or clarifying, while others add or remove specific risk language travellers use to plan routes, buy insurance and confirm entry requirements.
On Canada’s destination pages, the most recent update timestamps show Ecuador and Saudi Arabia updated on September 17, 2026, Jordan updated September 17, 2026, the Solomon Islands updated September 16, 2026, Rwanda updated September 9, 2026, and Italy updated September 21, 2026. These timestamps matter because even minor wording revisions can affect travel insurance decisions and trip planning when an advisory level is already elevated.
Canada’s advisory system also distinguishes between a country-wide risk level and narrower regional warnings, such as border corridors and specific provinces. Travellers are often cleared to visit major tourism areas while being advised to avoid defined zones near borders or in areas experiencing instability.
Jordan: regional instability, border buffers, and new notes on drones and dual citizenship
Canada’s current risk level for Jordan is “Avoid non-essential travel,” tied to instability in the region. The advisory includes geographic carve-outs that are especially important for overland travellers and those planning desert drives outside major tourist circuits.
The guidance flags “Avoid all travel” within 5 kilometres of Jordan’s borders with Iraq and Syria, with an exception noted for the tourist site of Umm Qais. It also advises avoiding all travel to areas east of the city of Ruwaished in northeastern Jordan, including Highway 10 leading toward Iraq beyond Ruwaished, citing military activity and limited emergency facilities.
The September 17, 2026 update note indicates adjustments in the security section, including removal of information tied to a U.S. security alert, and additions under laws and customs related to drones and mandatory military service for some people with dual citizenship. For travellers who routinely bring camera drones or who hold more than one nationality, the update underscores the need to check destination rules before packing equipment or finalizing long stays.
Saudi Arabia: “avoid non-essential travel,” plus strict no-go areas near Yemen
Canada’s advisory for Saudi Arabia remains at “Avoid non-essential travel,” referencing a volatile regional security environment. Within that country-wide level, the guidance is more restrictive in defined zones, especially in the south.
The advisory states “Avoid all travel” to the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran due to risks that include armed strikes, drone attacks and debris from interceptions. It also advises avoiding all travel within 30 kilometres of the border with Yemen due to the ongoing conflict and spillover risk.
The September 17, 2026 update highlights refreshed information related to Hajj and notes that missile and drone attacks have resumed and struck targets in Saudi Arabia, alongside the possibility of travel disruptions including flight cancellations. It also cautions that filming, photographing, or sharing images of military installations, activity, or damage can carry severe penalties under local laws, a practical concern for travellers who post in real time on social platforms.
Ecuador: crime risk remains elevated, with Colombia-border restrictions and state-of-exception updates
Canada continues to list Ecuador at “Exercise a high degree of caution,” citing high levels of crime. The September 17, 2026 update references revised information related to a state of exception, signalling that security measures can shift and may affect movement and local conditions.
Canada also maintains a strict regional warning along the Colombia border: “Avoid all travel” to the area within 20 kilometres of the border with Colombia in specified provinces due to drug trafficking and criminal activity. For travellers eyeing remote lodges, border-region river travel, or cross-border itineraries, this is one of the most operationally important parts of the advisory.
Beyond security, Canada’s destination page flags practical disruptions that can influence trip logistics, including power outages that may affect telecommunications, hotels, banks and ATMs, and that prolonged outages could increase the risk of opportunistic theft. The advisory also reminds travellers to monitor road conditions and closures and to stay alert to extreme weather risks, including heavy rains and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Rwanda, Solomon Islands, and Italy: health screening, visa details, and a refreshed Italy page
Rwanda’s risk level is listed as “Take normal security precautions,” with targeted cautions in specific border-adjacent districts. The latest update notes stricter border-related measures tied to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stating that strict restrictions apply to foreigners who have visited the DRC within 21 days prior to entry into Rwanda, and that health screening measures such as temperature checks, quarantine, and travel restrictions may apply.
For the Solomon Islands, Canada lists the risk level as “Take normal security precautions,” while noting limits in local policing capacity and higher risks of violent crime incidents against foreigners in Honiara. The September 16, 2026 update specifically references revised visa information and reiterates a key entry rule many travellers overlook: Canadian passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the expected departure date from the Solomon Islands.
Italy’s page shows an update timestamp of September 21, 2026 and lists the national risk level as “Exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorism. The page also highlights high-frequency petty crime targeting tourists, including pickpocketing and bag snatching, and warns about distraction tactics. For Canadians heading into peak shoulder-season travel, the update serves as a reminder that advisory changes are not limited to conflict zones and can include destination staples where the primary risks are street crime and situational awareness.