Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

Since January 2007, all air travelers traveling between the U.S. and Canada have been required to present a valid passport. This was a change from prior travel requirements and was implemented as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

If you're traveling by land or sea between the U.S. and Canada, the rules are a bit fuzzier. A government-issued proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, along with a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, is required. A passport or other document may soon be required; implementation of this second requirement was originally scheduled to take place in January 2008, but concerns about the rules' impact on tourism, plus subsequent legislative changes, have caused delays. While a passport is not currently required for U.S. or Canadian citizens entering by land or sea, you're highly encouraged to carry yours.

Alien permanent residents of the U.S. must have their alien registration cards (green cards) with them to enter Canada and reenter the U.S.

If you are driving into Canada, be sure to have your car's registration with you. U.S. citizens do not need an international driver's license; a state-issued license is fine.

Frequent travelers may want to look into getting a NEXUS membership, which gets you preapproved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; it can speed the trip across the border. Details are at www.cbp.gov or tel. 866-NEXUS26 (639-8726).

Note on DWIs: If you have ever been convicted for driving while intoxicated, you may be denied entrance. A waiver of exclusion may be obtained for a fee from a Canadian consulate in the U.S.

Note for young travelers: Anyone 17 and younger and traveling without a parent must have proof of citizenship and a letter from both parents detailing the length of stay, providing the parents' telephone number, and authorizing the person waiting for them to take care of them while they are in Canada.

Note for parents traveling with children: Because of international concerns about child abduction, if you are divorced, separated, or traveling without your spouse and are bringing your children to Canada, you will need proof of custody or a notarized letter from the other parent giving permission for foreign travel. The letter should include addresses and phone numbers of where the parents or guardians can be reached and identify a person who can confirm that the children are not being abducted or taken against their will. Passport requirements apply to children of all ages.

For residents of the U.S.: U.S. residents can apply for a passport in person or by mail. Applications are available from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find a regional passport office, check the aforementioned website or call the National Passport Information Center at tel. 877/487-2778 for automated information.

U.S. residents should allow plenty of time to apply for a passport; processing normally takes 4 to 6 weeks (3 weeks for expedited service), but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). Keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee.

For residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those younger than 18 and older than 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 21/494-4700) or at most main post offices.

For residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact them at tel. 0800/225-050 or 04/474-8100, or go to www.passports.govt.nz.

For residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-year passport for children younger than 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency. You can also contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

Visas

Citizens of the U.S., U.K., Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand do not need visas to enter Canada. Citizens of many other countries must have visas, which they'll need to apply for well in advance at their nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. Information is available at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: www.cic.gc.ca.

Medical Requirements

Inoculations or vaccinations are not required for entry into Canada.

Customs

What You Can Bring into Canada -- Visitors can expect at least a probing question or two at the border or airport. Normal baggage and personal possessions should be no problem, but plants, animals, and other products may be prohibited or require additional documents before they're allowed in.

For specific information about Canadian rules, check with the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 506/636-5064 from outside the country or 800/461-9999 within Canada; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca). Search for "RC 4161" to get a full list of visitor information.

Tobacco and alcoholic beverages face strict import restrictions: Individuals 18 years or older are allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco; as far as alcohol goes, only 1.14 liters of liquor, 1.5 liters of wine, or 24 cans or bottles of beer are permitted. Additional amounts face hefty duties and taxes.

Possession of a radar detector is prohibited, whether or not it is connected. Police officers can confiscate it and fine the owner C$500 to C$1,000.

A car driven into Canada can stay for up to a year, but it must leave with the owner or a duty will be levied.

If you do not declare goods or falsely declare them, they can be seized along with the vehicle with which you brought them in.

What You Can Take Home from Canada -- For information about what U.S. citizens can bring back from Canada, download the invaluable free pamphlet Know Before You Go from U.S. Customs and Border Protection; it's available as a 68-page PDF at www.customs.gov, or obtainable in the paper version by writing to the agency at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/227-5511).

Consider registering expensive items you're traveling with (laptops, musical equipment) before you leave the country to avoid challenges at the border on your return.

Returning U.S. citizens are allowed to bring back $800 duty-free as "accompanied baggage," so be sure to have receipts handy. There are strict rules about the number of cigarettes and volume of alcoholic beverages you can count toward your exemption: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 1 liter (33.8 fluid oz.) of alcohol. You'll be charged a flat rate of 3% on the next $1,000 worth of purchases.

If you try to bring back large amounts of alcohol, you may be suspected of importing them for resale and be required to obtain a permit.

On mailed gifts, the duty-free limit is $200. With some exceptions, you cannot bring fresh fruits and vegetables into the U.S. Large quantities of unpasteurized cheeses (cru lait in French) are likely to be confiscated, while small amounts for personal use are usually permitted.

U.K. citizens should check with HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 or 44/2920-501-261 from outside the U.K., or www.hmce.gov.uk (which isn't too easy to navigate since the merger of the Revenue and Customs departments in April 2005). Citizens returning from a non-E.U. country have a Customs allowance of 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco; 2 liters of still table wine; 1 liter of spirits or strong liqueurs (22% alcohol or greater) or 2 liters of fortified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs; 60cc (ml) of perfume; 250cc (ml) of eau de toilette; and £145 worth of all other goods, including gifts and souvenirs. Travelers age 16 and younger cannot transport any tobacco or alcohol.

Australian citizens should get the helpful Know Before You Go brochure. It's available online as a PDF from the Australian Customs Service at www.customs.gov.au, or by calling tel. 1300/363-263 or 61/2-6275-6666 from outside Australia. The duty-free allowance in Australia is A$900 (for those 17 and younger, A$450). Citizens 18 and older can bring in 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or tobacco products, and 2.25 liters of alcohol. If you're planning to take home valuables such as computers or cameras, register them first by using the "Goods Exported in Passenger Baggage" form in the brochure.

New Zealand citizens can get most questions answered at the New Zealand Customs Service at www.customs.govt.nz (tel. 0800/428-786, or 64/9-300-5399 from outside the country). The duty-free allowance is NZ$700. Citizens 17 and older can bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco (or a mixture of all three if their combined weight doesn't exceed 250 grams), plus 4.5 liters of wine or beer and three bottles up to 1.125 liters in size of liquor (the allowance used to be one bottle). If you're planning to take home valuables such as computers or cameras, register them by presenting them at a Customs office before leaving the country and filling out a Certificate of Export.