If you are planning a road trip to Canada for the 3-day weekend, there are some important things to know before attempting to cross the border.

According to the Canada Border Services Agency, travelers can help reduce wait times at the border by coming prepared and by completing the mandatory ArriveCAN submission within 72 hours before arriving at the border. With the ongoing pandemic, entry into the Great White North can be frustrating and have long wait times.

Key tips for all travelers:

  • Ensure you are eligible to enter and meet the entry requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and provide appropriate travel and immigration documentation. The final determination on entry is made by a border services officer at the port of entry.
  • Understand the rules around COVID-19. There are still border measures in place for COVID-19. Foreign nationals must be vaccinated with the Government of Canada's accepted COVID-19 vaccines. Find out which requirements apply to you and if you can enter Canada. Use ArriveCAN. All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, are required to submit their information in ArriveCAN (free as a mobile app or by website), up to 72 hours before entering Canada. ArriveCAN collects contact, health and travel information to protect the health and safety of travelers and expedite processing at the border. It is the fastest, easiest and most secure way for travelers to show they meet public health requirements.
  • Travelers must ensure they have the most up-to-date version of the ArriveCAN app.
  • Travelers should print or take a screenshot of their ArriveCAN receipt and bring it with them when they travel.
  • Travelers without a smartphone or without mobile data can submit their information by signing in online through a computing device. If travelers are unable to enter their information themselves, they can have a friend or family
    member enter the information for them.
  • Have all your documents ready. Travelers should have the following ready to present to the border services officer: their ArriveCAN receipt; passport or travel documents, proof of vaccination; and identification for all persons in the vehicle.
  • Plan ahead and check border wait times. travelers crossing the border by land are encouraged to plan to cross during non-peak hours such as in the early morning.
  • Entering Canada by water. Unless exempt, all travelers entering Canada by water must report their arrival to the CBSA without delay. All travelers, including those with a right of entry (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act), must submit their mandatory information in ArriveCAN before, or when,
    entering Canada at a marine port of entry.
  • Be prepared to declare. Travelers entering Canada should be ready to declare all goods in their possession.
  • Declare any foods, plants, or animals such as raw poultry products and by-products that are not fully cooked, to the border services officer. There are currently restrictions on imports of live birds, bird products and by-products from states affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the United States. Be sure to check the Automated Import
    Reference System to help determine all specific import requirements.
  • Declare all money or currency of $10,000 or more. It is not illegal to bring such amounts into Canada, but it must be declared on arrival.
  • Cannabis. Don't bring it in. Don't take it out. Transporting cannabis across the border in any form, including any oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) remains a serious criminal offense subject to arrest and prosecution, despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada.
  • Advance Declaration. Air travelers landing in Toronto or Vancouver may use ArriveCAN to complete their customs and immigration declaration in advance of their arrival in Canada. This feature will be expanded to other airports in the
    future.
  • Know the contents of your vehicle. travelers can consult the CBSA's website for information on firearms and other restricted and prohibited goods.
  • Use the latest technology. Upon arrival at selected major airports in Canada, travelers can use a primary inspection kiosk to verify their travel documents, confirm their identity and complete an on-screen declaration.
  • When traveling with children, it is recommended that the accompanying adult have a consent letter authorizing them to travel with the child. Border services officers are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions, to help them identify the relationship between the child and the
    accompanying adult.

For more information, visit the CBSA Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca or call us at 1-800-461-9999.