Canada Border Services Agency: Gordie Howe International Bridge Port of Entry

July 24, 2026
Windsor, Ontario

The Gordie Howe International Bridge port of entry connects Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, and will transform how trade moves through this corridor. It is Canada’s newest, largest and most technologically advanced land border crossing and will enhance border security while facilitating efficient, reliable cross-border movement.

With the addition of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Canada now has 118 land border ports of entry, including three in the Windsor area, alongside the Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.

Windsor-Detroit is Canada's most important trade corridor. It carries approximately 30% of Canada-US trade by truck. More than $274 million in trade per day moves through this gateway.

The new bridge will help address congestion in the Windsor-Detroit corridor by providing travellers with an alternative route at the busiest commercial land border crossing on the Canada-United States border.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge port of entry:

• is supported by a highly trained frontline workforce dedicated to safeguarding Canada’s security and prosperity, and will
• operate 24/7 as a high-capacity facility.

The CBSA has worked closely with partners, including the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Infrastructure Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and local stakeholders to prepare for the opening of Canada’s largest land port of entry.

Port of entry features

The facility is designed with advanced infrastructure to support effective border processing:

• 24 primary inspection lanes, configurable to support up to 16 commercial lanes or 19 traveller lanes, as needed
• Dedicated NEXUS/FAST lanes for trusted travellers and traders
• 12 commercial secondary examination docks
• Two fully enclosed commercial examination bays
• Four traveller secondary/tertiary garages for more in-depth examinations
• Modern detection tools, including a fixed large scale imaging facility, small scale imaging devices, detector dogs, trace detection technology, density meters, scopes, and more are used to verify legitimate goods and help prevent contraband from entering Canada
• A multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists
  

Staffing

• The CBSA allocates resources for optimal border management and this new port of entry is staffed appropriately to meet the needs of travellers and commercial trade.
• Approximately 1,400 personnel are allocated to ports of entry in the Southern Ontario Region (including border services officers and management).
• While officers are typically assigned to a home port of entry, during busy periods, they may be temporarily redeployed to address higher-volume locations.

Travel tips for crossing the border

Prepare documents

• Before making travel plans, learn about entry requirements by country or territory.
• Have your travel documents ready. All international travellers, regardless of age, must carry acceptable identification when entering Canada. A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document when abroad.
• When travelling with children who are not your own or for whom you don’t have legal custody, bring 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, border officers may ask additional questions

If entering Canada by land

• Check the CBSA’s border wait times to plan your route.
  • Early mornings are the best time to avoid wait times.
  • Holiday long weekends tend to be the busiest.
  • Consider alternative ports of entry that have shorter wait times.
  • Check hours of operation for any port of entry using the Directory of CBSA Offices and Services.
  • Use GPS application to choose the best route.
  • Border services officers are taking strong action against those who jeopardize the safety of others on the road. Never drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol. 

Declare your goods

• Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. You are responsible for everything inside your vehicle and luggage.
• Bringing goods for sale or business use? All goods imported for sale, resale, lease, or for use by your business are considered commercial goods. Use the Canada Border Services Agency’s Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system to properly declare your commercial goods and pay applicable duties and taxes.
• Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more? Declare it. There are no restrictions on the amount of money you can bring into or take out of Canada and it is not illegal to do so; you just need to declare it.
• Some foods such as certain meats, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables are prohibited from entering Canada, to prevent serious risks of plant pests and animal diseases and human health: Plan before you pack.

Tips on restricted and prohibited items

• You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. Most handguns are prohibited from being imported into Canada. If you choose to do so, check the rules on importing firearms into Canada: Firearms and weapons: Canadian border requirements.
• Do not bring cannabis across the border. Crossing with cannabis in any form and in any amount, including products or oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence, despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.
• Smuggling drugs is illegal. Trafficking drugs across the border is a criminal offence. Beware of people who ask you to carry anything for them. Consequences are serious in Canada and abroad.
• Review the restricted and prohibited goods to avoid the possibility of penalties, including fines, seizure or prosecution. Make sure you have the information you need before attempting to bring items into Canada.
• Bringing fireworks into Canada? Consult Importing, exporting and transporting fireworks to ensure that the ones you are bringing in are authorized.
• Know the rules for Drugs, alcohol and 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.