Canada Bound Border Crossing Info

[coondog]

For those travelling to Canada this year, here is some info to help you before you trip.

It is accurate at the time of this writing (June '15) and is subject to change without this post being updated.


CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY
www.cbsa.gc.ca

INFO LINE
Mon-Fri (8-4)
(outside Canada) 204-983-3500/ 506-636-5064
(within Canada) 1-800-461-9999

ACCEPTED IDENTIFICATION

Passport
Passport Card
Enhanced drivers licence
Resident Alien Card
NEXUS/ FAST Card
Under 16 years of age, a birth certificate is acceptable

Visitors from countries other than the US will require a passport and possibly an approved VISA obtained ahead of travel.

Canadians and registered North American Indians are allowed into Canada as a right. For everyone else, it is a privilege and subject to the officer’s decision.

CHILDREN

If children are travelling with someone other than both parents, it is best to have a letter of permission from the other parent or guardian authorizing the travel. Contact information should also be listed in case the officer wants to verify relationships. The Border Officers want to ensure that the child is travelling safely with the right person.

ADMISSIBILITY

Certain criminal offences can prohibit a person from entering Canada. CBSA should be contacted directly prior to your travel if you fall within this category.

FOOD LIMITS PER PERSON

Chicken 10kg
Total Meat 20kg
Eggs 2 dozen
Turkey 1
Dairy $20

More can be imported but a high quota tax is charged on the excess.

Food restrictions can fluctuate daily due to disease outbreaks. Currently, there are restrictions in place for chicken products from various US states.

For more info: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990#a1

TAX FREE ALCOHOL/ TOBACCO LIMITS
(per person but restricted to those who meet the respective provincial drinking and smoking ages)

40 oz/ 1.14 ltrs of spirits, OR
24 x 12 oz cans/ 355mlt of beer, OR
52 oz wine/ 1.5 ltrs of wine
AND
1 carton of 200 cigarettes AND
50 cigars AND
200 grams of loose tobacco

More can be imported but a varying tax would be owing.

FIREARMS/ WEAPONS

Info: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5044-eng.html#P010

FIREWORKS

Leave at home as a hard to obtain explosives permit is required to import.

PETS

A valid rabies certificate from a vet is required for pets over 6 months of age. A tag does not qualify as a certificate.

Pet birds require extra documentation as do exotic speices like snakes, reptiles, etc.

FIREWOOD

Scraps of kiln dried lumber are fine but anything that resembles tree parts should be left in the US.

CURRENCY/ MONETARY INSTRUMENTS

Any amount exceeding $10,000usd must be declared at export and anything over $10,000cad must be declared on import into Canada. A simple currency declaration would need to be filed.

SECONDARY INSPECTION

These can be selected by officer choice or by computer generated random. This may include an examination of your vehicles and/ or an ID check

Everything crossing the border is subject to examination including purses, wallets, safes, phones, computers, etc. It is the travellers’ responsibility to present the goods and repack them, not the officers. Very rarely will a vehicle be completely emptied. If so, the officers will have a good reason.

TOLLS

International bridges have tolls that vary. Many land border crossings are toll free.

PROVINCIAL LAWS
--radar detectors
--moving over to next lane if passing an emergency/ police vehicle
--hands free device use
--seat belt use
--vehicle axles/ weights
--smoking in vehicles with minors

[Quantum]

Also go to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.

What Can I Bring Into Canada in Terms Of Food, Plant, Animal and Related Products? - Food - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

They list which foods you can take across into Canada

[Murff]

And, don't tell jokes or try to be funny at Customs!

Trust me!

Murff

[robkelly]

Thanks for the timely update! We'll be cutting through Canada from Niagara Falls to Sarnia on Saturday.

[JayC]

robkelly,
FYI, the Bluewater Bridge crossing at Sarnia to Port Huron has one span shut down for construction. You should be fine on a Saturday but sometimes the Trucks get backed up on the 402 as you approach the bridges. Stay in the left lane, the signs clearly mark it for cars and RVs. It will be $10.50 to cross when towing a double axle trailer. Lately wait times to cross have been 20-30 min.

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by JayC

robkelly,
FYI, the Bluewater Bridge crossing at Sarnia to Port Huron has one span shut down for construction. You should be fine on a Saturday but sometimes the Trucks get backed up on the 402 as you approach the bridges. Stay in the left lane, the signs clearly mark it for cars and RVs. It will be $10.50 to cross when towing a double axle trailer. Lately wait times to cross have been 20-30 min.

Thanks JayC!

[MPH9]

Suggest you use propane to run your fridge, it cools a lot faster and a tank of propane lasts a long time.