With summer officially here, boating season is underway and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would like to remind all boaters of their reporting obligations when travelling between Canada and the United States.
All persons entering Canada must report their arrival to the CBSA. When entering Canadian waters, the master of the vessel must report to the CBSA upon arrival without delay.
Quick Facts
- Private boaters entering or returning to Canadian waters are required to report from a CBSA-designated marine reporting site. Upon arrival at a CBSA-designated marine reporting site, follow the posted instructions to contact the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) and request CBSA clearance using the telecommunication device provided by the reporting site. Only the master may leave the boat to place the call to the TRC. Everyone else must remain onboard until the CBSA gives authorization.
- Citizens or permanent residents of Canada or the United States can report to the TRC (1-888-226-7277) from the water using a cellular telephone at the location of entry into Canadian waters if the following conditions are met:
- They are returning Canadian residents who have not landed on U.S. soil and have not taken on any people or goods while in foreign waters.
- They are visitors to Canada who do not intend to land on Canadian soil and will not be leaving any people or goods in Canada.
- Note: If you meet the above conditions and will be continuously weaving in and out of Canadian waters, you only need to report to the TRC the first time that you cross the border into Canadian waters.
- At all times, if there are persons who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada or the United States aboard-ship, the ship’s master must proceed to a designated marine reporting site to report to the CBSA in person.
- “In-transit” vessels proceeding directly from one point outside of Canada to another point outside of Canada are exempt from CBSA reporting requirements.
- A vessel can be considered to be in-transit only if it is using Canadian waters for the purpose of moving from one location abroad directly to another location abroad. In-transit movement must be continuous, uninterrupted, and without delays or stopovers.
- NEXUS members can call the NEXUS marine reporting number at 1-866-99-NEXUS up to four hours in advance of their arrival in Canada for more convenient processing.
- Canadian law enforcement authorities patrol Canada’s coasts and inland waterways and have the authority to stop any boat that has recently entered Canadian waters.
- Failure to report to the CBSA may result in detention, seizure or forfeiture of your boat and/or monetary penalties. The minimum fine for failing to report to the CBSA upon entry to Canada is Can$1,000.
- Know what you have onboard. Restricted goods include, but are not limited to, firearms and weapons; food, plants, animals and related products; explosives, fireworks and ammunition.
Associated Links
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Contacts
Canada Border Services Agency
Southern Ontario Region
844-580-3636
CBSA-ASFC_SouthernOntarioRegionNews@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
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