FAQ:
Crossing the Border
 Travel between the United States and Canada is usually fairly straightforward, although there are a various documentation requirements and a daunting number of regulations pertaining to importation of agricultural products, commercial goods, alcohol, tobacco and firearms. All travelers and their 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. When in doubt, declare it.
Following is a brief description of border crossing requirements for the U.S. and Canada. For more details, follow the links given or visit the U.S. and Canada customs home pages. For Canada customs. For U.S. customs, go to the Travel section of the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website at either www.customs.gov or www.cbp.gov.
Entry into Canada from the U.S.
 Identification: Citizens or permanent residents of the United States do not currently require passports or visas to enter Canada. However, native-born U.S. citizens should have photo ID and carry some identifying paper that shows their citizenship, such as a driver's license and birth certificate and/or passport with photo. Social Security cards, driver's licenses and voter registration cards alone are not positive identification.
If you are traveling with children, remember to bring identification for them. A parent traveling with his or her young child, without the other parent, should be able to present a notarized statement of custody, a copy of divorce/custody papers or written authorization from the other parent. Persons under 18 years of age who are not accompanied by an adult should bring a letter with them from a parent or guardian giving them permission to travel into Canada. Proof of sufficient funds to travel within and back out of Canada may be required.
Motorists: Visiting motorists with previous Driving Under the Influence (DUI) convictions may be refused entry into Canada or may be required to apply for admittance permits and pay fees of up to $1,500.
All national driver's licenses are valid in Canada. All provinces in Canada require visiting motorists to produce evidence of financial responsibility should they be involved in an accident. Financial responsibility limits vary by province. U.S. motorists are advised to obtain a Canadian Non-resident Interprovincial Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card. This card is available only in the United States through U.S. insurance companies or their agents.
What you can bring: Visitors may bring "personal baggage" into Canada free of duty. This includes clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras, tape recorders, computers, vehicles, boats, etc. Alcohol and tobacco are admitted if the visitor meets the age requirements of the province or territory where they are entering Canada. You are allowed to bring the following amounts without paying duty: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 tobacco sticks and 200 grams (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco; 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of liquor, or 24 355-ml (12-ounce) cans or bottles (8.5 liters) of beer or ale.
Canada has restrictions and limitations that apply to importing meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruit, vegetables and other food and non-food items. Click here for the Canadian Customs brochure "What can I bring into Canada?"
Canada also follows CITES guidelines regarding the import/export of endangered species of wild fauna and flora. For details on CITES restrictions and permits.
Personal exemptions from duty on imported goods for returning Canada residents is based on how long you have been absent: $50 worth of goods for 24 hours (does not apply to tobacco products and alcoholic beverages); $200 of goods for 48 hours; $300 for more than 48 hours; and $500 for 7 days or more.
Pets: Dogs and cats from the U.S. that are at least 3 months old need signed and dated certificates from a veterinarian verifying that they have been vaccinated against rabies within the last 3 years. The certificate must clearly identify the animal.
Firearms: Canada vigorously enforces its firearms importations laws, and border officials may-at their discretion-search any vehicle for handguns and seize any vehicle found to be carrying handguns. You must be at least 18 years of age to import a firearm into Canada.
Firearms are classified as non-restricted, restricted or prohibited. Visitors CANNOT, under any circumstances, import prohibited firearms. ALL handguns are either restricted or prohibited. Visit the Canadian Firearms Centre online at www.cfc.gc.ca for details on firearm categories, documents required or for customs information on a specific firearm, weapon or device. Click here for information for Gun Users Visiting Canada.
Entry into the U.S. from Canada (nonresidents)
Identification: Returning U.S. residents and Canadian Nationals are generally exempt from passport requirements, although documentation such as a passport, birth certificate, naturalization certification and other supporting ID will facilitate your border crossing. (The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requiring all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted form of documentation to enter or reenter the United States is expected to apply to all air, sea and land border crossings by December 2007.)
A valid, unexpired passport and visa are required for all other foreign nationals. Nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver program may present unexpired machine-readable passports. Certain persons may require specific supporting documentation such as an employment petition, student authorization, or approval notice. Click here for more details.
Foreign visitors entering the U.S. for the first time are required to pay a land border user fee of $6 U.S. per person. (This fee does not apply to citizens of Canada.) This fee is payable in U.S. currency or U.S. travelers checks only. Have U.S. funds prior to arriving at the U.S. border.
What you can bring: Visitors to the U.S. may bring in duty-free all personal effects (wearing apparel, jewelry, hunting and fishing equipment, cameras, portable radios, etc.), household effects (furnishings, dishes, linens, books, etc.), and vehicles for personal use and not for resale. Non-residents who are at least 21 years old may bring in, free of duty, up to one litre of alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, liquor) for personal use. Quantities above one litre are subject to duty and internal revenue tax. Tobacco products included in your personal exemption are 200 cigarettes (one carton) or 50 cigars or 2 kg. (4.4 lbs.) of smoking tobacco, or proportional amounts of each.
If you require medicine containing habit-forming drugs, carry only the quantity normally needed and properly identified, and have a prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicine is necessary for your physical well-being.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires that travelers entering the United States from a foreign country declare all fruit, vegetables, plants and plant products, meat and meat products, animals, birds and eggs. This includes agricultural products of U.S. origin. Fruits, vegetables, meats, and birds taken out of the United States cannot always be reentered into the country. APHIS offers traveler tips for facilitating inspection at the international border.
Other restricted or prohibited items include: liquor-filled candy; firearms and ammunition; hazardous articles (fireworks, dangerous toys, toxic or poisonous substances); lottery tickets; exotic pets; obscene articles and publications; switchblade knives; trademarked items; wildlife and endangered species, including any part or product.
Personal exemptions for U.S. residents are $200, $800, or $1,600, depending upon on how long you have been out of the country, if you have been out of the country more than once in a 30-day period, and the total value of the merchandise you are bringing back with you, as well as its country of origin. There are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products that may be included in a resident's personal exemption. The differences are explained in the brochure, "Know Before You Go" .
Pets: A valid rabies vaccination must accompany dogs. Dogs and cats must be in good health.
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