Travel to the USA
Travelling to the USA can be straight forward as long as you follow the rules. The trips to the USA are broken down into two groups:
USA Trips up to 72 hours
You are permitted to make as many short trips (72 hours or less) from Canada to the USA.
What you will need is the following:
- Valid Identification which can be any of the following:
- Passport
- FAST card
- NEXUS card
- Enhanced driver's license
- Confirmation of any and all COVID-19 vaccinations. This is not the QRCode but should be documentation which includes the type of COVID-19 vaccination, location and date of vaccination.
- A 14 day Quarantine plan (in case you show any COVID-19 symptoms).
You will need to complete the ArriveCan process. Please select from the following options:
- Click here for the Apple IOS App
- Click here for the Android App
- Click here for the web version (for notebook/computer/other devices).
You will have to carefully read and complete all area's of the ArriveCan questionnaire. When it asks you is you have a pre-entry molecular test, if your trip to the USA is less than 72 hours – answer No to this question.
Failure to complete and submit your ArriveCAN questionnaire and documentation can result in either mandatory 14 days quarantine, return to the USA to complete or possible fines.
If your trip to the USA is for the purpose of shopping, consider making your purchase in Canada to support Canadian businesses.
🇨🇦Customs Exemptions🇨🇦
Absence of fewer than 24 hours
- Personal exemptions do not apply to same-day cross-border shoppers.
Absence of more than 24 hours
- You can claim goods worth up to CAN$200.
- Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are not included in this exemption.
- If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$200, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead, duty and taxes are applicable to the entire amount of the imported goods.
- Goods must be in your possession and reported at the time of entry to Canada.
- A minimum absence of 24 hours from Canada is required. For example, if you left at 19:00 on Friday the 15th, you may return no earlier than 19:00 on Saturday the 16th to claim the exemption.
Absence of more than 48 hours
- You can claim goods worth up to CAN$800.
- You may include alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, within the prescribed limits. Refer to sections Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Beverages.
- Goods must be in your possession and reported at the time of entry to Canada.
- If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$800, duties and taxes are applicable only on the amount of the imported goods that exceed CAN$800.
- A minimum absence of 48 hours from Canada is required. For example, if you left at 19:00 on Friday the 15th, you may return no earlier than 19:00 on Sunday the 17th to claim the exemption.
USA Trips over 72 hours
For trips longer than 72 hours your will be required to have a valid pre-entry molecular test that is not more than 72 hours old.
You will need the following:
- Valid Identification which can be any of the following:
- Passport
- FAST card
- NEXUS card
- Enhanced driver's license
- Confirmation of any and all COVID-19 vaccinations. This is not the QRCode but should be documentation which includes the type of COVID-19 vaccination, location and date of vaccination.
- A 14 day Quarantine plan (in case you show any COVID-19 symptoms).
You will need to complete the ArriveCan process. Please select from the following options:
- Click here for the Apple IOS App
- Click here for the Android App
- Click here for the web version (for notebook/computer/other devices).
You will have to carefully read and complete all area's of the ArriveCan questionnaire.
Failure to complete and submit your ArriveCAN questionnaire and documentation can result in either mandatory 14 days quarantine, return to USA to complete or possible fines.
🇨🇦Customs Exemptions🇨🇦
Absence of fewer than 24 hours
- Personal exemptions do not apply to same-day cross-border shoppers.
Absence of more than 24 hours
- You can claim goods worth up to CAN$200.
- Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are not included in this exemption.
- If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$200, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead, duty and taxes are applicable to the entire amount of the imported goods.
- Goods must be in your possession and reported at the time of entry to Canada.
- A minimum absence of 24 hours from Canada is required. For example, if you left at 19:00 on Friday the 15th, you may return no earlier than 19:00 on Saturday the 16th to claim the exemption.
Absence of more than 48 hours
- You can claim goods worth up to CAN$800.
- You may include alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, within the prescribed limits. Refer to sections Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Beverages.
- Goods must be in your possession and reported at the time of entry to Canada.
- If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$800, duties and taxes are applicable only on the amount of the imported goods that exceed CAN$800.
- A minimum absence of 48 hours from Canada is required. For example, if you left at 19:00 on Friday the 15th, you may return no earlier than 19:00 on Sunday the 17th to claim the exemption.
Absence of more than 7 days
- You can claim goods worth up to CAN$800.
- You must have tobacco products and alcoholic beverages in your possession when you enter Canada, but other goods may follow you by other means (such as courier or by post). However, all of the goods you are bringing back must be reported to the CBSA when you arrive. See Unaccompanied Goods section.
- A minimum absence of seven days is required. When calculating the number of days you have been absent, exclude the day you left Canada but include the day you returned. For example, we consider you to have been absent seven days if you left Canada on Friday the 7th and return no earlier than Friday the 14th to claim the exemption.
Un-Vaccinated Travel to the USA
If you are a non-U.S. citizen non-U.S. immigrant and not fully vaccinated, you will not be allowed to enter the United States. Only limited exceptions apply to the requirement to show proof of vaccination.
