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Entering Canada
American citizens entering Canada at any port of entry must present proof of US citizenship. This DOES NOT require a passport. Here is a list of acceptable identification:
• Birth Certificate and photo ID such as a driver’s license
• Baptismal Certificate and photo ID
• Voter Registration Card, if you live in a state that issues them, and photo ID
• Valid Green Card for permanent residents of the United States
• Certificate of citizenship or naturalization
A birth Certificate must be accompanied by some sort of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Citizens of the United States staying in Canada for over 180 days require a visa. Parents traveling with children must have proof of the children’s citizenship, in the form of a birth certificate.
Exiting Canada
As of January 31, 2008, if you travel to the U.S. by land or water, a U.S. law will require you to present:
• a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s licence; and
• a birth certificate or a citizenship card; or
• For youth under 16, a birth certificate; or
• A valid passport.
Duties and Importing
American residents who spend more than 48 hours in Canada are allowed to take up to US$400 worth of goods purchased in Canada back into the U.S. You may take advantage of this exemption only once every 30 days. (If you have already used this exemption, the US$200 exemption applies.)
Members of a single family, travelling together and living in the same residence, are allowed to pool their exemptions to cover their combined purchases.
Up to 100 cigars, one litre (35.2 American fluid ounces) of alcoholic beverages (if you are older than 21 years of age ) and one carton of 200 cigarettes may be included within your exemption.
Please note that Cuban cigars, although commonly available in Canada, may not be brought into the United States.
If you visit Canada for less than 48 hours, or if you have already claimed a US$400 exemption in the previous days, you are allowed to take goods purchased in Canada worth up to US$200 back into the U.S. Up to 10 non-Cuban cigars, 150 millilitres (5.1 American fluid ounces ) of alcoholic beverages and 50 cigarettes may be included as part of your exemption.
Duty will be charged on any goods worth more than the exemptions described above. Under the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, duty on the first US$1400 worth of goods ( including the US$400 exemption ) is being phased out. This agreement applies only to goods that are stamped either "Made in Canada" or "Made in the U.S.A.". In 1997 the rate of duty was 1%. The duty itself was scheduled to be eliminated by January 1, 1998.
Any goods worth more than the US$1400 limit will be charged duty at various Rates & Reservations.
Goods not covered by the Free Trade Agreement will continue to have duty charged against them at various Rates & Reservations. For current information on duty Rates & Reservations and levels, please contact U.S. Customs before you leave home.
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