Ottawa, Ontario
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers from the United States to plan ahead before crossing the border into Canada over the upcoming U.S. Thanksgiving long weekend.
Every year, CBSA officers welcome millions of travellers into Canada and work hard to protect our communities and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across the border. In 2024, the CBSA welcomed more than 93 million travellers and intercepted tens of thousands of prohibited goods such as illegal drugs, weapons and firearms.
Here are some travel tips to help you plan for your trip:
- Have your travel documents readily available to present to an officer. U.S. citizens must carry proper identification to enter Canada such as a valid passport or NEXUS card when travelling by land or air. This will speed up processing times at the border.
- When travelling with children who are not your own or for whom you don't have full legal custody, we recommend you have a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. We are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
- Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you are bringing with you, including gifts and food upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
- Bringing poultry products, including turkey: Be sure to review current restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing these products across the border. Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada.
- You must review the restricted and prohibited goods list to avoid the possibility of penalties, including fines, seizure or prosecution. Make sure you have the information you need before attempting to bring certain items into Canada.
- Leave your firearms and weapons at home. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms.
- Cannabis: Don't bring it in. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.
- Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada (at participating airports).
- Driving into Canada? Check border wait times to plan your route.
- Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times.
- The Monday of holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.
- Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
- Check the port of entry's hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.
- If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel.
We encourage you to read and follow all of our travel tips before arriving at the border.
Not sure? Ask a CBSA officer. The best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, you can call us at 1-800-461-9999.
