Disclaimer: This information is provided as a service to our website visitors and no guarantee is made as to its completeness or correctness. All information should be independently verified with the relevant authorities.
NOTICE TO HOUSEKEEPING CLIENTS FOR 2016
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented measures to protect Canada’s poultry resources from an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported in poultry in the following states:
- Arkansas
- California
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Travellers should know that, due to this outbreak, all raw poultry and all poultry products and by-products that are not fully cooked, including eggs and raw pet foods, sourced, processed, or packaged from the above states are under restriction until further notice. You may not bring these items into Canada.
These measures are a normal part of Canada’s animal disease control efforts and are consistent with international guidelines on trade.
Examples of restricted items include:
- live birds and hatching eggs
- eggs, yolks, egg whites (albumen)
- poultry meat (other than fully cooked, canned, commercially sterile meat products)
- raw pet foods containing poultry products
Click here for more information
US visitors traveling to Canada might encounter the laws and practices of both the USA and Canada.
The following information is presented to assist you in your travels. For additional information, please visit either of the following web sites:
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
Canadian Border Crossing Services
Canada Border Crossing Services
a Division of N.H. Kravetsky Law Corporation
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Office – (204) 488.6350
Fax – (204) 975.0394
Visitors to the United States from other countries also may want to visit our US-VISIT page and acquaint themselves with policies and procedures recently introduced by the US Department of Homeland Security for entering and visiting the United States. These policies deal with enrollment requirements, how the program works, current ports of entry and privacy information. US-VISIT currently applies to all visitors (with limited exemptions) holding non-immigrant visas, regardless of country of origin. US-VISIT does not apply to U.S. citizens.
Required Documents for Crossing the Border
The documents required to cross the Canada-U.S. border depend on your citizenship, your age, and how you’re travelling. Please understand that customs officers have the power to turn you away from the country you are trying to visit; travelling without the right documents could ruin your vacation.
Prepare yourself to cross the border
For those who will be driving into Canada you will need a US passport. This change went into effect in 2008.
Collect passports from all passengers and hand them to the driver. Take off sunglasses so officials can compare your face to your travel document. Roll down the windows so the border agents can talk to everyone in the car.
Traveling with children presents additional concerns. If a child is traveling with one parent, the border services official may require a letter of permission from the other parent or documentation that demonstrates that the lone parent is the child’s sole guardian. If a child is traveling with someone other than his or her guardian, border authorities will want to see a letter of permission from both of the child’s parents / guardians. Ideally, the letter should be notarized. You can use this sample letter of consent as a starting point.
Declare yourself
Bringing beer on your fishing trip? You should declare it, even if it’s under the duty tax limit. Canada also has a strict policy on bringing meats, fruits, veggies, plants, or animal products into the country so eat your apple before you hit the border. (For more details on Canadian customs, read this document).
Turn off all electronic devices. International charges for most cellular phones go into effect as soon as you enter Canadian airspace. Turn off data roaming if you don’t have an international plan, and monitor your data usage even if you do.
Crossing the Canadian / United States of America border
Rules governing the entry of foreigners are subject to change and you should check with the relevant authorities close to the time you will be making a crossing. Generally crossing this border is straight-forward and will include going through immigration customs both ways. The biggest hassle is usually the length of the queues, so consider avoiding peak times such as public holidays and the start and end of the working day.
Ensure you have the necessary papers.
Proper identification papers such as a passport, enhanced drivers license and/or birth certificate are required. Visit the US Customs and Border protection Agency web site for more information about identification requirements. You also may be asked to show a return air ticket or proof of sufficient funds. Know the rules and make sure your appearance is not cause for suspicion. Customs inspectors do have the power to ruin a vacation. If you come under strong scrutiny for any reason, answer questions directly and politely. Tempting though it may be, wise-cracking and rudeness will only be to your own detriment.
When crossing the border on public transportation such as ferries, trains and buses, you will if necessary, be reunited with your luggage in order to take it across yourself. Transport companies take the inspection time into account in their schedules, and while mass transit is usually treated efficiently, the companies have no power over delays. Vehicles may be searched at the discretion of the customs officials, whether or not the traveler feels that he or she has complied with customs requirements.
Standard questions you might be asked by a border guard include: “Where are you from?”, “Where are you going?”, “How long will you be in Canada?” (sound like you know for how long, even if your plans are flexible, and ensure the intended length of your stay is within the legal limit), “What is the purpose of your trip?”, and “Are you bringing anything with you that you intend to leave behind?”
Driving across the border
Border officials are on the lookout for stolen cars, or people attempting to avoid paying duties on bought cars. So you will want to be carrying documentation to show you are not perpetrating such scenarios.
Driving a rental car across the US-Canadian border is usually not a problem, so long as you have made this arrangement with the car rental company. Make sure you have a copy of the rental agreement with you, and that is states you have permission to take the vehicle across the border.
If you are driving a private car which isn’t registered in the name of someone going on the trip, bring written proof that you have the permission of the owner to take the car into the other country.
Close to the time you intend to cross, it might be worth asking locals about the comparable prices of gas/petrol in each country (factoring in exchange rates), in order to make a budget-conscious decision as to which side to “fill up”.
Going through U.S. Customs
Visitors who are at least 21 years of age may bring the following into the USA: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs.) of tobacco; 1 liter of alcohol; gifts to the value of $100. Different restrictions will apply to returning US residents and citizens.
Travel Information from U.S. Customs & Border Protection
More details are available in the “Traveler Information” section of the official U.S. Customs web site. The “Visiting the US” and the “FAQ” links are a good place to start.
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The official INS web site has a page called “How do I” customer guides where you can find answers to particular questions you may have.
Guests with criminal records
Visitors to Canada who have any kind of criminal record may be denied entry. Even if you have entered Canada before, new screening procedures may lead to you being turned back. Many jurisdictions distinguish between more and less serious offences. The US, for example, classifies crimes as either felonies or misdemeanours. Canada makes a similar distinction with indictable and summary offences, with indictable offences being the more serious. However, quite a number of offences can be treated as either indictable or summary in Canada, depending on the specific circumstances. This is important to know, since determination of admissibility is based on how the offence would be treated in Canada, not its status in the visitor’s home state. Impaired Driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, may be a misdemeanour in a visitor’s home state, but in Canada it can be an indictable offence. There are three basic procedures available that can allow you to legally enter Canada if you have a criminal record.
Granted Rehabilitation
You can apply through a Canadian Consulate or certain border crossings to have your record examined by immigration officials. There is a non-refundable administration fee that is usually $200 Canadian but may be higher for very serious offenses. If the application is successful, you will receive a letter stating that you have been Granted Rehabilitation, and you will now be allowed to enter Canada freely any time. We suggest that guests who are considering making an application for Granted Rehabilitation contact the NOTO office so that we can explain the process in more detail and direct them to the best point of contact.
– Deemed Rehabilitation
Under some circumstances, you can be Deemed Rehabilitated without having to apply for Granted Rehabilitation. This procedure applies if you committed a single indictable offence that would be punished by a term of imprisonment of less than ten years (based on how the offence would be classified in Canada) and have not committed any offences since. Ten years must have passed since the completion of the sentence, including any probation. You can also be Deemed Rehabilitated if you have committed two or more summary offences and five years have passed since the sentences were served and no subsequent offences have been committed.
Deemed Rehabilitation is generally determined by an immigration officer at the border crossing, although it may be possible to have a determination made in advance. There is no fee for Deemed Rehabilitation; however, the information is not necessarily entered into the database, so you could be denied entry on a subsequent visit. It is possible to obtain a preliminary determination of whether you are admissible under the Deemed Rehabilitated provisions in several ways.
Guests can also apply in person for a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit through the Fort Frances Canada Border Services Office or by mail to Canada Border Services Agency 201 North May Street, Thunder Bay ON P7C 3P4. This permit is intended primarily for guests who intend to enter Canada by water in areas where there is no customs and immigration facility. However, since it requires a background check, the permit will demonstrate to customs and immigration officials that a determination of admissibility has been made. There is a $30 Cdn. fee for the permit, and the application is available at www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/rehabil.asp
– Temporary Resident Permit
At their discretion immigration officials may admit someone who does not qualify for Deemed Rehabilitation through a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP). It is normally issued for a single visit, although it is sometimes issued for longer duration or multiple visits. There is a $200 Cdn administrative fee for issuing a TRP. A guest who arrives at the border and does not qualify for Deemed Rehabilitation but appears to qualify for Granted Rehabilitation may be offered the option of a Temporary Resident Permit in order to complete their trip, since the Granted Rehabilitation process takes a number of weeks to complete. It is expected that guests who plan on returning to Canada will then complete the Granted Rehabilitation Process before any subsequent trips.
Canadian Citizens Traveling to the US
More information for Canadian citizens crossing into the USA can be found on the Crossing U.S. Borders page at the web site of the Homeland Security.
Going through Canadian Customs
Visitors may bring the following into Canada: 200 cigarettes (= 1 carton), 50 cigars, and 14 ounces of tobacco; 1.1 liters or 40 imperial ounces (= 1 bottle) of liquor or wine, or 24 x 355-milliliter (12-ounce) bottles or cans of beer for personal consumption; gifts up to the value of C$60 per gift. To import tobacco products a person must be 18 years of age or over, and to import alcoholic beverages the importer must have reached the legal age established by authorities of the province. You can bring in a small amount of food for your own consumption. Different restrictions will apply to returning Canadian residents.
USA Citizens Traveling to Canada
Citizens of the United States do not need a passport or visa to enter Canada, unless they are arriving in Canada from somewhere other than the USA. They do need to have on them proof of citizenship plus photo identification, although this is not often asked for. More information for U.S. citizens crossing into Canada can be found on the Consular Information Sheet for Canada at the web site of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, of the U.S. Department of State.
Americans in particular will need to be aware that Canada has strict gun laws. Generally, all weapons without legitimate sporting or recreational use are prohibited, and guns used for hunting or competition may be brought in with a permit. (Contact below). Undeclared firearms will be confiscated, and criminal charges may be made.
For more information about going into Canada, phone the border-crossing post directly. For answers to Canadian customs enquiries, or to locate the nearest Canadian customs district office, call the following telephone numbers: From within Canada, call: (toll-free) 1-800 461-9999. From outside Canada, call: 204-983-3500; or, 506-636-5064 (long-distance charges apply).
The following links also will be helpful.
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.
The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency site has information for Visitors to Canada, including the Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada pamphlet.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) telephone numbers for customer service:
Local: 202-354-1000
Toll-free (from US): 1-877-227-5511.
The above information is presented to assist you in your travels. For additional information, please visit either of the following web sites:
