This document is no longer maintained or updated.
Last updated May 2000 (very minor editing)
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Border crossing (especially for US citizens)
Culture, Language, and All That
Driving in Canada
Money Questions
Other Questions
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TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES
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Johann Beda j-beda@uiuc.edu
Tom Box box@strato.meteo.McGill.CA
Mark Brader
Dan 'OTT023::WINDII'@dan.sp-agency.ca
Rustan Finndin, rfinndin@atlantic.cs.unb.ca
Stephanie Moskal Fysh, sfysh@epas.utoronto.ca
John R. Grout grout@csrd.uiuc.edu
Robert L. Kimmel rkimm@ameris.center.il.ameritech.com
Steven Kostur kostur@sfu.ca
Brian Lucas lucas@mbnet.mb.ca
Steve Portigal stevep@snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca
Rich Wales richw@mks.com
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Disclaimer: this information is provided as a public service and no guarantee is made as to its completeness or correctness. I take no responsibility if you follow this advice and end up getting a traffic ticket or worse.
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WARNING: All countries' rules for permitting foreigners to visit change from time to time and depend on many factors, most important of which are the citizenship of the person crossing and the purpose of the intended visit. Getting the procedures right at border crossings is important because border guards have broad discretion to deny you entry, and they can make things very uncomfortable for you if they have any reason to be suspicious of you. I am not a customs or immigration officer, I cannot be certain that my information is correct or up-to-date, I do not know all the facts which may be applicable to your particular situation, and I cannot be sure that I would interpret the rules in the same way that a real border guard would. I cannot take any responsibility for your smooth crossing, and if a border guard tells you something different from what you read below, saying, 'I read on the Internet that...' isn't going to score you any points.
I encourage you to directly contact (e.g. by telephone) any Canadian border crossing post, consulate, or embassy before you make your trip in order to be sure that you have the correct and up-to-date information.
Q: Do I, a USA citizen, need a passport or visa to visit Canada?
A: No, but you should bring some proof of citizenship.
You should carry proof of your USA citizenship: a passport, naturalization card, certified birth certificate, or some other official certificate stating citizenship. If it doesn't have your photo, you should also carry some form of ID with your photo on it. A driver's license is fine for photo ID but it is not proof of citizenship; it shows that you currently live in the US, but you don't have to be a citizen to get one. If you're using a birth certificate as your proof of citizenship and you use a different name than appears on it (e.g. married woman taking husband's name), bring a copy of change-of-name document, marriage certificate, or appropriate proof.
In practice, Immigration officers at highway border crossings often don't ask to see your proof of citizenship, but if they did and you didn't have any, you could be denied entry. Worse than that, it's possible that you could have difficulty returning home if you do anything to make the USA immigration officer suspicious on your return trip and you don't have adequate proof of citizenship!
Q: Do I need a passport or visa to visit Canada if I am a citizen of ______?
A: Contact a Canadian embassy, consulate, or border-crossing point to find out the rules applicable to your citizenship. In a pinch, your home country's passport office may know the answer to this as well.
Don't accept word-of-mouth advice on this subject. Immigration rules change from time to time without warning and they may depend on various circumstances. It is easy to contact an embassy, consulate, border-crossing point and get the right answer.
Q: I'm travelling with my children; are there any special requirements for them?
A: Children must have identification papers too, and you must be prepared to prove that you are legally permitted to take the children across the border.
This requirement has been enforced strictly in recent years, because we have seen more cases of people, including parents, kidnapping children and trying to leave the country. If you're travelling with a child, you must be prepared to prove that you are the child's legal guardian or that you have permission to travel with the child. If you are one parent travelling, be prepared to explain where the other parent is and have proof. Don't be surprised if the immigration officer questions your child. 'Who is this person with you?' and 'Where is your [other parent]?' are not unusual questions.
Q: Is it a hassle to cross the border?
A: No, not normally.
At some highway border crossings, the line-up can be very long (up to several hours) on holiday weekends. Try to cross early in the day or late at night to avoid the peak hours; often the delay is only a few minutes. At airports, the wait is usually quite short, although I have been stuck in line for up to an hour in some airports.
The border is quite open, and the vast majority of people are waved through after being asked the standard questions: 'Where are you from?', 'Where are you going?', 'How long will you be in Canada?', 'What is the purpose of your trip?', and 'Are you bringing anything with you that you intend to leave behind?' They may ask people in a group 'How do you know each other?', i.e. are you related, friends, co-workers, or whatever.
There have been reports of people being hassled apparently for reasons apparently having to do with their appearance or skin color. Low-budget travellers and backpackers advise that for easier border-crossing anywhere in the world, it is a good idea to look neat and clean, and to dress conservatively. Some people who have driven across the border have noted that the newer the car they drive, the fewer the questions that are asked.
Most people agree that Canadian Customs/Immigration people are nicer than their USA counterparts. Some say that staff at airports tend to be friendlier than those at highway border crossings.
Q: Can I bring fruit across the border from the USA?
A: Yes going into Canada, but don't bring any back with you.
You may bring fruit with you (i.e. snacks for the trip) into Canada. However, citrus fruit (e.g. oranges, lemons, grapefruit) may not be brought into the United States, and will be confiscated along with any other fruit in the same bag. Fruit which is marked as having been grown in the USA should be okay (e.g. you buy a bag of Florida oranges in Canada). You should not have any problems bringing non-citrus fruit across.
Q: Can I bring my pet into Canada?
A: Yes, but bring proof of rabies vaccination.
According to the Plants and Animals page of the federal government's Canadian Tourism Commission web site: 'Owners of dogs and cats must bring a certificate issued by a licensed American or Canadian veterinarian clearly identifying the pet and certifying that it has been vaccinated against rabies sometime during the previous 36 months. An exception is made for puppies or kittens that are younger than three months old.' For more information, call one of the following inspection centres:
Montréal: Phone 1-888-246-3889 or (514) 246-3889. Fax (514) 246-2664.
Toronto: Phone 1-800-835-4486 or (905) 612-6282. Fax (905) 612-6280.
Vancouver: Phone 1-888-732-6222 or (604) 541-3370. Fax (604) 541-3373.
Q: Can I bring a gun into Canada?
A: No.
In general, it is prohibited to bring firearms into Canada. Rifles and shotguns used for hunting or competition may be brought in with a permit. Pellet guns may also require a permit. Contact a customs office or consulate before you travel to get the details that may apply to your particular situation -- see this list of Customs district offices on their web site to find the closest office to you. Embassies and consulates should also be able to answer your questions.
Note that certain non-firearm weapons are also prohibited. In general, any weapon which has no legitimate sporting or recreational use is prohibited. This includes such items as Mace, switchblade knives, blowguns, brass knuckles, nunchaka sticks, throwing stars, and tazers. Contact a customs office before you cross, or leave it behind.
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Culture, Language, and All That
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Q: Do I have to speak French in Quebec?
A: It is not essential in the big cities, but will be useful in rural areas.
Montreal is a very bilingual city. I was amused on my last visit to sit in a restaurant next to two men who had a long conversation in which both of them switched between English and French almost every other sentence, and they were not unusual. In general, anyone whose job requires them to deal with the public will be able to speak both French and English quite well. |
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