photo courtesy of Canada Border Services Agency
With many Canadians travelling during the summer months, this list will help travellers returning to Canada have a smooth border crossing. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recommends the following to make your cross-border trip a little easier:
Plan ahead: Cross the border in the morning, especially if you plan to cross on a Sunday or Monday. For border wait times, download the mobile CanBorder app or visit the CBSA website.
Be prepared: Have your travel documents, proper identification for all persons in the vehicle, and receipts from purchases outside of Canada ready to present to the border services officer. Be ready to declare all goods purchased and/or received while outside the country.
Know your exemption limits: If you plan to make purchases or pick up online purchases across the border, be aware of your exemption limits. Be sure to check the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to calculate taxes on goods purchased in the United States and to help you make informed decisions when shopping abroad.
Ask the CBSA officer: To enter into Canada as quickly as possible, the single best thing you can do is to be open and honest with the CBSA officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don’t hesitate to ask. The officers are there to help you.
To expedite the border clearance process, apply to become a NEXU.S. member. For information on the NEXU.S. enrollment process and hours of operation, please visit the CBSA website.
For more travel tips from the CBSA, please visit the travel tips section on the CBSA website.
