Frequently Asked Questions
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Crossing the international border is easy!
You can walk across the bridge free of charge or drive across the bridge for a toll. Either way, you are required
to be cleared through U.S. or Canadian Customs. You do not need a passport to cross if you are a U.S. or
Canadian citizen; but you may need proof of citizenship (ie: birth certificate or passport). Youths under 18
traveling alone may need a letter of permission from a parent or a legal guardian. |
What goods can you bring in with you?
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U.S. residents entering Canada:
- private vehicles, pleasure boats, and recreational vehicles;
- up to 1.14 liters (40 oz.) of liquor or 1.5 liters of wine or wine coolers or 24 355 ml/12 oz. cans or bottles of beer or ale* duty-free;
- up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 tobacco sticks, and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco* duty-free.
* You must meet the provincial age requirements (19 in Ontario) to import these goods.
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Canadian residents entering the United States:
- private vehicles, pleasure boats, and recreational vehicles;
- up to 24 355 ml/12 oz. cans/bottles of beer, or 4 liters liquor, wine/wine coolers, or 1liter duty-free*;
- 200 cigarettes duty-free
* You must meet state age requirements (21 in Minnesota) to import these goods.
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What goods are not allowed into Canada?
- live minnows, leeches;
- smelt, live or dead;
- handguns and automatic weapons;
- mace or any other spray to be used against people.
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How much can you bring back duty-free?
U.S. residents leaving Canada: (all figures in U.S. dollars)
If you stay in Canada under 48 hours, $200 worth of goods including:
- 50 cigarettes or 10 cigars;
- 150 milliliters (or 5 fl. oz.) liquor.
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After a 48-hour stay in Canada, you may return with $800 worth of goods including:
- 1 liter (33.8 oz.) liquor;
- 200 cigarettes + 100 cigars;
- family members may combine their $800 exemptions.
- Canadian articles are duty-free.
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Canadian residents leaving the United States: (all figures in Canadian dollars)
If you stay in the U.S. under 24 hours there is no exemption. After an absence of 24 hours or more, you can claim goods (except tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) worth up to $50 in total. If the goods you bring in are worth more than $50 in total, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead, you have to pay duties on the full value.
After an absence of 48 hours or more, you can claim goods worth up to $200 in total including:
- 200 cigarettes, 200 tobacco sticks, 50 cigars or cigarillos, and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco;
- 1.14 liters (40 oz.) of liquor or 1.5 liters of wine or 24 355 ml/12 oz. cans or bottles of beer or ale.
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After an absence of 7 days or more, you can claim goods worth up to $750 in total;
- the same amount of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages as above can be included in these goods.
PLEASE NOTE: Family members may NOT combine their exemptions.
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Can you get a refund on taxes?
U.S. citizens returning from Canada: Visitor Tax Rebate
Visitors to Canada can apply for a Goods and Services Tax (GST) rebate if their total claim is for at least $14* of GST (*qualified receipts for goods & accommodation must be at least $200).
Goods qualify for a rebate if:
- GST was paid on merchandise;
- Removed from Canada within 60 days of purchase;
- Each individual receipt exceeds $50; and
- They meet other rebate program requirements.
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Claiming your GST Rebate
You may claim your GST rebate in one of two ways:
- Taking the completed form to a participating Canadian Duty Free Shop for a cash rebate of up to (not exceeding) $500 per day;
- Mailing the form to Revenue Canada, Visitor Rebate Program, Tax Centre, P.E.I. Canada C1N 6C6.
IMPORTANT: You must include the original bills of sale or the original itemized receipts with your application. Photocopies of receipt or credit card receipts will not be accepted. Accommodation receipts must show evidence of the number of nights of accommodation supplied.
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What about driving?
All United States driver’s licenses are valid when driving in Canada and vice versa. Seat belts are mandatory in both Ontario and Minnesota. In Minnesota, if it is raining or snowing, your headlights must be on. Fuel in Canada is sold in liters. Fuel in the U.S. is sold in gallons. It takes 3.78 liters to make a U.S. gallon.
Here are some handy comparisons that will help you convert distances and speed limits:
A kilometer (km) is roughly six tenths (0.6) of a mile.
25 km = 15 miles
40 km = 25 miles
50 km = 30 miles
60 km = 36 miles
80 km = 50 miles
100 km = 60 miles
or
90-100 km/h = 55-62 mph
80-90 km/h = 50-55 mph
40-60 km/h = 25-37 mph
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Can you bring Firearms across the border?
Canada: Canada welcomes hunters and sportsmen in season, but handguns, fully automatic weapons or
firearms under 26” in length are not permitted. During the hunting season, if you are at least 18 years of
age, you may bring a hunting rifle or shotgun into the province for hunting purposes and up to 200
rounds of ammunition.To bring a firearm into Canada, a license is required. Either a five-year possession
and acquisition license or a yearly temporary license fee that you can acquire at the border when you
enter Canada. For more information call 1-800-731-4000.
United States: For latest changes, call ATF at 202-927-8320.
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Can you bring your pet?
When bringing a pet across the border, you must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued for the pet during the previous 12 months.
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Do I need a passport to travel between the United States and Canada?
No - not at this time.
While there has been much discussion by U.S. federal legislators about requiring travelers entering the U.S. to possess passports, no final decision has been made. Any new legislation regarding land-based crossings (crossing a bridge into the U.S.) is expected to go into effect as early as June 1, 2008. Numerous tourism communities throughout the BorderWaters region have submitted formal public input to congressional leaders requesting they consider allowing for an alternative form of identification to prove citizenship vs. a passport. We are optimistic our input will influence the final outcome.
The primary form of identification requested when crossing at this time is a driver’s license. If you are traveling with children, you should be prepared to show birth certificates. If you are not the parent or legal guardian of the children, you will need to show the birth certificates and approval from the parent/guardian to transport their children.
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