Sachin Walls
When travelling to Canada, there are several immigration requirements and customs regulations that must be adhered to. These include submitting an immigration declaration, which can be done online in advance or at the airport, as well as presenting identification and other necessary travel documents. Border officers may also require further details about the purpose of your visit, your finances, and any goods you are bringing into the country. It is important to be aware of the specific rules and restrictions regarding items that can be brought into Canada, as well as the potential for additional inspections and health assessments. Understanding these requirements in advance can help ensure a smoother entry process when arriving in Canada.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advance Declaration | Can be submitted online up to 72 hours before arrival in Canada |
| Declaration Card | To be completed before arrival and presented to Canadian officials at the airport, along with identification and other travel documents |
| Permanent resident card | Required for permanent residents to return to Canada |
| Border services officer | May ask to see receipts for accommodation, purchases, repairs, and parts for your vehicle |
| Connecting flights | At some airports, baggage may need to be checked and screened again |
| Primary inspection | The first Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint |
| Automated kiosks or eGates | Available for members of trusted traveller programs |
| NEXUS cardholders | May use a dedicated line at US customs by showing their boarding pass and valid Nexus card or Customs Declaration form or card |
| Primary inspection kiosk (PIK) | Used to confirm identity and submit customs declaration |
| Advance CBSA Declaration | Can be completed within the ArriveCAN app |
| Express Lanes | Available for Advance CBSA Declaration users |
| Permanent residents | May stay for up to 6 months without a stamp in their passport |
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What You'll Learn
Advance Declaration
When travelling to Canada, you can save time at the border by submitting your customs and immigration declaration online in advance using Advance Declaration. This can be done up to 72 hours before arriving in Canada.
To complete an Advance Declaration, you can use the ArriveCAN app. You will be prompted to answer questions about your trip, such as where you are coming from and what you are bringing into Canada. This helps the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) manage the flow at the border and keep the country safe. After submitting your declaration to the CBSA, you will receive a confirmation screen and email.
Upon arrival at the airport, if you have used Advance Declaration, you can go to a kiosk or eGate to retrieve your confirmed declaration receipt. Up to five people may use a kiosk as a group. It is important to note that travellers cannot currently use Advance Declaration with NEXUS kiosks. Additionally, if your declaration changes before you arrive, you can edit it at the kiosk or eGate. However, if you do not confirm your declaration within 72 hours of submitting it, it will expire, and you will need to submit a new one.
If you choose not to submit your declaration in advance, you can complete it at an airport kiosk or eGate upon arrival. Alternatively, if you are landing at an airport without kiosks or eGates, you will receive a Declaration Card on board your flight, which you should complete before arriving and present to Canadian officials, along with your identification and other travel documents.
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Permanent resident cards
To obtain your first PR card, you must submit your photo and Canadian mailing address within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. If you are unable to provide this information within the given timeframe, you will need to apply for a PR card by filling out the application for a permanent resident card (IMM 5444). The card is typically valid for five years, although in some cases, it may only be valid for one year.
If you are travelling to Canada by air, you can save time at the border by submitting your customs and immigration declaration online in advance using the Advance Declaration or ArriveCAN feature. This can be done up to 72 hours before your arrival. Alternatively, you can complete the declaration at an airport kiosk or eGate upon arrival.
When travelling, it is recommended to keep all your receipts for accommodation, purchases, and any repairs or parts bought for your vehicle. A border services officer may request to see these receipts as proof of the duration of your stay and the value of your goods.
If you need to update your PR card, such as changing your name or gender identifier, you can apply for a reissue by submitting the relevant forms and supporting documents. Urgent processing is available in certain circumstances, but the minimum processing time is typically three weeks.
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Border requirements
All international travellers entering Canada must carry acceptable identification. A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document when abroad. Canadian citizens may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance if they present other documents.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act enter Canada as a right. However, returning residents must still demonstrate to a border services officer that they meet the requirements for entering Canada. The officer will confirm your identity and your right to enter Canada through questioning and/or by verifying your documents.
Permanent residents (immigrants living in Canada who are not yet Canadian citizens) need a valid permanent resident card to return to Canada. Check the expiry date on your card. Note that a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document.
In addition to your passport, you may need a travel authorization such as a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. Consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's website to learn which authorization you need.
Indigenous Peoples from the US with family in Canada may now qualify for temporary border mobility measures. To find out if you are eligible to apply, visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Indigenous travellers from the US who have been approved for these temporary measures and have their port of entry letter of introduction, need to bring the following documents when they arrive at the border: their passport or any official document used to travel; their port of entry letter (this is a requirement for anyone who applied for a work or study permit); and the document used to prove that they are a member of a federally recognized tribe in the United States or a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation.
Persons registered under the Indian Act have the right to enter and remain in Canada, and have the option of using their Status Card when crossing the border. The Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS), commonly referred to as the Status card, is an identity document issued by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada confirming that the cardholder is registered as a Status Indian under the Indian Act. Although both CIS and SCIS cards can be presented at the border to confirm status and the right of entry (including expired CIS cards), travellers are encouraged to obtain a new SCIS.
If you’re arriving by air at one of Canada’s participating international airports, you can save time at the border by submitting your customs and immigration declaration online using Advance Declaration up to 72 hours before you arrive in Canada. If you choose not to submit your declaration in advance, you can complete it at an airport kiosk or eGate. If you’re landing at an airport without kiosks or eGates, you’ll receive a Declaration Card on board the aircraft or other conveyance. Read the instructions and complete the card before you arrive. Have it ready to present to Canadian officials at the airport, along with your identification and other travel documents.
If you’re connecting to another flight or travelling on to another destination and re-boarding the same plane, follow the signs. At some airports, you may have to check your baggage and have it screened again. If you're a member of a trusted traveller program, you can skip this step and go directly to the automated kiosks or eGates for faster processing. When you arrive at the terminal, follow the signs to the first Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint, also called “primary inspection.”
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Visitor visas
If your visa expires, you will need to apply for a new one. If you are a foreign student or worker who applied for a visitor visa since July 2021, you may be eligible for a V-1 visa, which you can use to leave and re-enter Canada.
When you arrive in Canada, you will need to go through primary inspection at one of the country's major international airports. You can save time by submitting your customs and immigration declaration online using Advance Declaration up to 72 hours before your arrival. If you do not submit your declaration in advance, you can complete it at an airport kiosk or eGate. If you are landing at an airport without kiosks or eGates, you will receive a Declaration Card on board your flight. You will need to present this, along with your identification and other travel documents, to a Canadian official at the airport.
During primary inspection, your fingerprints will be checked automatically at a kiosk. This will check your identity against the information collected when your application was submitted. If you pass the identity check, health assessment, and meet the entry requirements, a border services officer may stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. The maximum length of stay for most visitors is six months.
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Inadmissibility
There are several reasons why a person may be deemed inadmissible to Canada. These include security, criminal, and medical reasons. For example, if you have committed a crime, such as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be deemed inadmissible for serious criminality. This means that you will not be able to enter or stay in Canada unless a temporary resident permit is issued to you. Other criminal grounds for inadmissibility include organised crime, such as membership in an organisation that takes part in people smuggling or money laundering, and providing false information or withholding information directly related to decisions made under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Medical inadmissibility is another ground for refusing entry to Canada, though specific medical conditions are not disclosed. Border services officers may also arrest individuals for offences under the Criminal Code, such as impaired driving or outstanding arrest warrants, or infractions under other acts of Parliament, such as the Customs Act.
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Frequently asked questions
Advance Declaration is an online service that allows travellers to submit their customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours before arriving in Canada. This can be done via the ArriveCAN app or at an airport kiosk.
A valid visa and travel document are required to enter Canada. If you are a permanent resident, you will need a valid permanent resident card. Other documents, such as a birth certificate, driver's licence, or government-issued photo identification, may also be required.
Travellers landing in Canada will need to confirm their identity with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and declare any goods they are bringing into the country. This can be done at a primary inspection kiosk (PIK) or eGate, where travellers will scan their travel documents, take a photo, and answer questions to complete their declaration.
Yes, there are detailed rules and restrictions on what can be brought into Canada. Some items may be subject to duty, taxes, or even prohibited. It is recommended to keep all receipts for purchases and accommodation as proof of the length of stay and the value of goods.
