The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is reminding travellers to plan ahead when travelling to Canada this holiday season.
Between January 1 and October 31, 2025, the CBSA says they welcomed more than 70 million travellers while also intercepting over 30,790 kg of illegal drugs and 13,500 weapons and firearms.
Travellers are reminded that as you prepare for holiday travels, knowing what you need to enter Canada will help ensure a smoother border crossing experience while also giving CBSA officers more time to continue focusing on stopping dangerous goods and inadmissible people from entering the country.
The CBSA is offering some important tips to those crossing the border into Canada this holiday season.
“Have your travel documents readily available to present to an officer,” they say.
“This will speed up processing times at the border.”
It is also important to have any documents required when traveling with kids.
“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,” the said.
“We are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.”
Travellers should be prepared to Declare everything they have with them upon entry into Canada.
“If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle,” the release said.
“If you’re travelling with gifts, make sure they are unwrapped or in gift bags in case border services officers need to inspect the contents.”
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,” the agency said.
If you’re returning to Canada from abroad ensure you know what duties you might be expected to pay.
“If you are a resident of Canada, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods, including alcohol and tobacco (up to a certain value), back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes,” the release said.
“Make sure you know the value of goods you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts available for the officer.”
If you’re driving into Canada Check border wait times to plan your route, which are available on the CBSA website. The agency offered advice to drivers looking to cross into the country.
“Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times, they said.
“The Monday of holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.”
Drivers may also want to consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic. You can check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official Directory of CBSA Offices and Services, via www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/.
“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.”
Cannabis users should be reminded that it’s illegal to cross into Canada with the drug in any form.
“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,” They said.
“A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.”
Lists of other prohibited products that cannot be imported into Canada are available on the CBSA’s website.
