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Home   Know Before You Go Tips for Alaskans Traveling/Visiting Canada "Update December 2006"
Table of Contents Introduction Every year more than 35 million people visit Canada, many coming from the United States. Canada welcomes its visitors, including tens of thousands of U.S. residents and citizens traveling to and from Alaska. For all visitors from the United States, please note you will need to respect Canadian laws, which differ from those in the United States in some areas. You will also need a valid passport or proof of who you are and other travel documents. Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. Make sure you have health insurance to pay your medical costs before you leave for Canada. You may not be permitted to enter Canada if you have a criminal conviction, including a conviction for driving while impaired, known in the United States as driving under the influence (DUI). More information about inadmissibility to Canada is listed below in the section “DUI/Admissibility.” For more details on visiting Canada, please refer to www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html. Many questions regarding customs issues can be directed to the Canada Customs Call Centre in Winnipeg at 204-983-3500. Please also consult http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html. U.S. citizens may also wish to visit a web site initiated by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa at www.amcits.com. The site provides information for U.S. citizens visiting or living in Canada. Alcohol & Tobacco As long as you meet the age requirements set by the province or territory you are visiting, you can bring with you, free of duty and taxes, no more than: - 53 ounces (1.5 litres) of wine; or
- 40 ounces (1.14 litres) of liquor; or
- A total of 40 ounces (1.14 litres) of wine and liquor; or
- 24 x 355 ml (12 ounce) containers of beer
Please note that we classify coolers according to the type of alcohol they contain and their alcohol content. You can bring in, free of duty, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 tobacco sticks, and 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco. You may bring in additional quantities, but you will have to pay full duty and taxes on the excess amount. Border & Customs The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for managing Canada’s border. The CBSA ensures all people entering Canada are admissible and comply with Canadian laws. The CBSA also processes all commercial shipments entering Canada, ensures that Canadian customs rules are enforced, and protects the public by preventing unsafe goods from entering Canada and by detaining those who are a public threat or who have been determined to be involved in illegal activities. Canada, like the United States, is committed to ensuring public safety and maintaining a secure border. For customs related questions, please call the Canada Customs Call Centre at 204-983-3500. Also visit the CBSA at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/faqs-e.html. Children The CBSA watches for missing or abducted children and may ask detailed questions about the children who are traveling with you. If you are traveling with children, you should carry identification for each child. In the case of infants who have not yet been issued birth certificates, an original baptismal or hospital certificate that indicates the country of birth is sufficient. Children traveling with one parent, grandparents, or other guardians should carry proof of custody and/or notarized letters from the non-accompanying parent(s) authorizing travel. This is in addition to proof of the child’s citizenship. This letter should contain contact telephone numbers for the other parent or legal guardian not present. Travelers without such documentation may experience delays at the port of entry. If you are traveling as part of a group of vehicles, be sure that you are in the same vehicle as your child/children when you arrive at the border. Any person under the age of 16 and traveling alone should carry a notarized letter from his/her parents or guardians authorizing the trip. Travelers without such documentation may experience delays at the port of entry. Criminal Offenses Canadian law prevents some persons from being admitted into the country. Those who have committed or been convicted of a criminal offense, including driving while impaired or DUI, may be prohibited from entry. For details, including instructions about overcoming inadmissibility, please visit http://www.international.gc.ca/can-am/seattle/rightnav/temporary_instructions-en.asp. DUI/Admissibility Security and enforcement at the Canada-United States border has heightened in recent years. For this reason, more U.S. citizens with past criminal charges or convictions are refused entry into Canada. Almost all convictions (including DUI, reckless driving, misdemeanour drug possession, all felonies, shoplifting, etc.) make a person inadmissible to Canada, regardless of how long ago they occurred. For this reason, it is not recommended that persons with past convictions attempt to enter Canada without first obtaining necessary documents. It is always the final decision of officers at ports of entry to decide whether a person is allowed into Canada. There are several ways individuals can overcome criminal inadmissibility: - Deemed rehabilitation at a Canadian port of entry.
- Apply for rehabilitation through a Canadian Consulate in the United States.
- Temporary resident permit through a Canadian Consulate in the United States.
Deemed Rehabilitation Persons are eligible to apply for deemed rehabilitation at a port of entry if the following are true: - There was only one conviction in total or one criminal act.
- At least ten years have elapsed since all of the sentences for the conviction were completed.
- The conviction would not be considered serious criminality in Canada (most felony convictions in the United States are considered serious criminality in Canada).
- The conviction did not involve any serious property damage, physical harm to any person, or any type of weapon.
A person who wishes to be considered for deemed rehabilitation may bring the following documents to a port of entry during regular business hours (Monday - Friday between 8 am and 5 pm): - U.S. passport or birth certificate plus photo identification.
- A copy of court documents for each conviction, and proof that all sentences were completed.
- A recent FBI criminal record check.
- Recent police certificates from the state where the conviction(s) occurred and from any state where a person has lived for six months or longer in the last ten years.
Application for Rehabilitation You may apply for rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since the completion of the sentence imposed for your crime. You may send an application for rehabilitation with all the required accompanying documents to the Immigration section of the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle. Applications can be found at http://www.international.gc.ca/can-am/seattle/right_nav/rehab-en.asp. Please note there is no guarantee that rehabilitation will be granted; the decision to approve or refuse rehabilitation is made after consideration of all the factors in the case. Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) If less than 5 years have elapsed since the termination of the sentence imposed, you are not yet eligible to apply for approval of rehabilitation. A TRP is the only available option to permit entry into Canada. Permit applications are found at www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/seattle/right_nav/trp-en.asp. You may contact the Immigration section of the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle by email at seatl-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca or fax to 206-441-7838 should you have questions about applying for rehabilitation or TRP. Please note the Canadian Consulate in Anchorage does not handle DUI/Admissibility issues. Firearms & Weapons Visitors to Canada, including U.S. citizens traveling between two U.S./Alaska ports of entry in Canada, must declare all firearms and weapons at Customs when entering Canada. If firearms or weapons are not declared, they will be seized and/or destroyed and criminal charges may be filed. Visitors may need documents to prove they are entitled to possess a firearm in Canada, and they will have to transport it safely. In addition, some firearms such as semi-automatic weapons and weapons such as mace, as well as types and quantities of ammunition, may be restricted and/or prohibited. Attempting to bring illegal weapons into Canada is a criminal offense, and offenders will be arrested and weapons seized and/or destroyed. If you need more information about Canada’s firearms laws and how these apply to a specific firearm, device, or any fees that may apply, contact the Canadian Firearms Centre at 1-800-731-4000, or visit www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Information concerning Canadian laws regulating the importation of ammunition can be found at http://laws.justice.gc.ca. Food Products Meat and meat products are allowed entry to Canada from the United States provided the shipment is clearly of U.S. origin and does not exceed 10 kg (22 lbs.) Dairy products are allowed entry to Canada from the United States provided the shipment is clearly of U.S. origin and does not exceed the maximum value of CAN $20. Any types of fruits that contain seeds are prohibited from Canada (i.e. apples, peaches, nectarines, etc.). For more information, please contact the Canada Customs Call Centre at 204-983-3500, or visit Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) at www.inspection.gc.ca. Medical Care Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. Make sure you have health insurance to pay for your medical costs before you leave the United States. Money There are no restrictions on the amount of money that you can bring into or take out of Canada, nor is it illegal to do so. However, all importations and exportations of currency and monetary instruments equal to or greater than CAN $10,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency), whether in cash or other instruments, must be reported to the CBSA at the time of your arrival in Canada, or prior to your departure from Canada. For more information, visit the CBSA web site at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/cmr/menu-e.html. Pets Dogs and cats from the United States that are at least three months old need signed and dated certificates from a veterinarian verifying that they have been vaccinated against rabies within the last three years. For more information on certificates and restrictions on other pets besides dogs and cats, please contact the Canada Customs Call Centre at 204-983-3500. Please also review the CFIA web site for rules overseeing the importation of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and other species, into Canada at www.inspection.gc.ca. Plants Please review the CFIA web site if you have questions about rules governing the importation of plants and plant food products into Canada at www.inspection.gc.ca. Trailers/Towing Vehicles Please contact the Canada Customs Call Centre at 204-983-3500. Travel Documents for Entering Canada
If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not require a tourist visa to enter Canada. However, at the port of entry, U.S. citizens must show either a passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as an original or certified birth certificate together with government issued photo identification. Please note a U.S. driver’s license or social security card is not proof of U.S. citizenship. Alien permanent residents must present their Alien Registration Card, also known as a “Green Card.” Passports should be valid for the period of travel. Expired passports will need to be renewed before they are presented for entry into Canada. For information about U.S. passports and how to obtain birth certificates, please consult the U.S. State Department web site at www.state.gov. U.S. Rules Will Impact U.S. Visitors Returning From Canada Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document when entering the United States.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries and cruise ships), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security when entering the United States.
For details about the new travel rules impacting U.S. citizens and residents, visit the U.S. State Department’s web site at: http://travel.state.gov/. Visas Please see the section “Travel Documents.” U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa to visit Canada. For information about work and study visas, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html. Updated December 2006 | 
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DUI/Criminally Inadmissable Fact Sheet For Alaskans
