Customs Info and Visa Policy of Canada

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements as per visa policy of Canada

All travelers require a passport, except for the following according to the visa policy of Canada:

• Travelers with a certificate as proof of Canadian Citizenship or Certificate of Identity issued by Canada
• Citizens of the United States of America with any proof of citizenship such as a Certification of Birth, Naturalization Certificate, or Certificate of Citizenship
• Travelers with an ‘Indian Status Certificate’ card issued by Indian & Northern Affairs Canada
• Citizens of Canada and the USA holding a valid on arrival NEXUS pass, and residing in the USA or Canada, and traveling between Canada and the USA, and traveling at a designated NEXUS airport (for information on designated Nexus airports, please refer to your transporting air carrier).
• Legal permanent residents of the USA holding Permanent Resident or Resident Alien Card (Form I-551) & seeking entry to Canada from:
  • The USA;
  • St. Pierre and Miquelon.
• Residents of Greenland entering Canada from Greenland.
• Residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon seek entry from St. Pierre and Miquelon, a citizen of France.

• Travelers with a Certificate of Identity or Travel Document (‘Titre de Voyage’):
  • issued to refugees according to the Geneva Convention of 1951 or the Protocol of 1967;
  • issued to people without nationality or citizenship by the government of the country of residence.
• Travelers with a ‘Laissez-Passer issued by
  • Israel or France;
  • When endorsed with a return visa, Syria to foreign residents of Syria (‘Visa de Retour’)
• Travelers with a ‘Laissez-Passer issued by the United Nations
• Citizens of Korea with a Travel Certificate issued by the Republic of Korea
• Travelers with a travel document issued by Lebanon or Syria to Palestinian refugees
• Travelers with ‘Kinderausweis,’ a German identity document issued to children.
• Permanent residents of Canada with travel documents issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross
• Travelers with an Official Travel Document that the Organization of American States issues
• Travelers with a Travel Permit issued by Macao (A Special Administrative Region of China)

Minors

A passport is required by all travelers except the following as per the visa policy of Canada: 

1. Children who are citizens of the United States of America may enter with a U.S. Birth Certificate. Yet, young children do not usually require a photo ID. Therefore, the adult in the company or the child who is traveling alone must prove the child’s identity and nationality.

2. Parent(s) traveling with children under 18 years old are strongly advised to hold documents proving that the child is theirs. Separated or divorced parents are advised to keep legal and relevant documents available to clarify custody rights.

Apart from their nationality, all children traveling alone or with adults who have no legal custody over them are also strongly advised to have a letter of travel approval that a legal guardian or parent signs. The letter must contain:

– Permission to travel in the company of another person and to be outside the country.

– The signor’s address and phone details

– The destination in Canada and the duration of the visit.

Visa Issuance according to visa policy of Canada

Before arrival: Travelers are kindly requested to contact the nearest representation of Canada based on the visa policy of Canada.

Visa Exemptions according to visa policy of Canada

All travelers must hold a visa except the following based on the visa policy of Canada:

1. Citizens of Canada.

2. Permanent residents of Canada with a permanent Resident Card.

3. Travelers staying for no more than six months provided they:

 – Hold British passports endorsed ‘British Citizen or ‘British National (Overseas)’ or ‘British Overseas Citizen or ‘British Overseas Territories Citizen.’

 – Citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, and Netherlands.

– Citizens of New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America and Vatican City.

 – Citizens of Lithuania and Poland, provided they have an e-passport.

 – Citizens of Israel, provided they do not have a ‘Laissez Passer’ colored in orange.

 – Visitors with passports issued by Hong Kong (A Special Administrative Region of China).

4. Permanent residents of the United States of America staying for no more than six months, provided they have a Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form no. I-551).

The ADIT stamp is also accepted if the ‘valid unit’ date has not yet expired.

5. Travellers with an ‘Indian Status Certificate’ card issued by Indian & Northern Affairs Canada.

6. Travellers coming to Canada from the United States for an interview with a US consular officer regarding an American immigrant visa provided they have satisfactory proof that will persuade an immigration officer to grant them re-entry to the United States.

7. Travellers return to Canada from the United States of America or St. Pierre and Miquelon, who have a valid student or employment permission issued before Canada.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Customs Rules based on visa policy of Canada

All passengers traveling to Canada arriving at significant airports must complete an E-311 Traveler Declaration Card before arrival in Canada. If the limit of free allowance is exceeded, then payment of duties will apply as per the visa policy of Canada.

Import regulations based on visa policy of Canada

Residents:

1. As per the visa policy of Canada, travelers staying outside Canada for at least 24 hours are allowed to import goods, not including alcohol and tobacco products, priced at no more than CAD 50; or

2. Travelers staying outside Canada for at least 48 hours can import goods valued at no more than CAD 400. Such goods must be held with the traveler in their hand or be transported as checked luggage and may include:

• Two hundred tobacco sticks and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or cigarillos
  • Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products or either of them can only be imported by travelers aged more than:
• Eighteen years old into the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec.
• Nineteen years old into the provinces of British Colombia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Islands, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory.
• Only a partial exemption will apply if tobacco sticks, unpacked tobacco, or cigarettes are included in the personal exemption allowance. Travelers will have to pay a minimum duty on such products unless marked ‘Canada Duty Paid Droit Acquitted.

Non-Residents:

• Two hundred tobacco sticks and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or cigarillos
• Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products or either of them can only be imported by travelers aged more than:
• Eighteen years old into the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec.
• Nineteen years old into the provinces of British Colombia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Islands, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory.
• 1.14 liters of spirits or 1.5 liters of wine or 355-milliliter bottles or cans, 8.5 liters of beer or ale; or
• Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products or either of them can only be imported by travelers aged more than:
• Eighteen years old into the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec.
• Nineteen years old into the provinces of British Colombia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Islands, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory.

Pets

Birds:

1. According to the visa policy of Canada, Birds from any country are not allowed to enter Canada unless with an import permit. Travelers must obtain it before arrival in Canada. It includes pets like parrots, songbirds, etc. A permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service is also required to import birds into Canada.

However, Birds from the USA are not mandatory to have an import permit. For further details, please check www.inspection.gc.ca under the title ‘Pet Imports.’

2. Birds from the United States of America arriving in the company of their owners must be found healthy when they are examined at the port of entry. The owner must sign a statement indicating that:

– They have owned birds for 90 days before the date of importation.

– Birds have not come into contact with any other birds during those 90 days.

– Birds belong to the owner as their pets.

– Birds are not imported for resale.

a. The owner of such birds or any of their family members must not have imported birds into Canada under this principle during the previous 90-day period.

b. Birds not accompanied by their owners: Psittacine birds such as parrots, parakeets, etc., must be accompanied by an import permit that the CFIA issues. For further information, please see www.inspection.gc.ca under the title ‘Pet Import.’

Cats and Dogs:

a. As per the visa policy of Canada, Dogs, and cats coming from non-rabies-free countries may enter Canada provided they are accompanied by a valid certificate of vaccination against rabies.

It is issued in either English or French by a licensed veterinarian, clearly identifying the animal and showing that it is currently vaccinated against rabies.

The certificate should point out the type of rabies vaccine used, the vaccination date, and the expiry date. If the validity date is missing in the certificate, it will be considered a one-year vaccine.

b. Dogs and cats coming from rabies-free countries as recognized by Canada may enter the country so long as a certificate accompanies them in English or French.

It is issued by an official government veterinarian identifying the animal and showing that that country has not witnessed any cases of rabies for the six months immediately before shipment of the animal. Also, the animal has been in that country during that period, whether before import or since birth.

Dogs and cats under three months old are exempted from such rules.

c. Puppies under eight months old traveling to Canada not in the company of their owners are required to be accompanied by a detailed health certificate. For further details, please check www.inspection.gc.ca under ‘Pet Animals Import’ and then ‘Dogs.’

Travelers will have to pay an examination fee of CAD 30,00 in addition to a tax for the first animal in the shipment for dogs and cats from countries other than the United States of America. Such rules apply to personal pets only, not to commercial shipments.

For further information on importing animals, please check www.inspection.gc.ca under ‘Pet Animals Import’ or contact:

Client Services, AHPD, CFIA

Address: 59 Camelot Drive, Nepean, Ontario, Canada, K 1A 0Y9

Telephone: (613) 225- 2342 / Extension: 4629 or 4790

Baggage Clearance regulations based on visa policy of Canada

A traveler’s luggage should be cleared at the first port of entry as per the visa policy of Canada.

Airport tax based on visa policy of Canada

All travelers are required to pay an Airport Improvement Fee upon departing from the airport as follows.

1. Travelers departing from Moncton/NB: CAD 15.

2. Travelers departing from Gaspe/QC: CAD 10.

3. Travelers departing from Yarmouth/NS: CAD 10.

4. Travelers departing from Sydney/NS: CAD 10.

5. Travelers departing from Smithers/BC: CAD 15.

6. Travelers departing from Kenora/ON: CAD 5 (for all destinations).

Place of payment according to visa policy of Canada: Self-service machines at the airport of departure or via staffed booths at the airport.

Exemptions:

1. As per the visa policy of Canada, Infants aged less than two years old travel on a ticket for which no fare has been paid or traveling on a ticket where no fare is required exempted from this airport improvement fee.

Infants traveling on tickets issued against frequent flyer points are not exempted from this airport improvement fee.

2. Airline employees (only applicable at YYZ).

3. Airline crew on duty.

4. International transfer or transit travelers leave within 24 hours or on the next possible trip (only applicable at YYZ).

5. Domestic or transborder transfer or transit travelers leave within 4 hours or the next possible trip (only applicable at YYZ).

6. Travelers with tickets issued in Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Uruguay.

Currency Import regulations as per visa policy of Canada

The same rules for currency export will apply to currency import.

Currency Export regulations as per visa policy of Canada

There are no restrictions on exporting local currency (Canadian Dollar-CAD) and foreign currencies to CAD 10,000. However, higher sums of CAD 10,000 or more should be declared.

Arms and Ammunition regulations as per visa policy of Canada

Before carrying a firearm from or into Canada, travelers should contact the Canadian Firearms Centre to find the required documents. Using the number 1-800-731-4000 from anywhere in Canada or the USA or (506) 624-5380 from any other country or by visiting the website: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

According to the visa policy of Canada, Replica firearms are prohibited and cannot be imported into Canada.

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