How Do You Cross the Border Into Canada?
To enter Canada as a visitor, bring the documents required for your status and route, declare your goods, and complete Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checks. A border officer decides whether you meet entry requirements and how long you may stay. This guide covers arrivals by land, air, and cruise ship.
A visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) does not guarantee admission. Immigration checks and customs clearance are separate: declaring an item does not automatically make it admissible.
1. Check your travel documents before departure
Start with IRCC travel document requirements. Canadian citizens and permanent residents follow their own document rules and do not apply for an eTA. For foreign visitors, requirements depend on nationality, immigration status, supporting documents, and route—not simply where they live.
- US citizens: no visitor visa or eTA is required; carry acceptable identification and travel documents.
- US lawful permanent residents: no visitor visa or eTA is required. By air, bring a valid passport or accepted equivalent and valid proof of US permanent resident status. By land or water directly from the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, IRCC accepts valid proof of that status without a passport. Check carrier and other countries’ document requirements separately.
- Other foreign visitors: a valid passport and the appropriate visa or eTA are generally required. Visa-exempt visitors normally do not need an eTA for land or cruise arrivals. Travellers from certain visa-required countries may qualify for an eTA for air travel only if they meet all supporting-document conditions; an eTA does not replace their visa for a cruise.
If you already have a valid Canadian visitor visa, you generally do not need an additional eTA. Keep accommodation details, evidence of funds and departure plans available. Bring an invitation letter if applicable, plus children’s identification and any consent or custody documents appropriate to their circumstances.
2. Prepare your customs declaration
Declare your goods, including gifts, food, plants, animal products, alcohol, tobacco and pets. Check restrictions before packing and ask an officer if unsure what to report.
Currency and monetary instruments totalling CAN$10,000 or more, including foreign-currency equivalents, generally must be declared. For cruise travel, follow CBSA’s cruise-specific reporting instructions: exceptions can apply when funds remain aboard and are not destined for Canada.
3. Follow the arrival process for your route
| Route | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Land | Primary inspection, document checks, and a verbal declaration. |
| Air | A kiosk, eGate or declaration card, followed by CBSA checks. |
| Cruise | Operator-coordinated declarations and CBSA clearance at the first Canadian port. |
By land
Use an official border crossing and check its opening hours and estimated wait times. Follow signs to primary inspection, present your documents and make a verbal declaration. Be ready to explain your purpose, accommodation, and intended stay.
By air
Follow signs to the CBSA checkpoint and complete the declaration using the facilities available. At participating airports, Advance Declaration lets you submit information up to 72 hours before arrival. It is free and optional. Confirm or update it at the airport kiosk or eGate. Complete document checks, collect your baggage and follow any further CBSA instructions.
By cruise
Follow the cruise operator’s document and declaration instructions. CBSA clears the ship, passengers and crew at the first Canadian port of arrival. Complete the required declaration even if you stay aboard; CBSA may call selected passengers for examination. Visa-required passengers generally need a Canadian visitor visa even if they do not leave the ship. See CBSA cruise clearance guidance.
4. Complete any secondary inspection
Secondary inspection is a normal part of border processing and may be random. Officers may ask further questions, verify documents, or examine baggage and goods. Keep documents accessible, answer accurately, and allow extra time.
5. Confirm your authorized stay
Most visitors may stay for up to six months, but an officer can authorize a different period. Follow the date and conditions in your passport or visitor record. For ordinary visitors who receive neither, IRCC generally limits the stay to six months from entry or the expiry of the passport or biometrics, whichever comes first. Special categories can have different rules. Confirm your deadline with the officer; visa or eTA validity is not your permitted length of stay.
Before departure, check current IRCC arrival guidance and notices for measures relevant to your circumstances.
