Warning: Smugglers may give you false information about travel or weather conditions. Paying for a service does not guarantee that you can trust it. Exercise caution and be aware of the risks involved. You can also consult the Risks of irregular border crossings page for additional information at the border.
What is human smuggling?
- Human smuggling is when people, called smugglers (sometimes referred to as “coyotes”) help persons cross borders irregularly, typically with their consent, in return for money or other material benefits.
What is human trafficking?
- Human trafficking is the exploitation of people for profit, such as forced labor or sexual exploitation. It happens through force, fraud, or threats. The victims experience significant physical, psychological, and emotional trauma. Unlike smuggling, the people who are trafficked usually don’t agree to it. Many of the victims are women and girls.
! Warning: Human smuggling can lead to human trafficking!
People who are smuggled face the risk of being trafficked, either during or after the smuggling process. Along the way, you might come across people offering jobs or other opportunities that seem good. However, not everyone is honest, and some may try to take advantage of your situation. For example, they might promise you a place to stay, transportation, or free food, to use this as a way to force you into sexual acts, work or other services you do not agree to. They may also try to hurt you or steal your documents or belongings.
There are signs you can look for to keep yourself and your family safe. For example, be cautious if someone:
- Asks for your passport or other identification documents (except from public authorities, like at immigration checkpoints);
- Requests your phone, laptop or other means of communication;
- Tries to separate you from your family or others you are travelling with;
- Offers you a job that sounds too good to be true;
- Pressures you to do work, services or sex (including to repay ‘debts’);
- Offers you assistance – such as food – only if you provide ‘services’ in return;
- Promises to help you get registered, relocated or resettled to another country in exchange for money (except for regular transportation costs);
- Hires you but does not pay you, or pays only part of what was promised;
- Hires you but does not provide decent working conditions or limits your freedom of movement, for example by taking your documents or locking you in a room.
There are steps you can take to stay safe:
- Be alert and follow your own intuition about people you don’t know.
- Always hold onto your documents. Take copies of them on your phone and send them to someone you trust.
- Be aware that offers of a job in Canada often come with a written offer letter and/or a contract.
- Keep in touch with your family and other people you trust.
- Know your rights and where you can access help.
- Seek reliable information from trusted sources.
If you are looking for a place to stay:
- If you are an asylum-seeker, please refer to this page to find resources.
- Tell someone you trust where you will be staying and whom you will be staying with.
If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking, or you have a suspicion that someone else is, there are confidential resources to help you:
- If you’re in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, you can also call 911 to reach to Canadian police or go directly to the police station. This is a free, emergency number you can call for help.
- For confidential support related to human trafficking, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 in both English and French at 1-833-900-1010 or you can use the Chat function on their website. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline follows a “do no harm” policy, to ensure that the assistance provided to victims does not inadvertently cause additional harm. The Hotline helps all individuals in need, without discrimination, and follows Canadian human rights laws to ensure everyone is treated with respect and fairness.