🇨🇦 Canada · CBSA

Canada customs & border

What foreign visitors can bring across a Canadian border. Every section cites the federal authority — Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Transport Canada — and the Cannabis Act. Canada's customs are generally moderate, with one famous trap: cannabis is legal in Canada nationwide, but moving it across the Canadian border in either direction is a federal offence.

1. The form: CBSA declaration

Every traveller entering Canada must complete a customs declaration. Air arrivals at most international airports use the Advance Declaration in the ArriveCAN app (optional but faster), and otherwise complete a paper or kiosk declaration on arrival. Land arrivals declare verbally to the Border Services Officer at the booth. CBSA's What to Declare page is the canonical reference. One declaration per family travelling together.

2. Currency: CAD$10,000 reporting threshold

You must report to CBSA if you are entering or leaving Canada with CAD$10,000 or more in cash or monetary instruments (cheques, money orders, bearer securities) — see CBSA's currency reporting page. Reporting is free; failure to report can result in seizure. The threshold applies in either direction and to all currencies (USD/EUR/etc converted at exchange rates).

3. Food, plants, and animal products

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces import rules. Most fresh fruit and vegetables require permits or are restricted depending on origin; meat and dairy from certain countries are prohibited; soil is generally banned. Declare anything you're unsure of — under-declaration is treated more harshly than declaration of an inadmissible item.

4. Drones (RPAS)

Transport Canada regulates drones (RPAS — Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems). Key thresholds:

See Transport Canada — Drone Safety for the full ladder. The drone itself is permitted in luggage; flying it is the regulated activity.

5. Cannabis: legal in Canada, prohibited at the border

Recreational cannabis became legal across Canada under the Cannabis Act in October 2018, BUT importing or exporting cannabis across the Canadian border in any form remains a serious criminal offence — up to 14 years imprisonment. This applies even if the cannabis comes from a province or US state where it is legal locally. See CBSA's cannabis-at-the-border page.

The trap: travellers crossing the BC–Washington or Ontario– Michigan border assume that, because cannabis is legal on both sides, transport is fine. It is not. Don't bring it across in either direction.

6. Firearms

Canada permits non-residents to import certain firearms for hunting, sporting, or in-transit purposes, but you must declare every firearm and complete a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (RCMP Form 5589) on arrival. Restricted and prohibited weapons (most handguns, fully automatic weapons) require additional permits or are banned outright. CBSA's firearms guidance for travellers covers the categories. Undeclared firearms are seized and may trigger criminal charges — there is no “forgot to declare” defence.

Bringing your vehicle

Importing a US-bought vehicle to Canada involves Transport Canada compliance, RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) inspection, and provincial registration. Cross-border visiting for under 12 months is much simpler — see our Canada country guide (vehicle-import deep-dive coming).

Sources

  1. [CBSA]CBSA — What to Declare — CBSA · accessed 2026-05-01
  2. [CBSA]CBSA — Travelling with Cdn$10,000 or More — CBSA
  3. [CFIA]CFIA — Travelling and Bringing Food into Canada — CFIA
  4. [TC]Transport Canada — Drone Safety — Transport Canada
  5. [CBSA]CBSA — Cannabis at the Border — CBSA
  6. [Justice]Cannabis Act (S.C. 2018, c. 16) — Justice Canada

Customs guides for other countries