The Victoria Day Weekend is traditionally the start of the summer travel season, and if your trip includes crossing the border, the Canada Border Service Agency has some tips to make sure your crossing goes as smoothly as possible.
Whether this is the first time in a few years you have crossed the border or not, the agency is managing border crossings a little differently this weekend because of evolving COVID-19 requirements. Those changes could mean delays.
Avoiding delays could be as easy as choosing to travel during off-peak hours, like early in the morning. Keep in mind, the Mondays of holiday long weekends are when traffic tends to be its busiest.
Completing your ArriveCAN submission within 72-hours of returning to Canada is mandatory regardless of vaccination status. Make sure your version of the ArriveCAN app is up to date. Print off a copy or take a screenshot of your ArriveCAN receipt and bring it. If you don't have a smartphone or don't use mobile data, submit your information on another computing device such as a laptop, desktop, or tablet.
There are still some COVID-19 measures in place, and to what extent depends on who is travelling. The rules differ whether you are a Canadian citizen, foreign national, fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or unvaccinated. Those who are fully vaccinated no longer have to submit a negative COVID-19 test before entering Canada or a quarantine plan, but those who are not do. If you have a medical exemption, you will need a note from your doctor.
If you plan on shopping during your trip, be prepared to declare your purchases. That means keeping all receipts and spending within exemption limits. Residents can spend up to $200 dollars without paying taxes for trips over 24-hours and $800 for trips longer than 48-hours.
The list of products that must be declared regardless of how much you spend includes food, plants, animals, wood, and wood products and all currency worth CAN$10,000 or more.
Finally, remember it is not legal to carry cannabis, in any form, across the border. Anyone who does could face a serious criminal charge.