The summer holiday season is upon us and with the strength of the Canadian dollar, many Canadians will likely be travelling abroad over the coming weeks. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is making every effort to minimize border wait times during this peak period; travellers can facilitate their re-entry into Canada by keeping the following six tips in mind.
1. Plan ahead to avoid delays at the Canada-U.S. land border. The CBSA suggests that you avoid travelling during peak periods such as afternoons and weekends and that you use the Internet to keep track of wait times. You can consult border wait times on the CBSA Website, or on Twitter or your cell phone at wap.gc.ca or www.gc.ca. You might also want to consider an alternate itinerary using one of the many border crossings on secondary highways along the Canada-U.S. border by consulting this webpage.
2. Carry appropriate identification. Since CBSA officers watch closely for missing children and may ask you detailed questions about the children you are travelling with, it is important that you carry appropriate identification for yourself and for all children travelling with you, regardless of their ages. If you have legal custody or share custody of the children, be sure to have copies of the relevant legal documents, such as those describing custody rights.
3. Declare all merchandise you have bought and have all your receipts on hand. Officers may ask you to show receipts for the goods you have purchased and your hotel receipts to verify the length of your stay outside Canada. To avoid unnecessary delays, keep all receipts together and ensure they are readily available.
4. Be aware of your personal exemptions. Depending on the length of your stay abroad, you may be entitled to certain personal exemptions. If you are gone 24 hours or more you can bring back goods, tax and duty-free, worth up to CAN $50; 48 hours or more – CAN $400; 7 days or more – CAN $750.
5. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products may be included in your 48-hour or 7-day exemption, provided you are of legal age. Certain restrictions apply.
6. Know before you go. Certain goods are prohibited or restricted from entering Canada (weapons, certain plant and animal products, etc.). You can find out more about this by consulting the I Declare brochure, available online.
If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States, you can apply to become a member of NEXUS, a program designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States. More information about this program is available online.
For more information, visit the CBSA Website or contact the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999.
