The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers to plan ahead for their Canada Day travel plans. At the Coutts border crossing, Canada Day is a busy time of year and the CBSA is expecting higher traffic volumes between June 29 and July 3. The Coutts port of entry is open 24/7 and has the greatest capacity to process large volumes of travellers: during peak hours, all primary inspection lanes will be open and operating at maximum capacity.
Here are more smart crossing tips.
1. Beat the border rush. Cross at a non-peak time.
Albertans choose a variety of routes to return to Canada. While Coutts is the busiest port of entry, several other border crossings will see a significant number of travellers over the holiday weekend, including: Carway in Alberta; and Roosville and Kingsgate in British Columbia.
Regardless of your itinerary, try to plan crossing the border in the morning, especially if you cross on Sunday or Monday. Most lineups at the border start building in the afternoon and carry on throughout the evening. You can use Border Wait Times services to check lineups at Coutts. You can also subscribe by Twitter (@CBSA_CTS) to see listings on the go. U.S.-bound or Canada-bound information is available.
2. Keep travel documents handy. An officer will scan them.
One of the best ways your family can save time returning to Canada is to make sure each passenger has the correct travel document handy and ready to give to the CBSA officer. A passport is the best bet. If you prefer to travel light while on the road, an enhanced driver’s licence might be for you (available to B.C. residents only). Other acceptable forms of ID include: birth certificates with accompanying photo ID such as regular driver's licences; permanent resident cards; citizenship cards or certificates of Indian status.
3. Know your purchases, know where your receipts are, and know your exemptions and restrictions.
If your family has made purchases in the United States, mailed gifts, or made major repairs or upgrades to your vehicle or boat, you will need to declare the total value of your purchases and back your claim with the receipts. Each traveller is entitled to certain personal exemptions on items like alcohol and tobacco depending on the length of your visit, and this can save you money. Remember that all raw poultry, poultry products and by-products that are not fully cooked, including eggs and raw pet foods, originating from several states are prohibited from entering Canada until further notice. For more information on the current avian influenza outbreak, please visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website at www.inspection.gc.ca. Also remember that some goods will always be restricted in Canada, such as firearms. It is the responsibility of all travellers to learn about the requirements to import a firearm into Canada. All travellers must declare any firearms in their possession when they enter Canada. Take the time to know what you’re bringing back to Canada, and that time will pay dividends at the border.
4. Know the contents of your vehicles.
Empty the junk from your trunk! It’s as important to declare certain items in your vehicle and/or boat when you return to Canada. For example, if you have food tucked away in coolers or organic items such as soil (for example, in a bait container) or firewood, be sure you tell the CBSA officer. These kinds of products are easily forgotten when you are crossing, but could potentially create health and environmental problems for Canada.
5. Not sure? Ask the CBSA officer.
The single best thing you can do to save time returning to Canada is to simply be open and honest with the CBSA officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, don't hesitate to ask. The officers are there to help you.
The CBSA encourages all Canadian residents to be border-savvy travellers and save time this long weekend by making a smooth return a “must-have” part of holiday itineraries. For these tips and more, watch our travel tips video to hear advice directly from officers, or visit our website.
For Alberta media info:
CBSA – Regional Communications
1-844-245-2272
PrairieMedia@cbsa.gc.ca
For British Columbia media info:
CBSA – Regional Communications
604-818-9701
pac-comms@cbsa.gc.ca
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