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Travellers Visitors to Canada

October 1, 2022 : covid-19 emergency border measures ended.

Refer to COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for details.

Have proper identification

You must carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to help confirm your legal right or authorization to enter Canada when you arrive.

All visitors arriving from or transiting through the United States should visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information concerning the requirements to enter, transit through, or return to the United States.

Identification requirements for U.S. citizens and permanent residents

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, ensure you carry proof of your status such as a U.S. Permanent Resident Card.

For members of a Trusted Traveller program

U.s. citizens.

U.S. citizens who are members of the NEXUS program can use their membership card as proof of identification and citizenship when entering Canada by land, air or water. This applies when you are using either conventional or NEXUS-only lanes. U.S. citizens who are members of FAST may use their membership card when entering Canada by land or water only. When travelling by air, FAST cards will only be accepted as proof of identification when you are travelling to Canada from the U.S.

U.S. permanent residents

NEXUS and FAST members who are permanent residents of the U.S. must still travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence. You may be asked to present these documents to the Border Services Officer ( BSO ) when you arrive at the border.

No matter your mode of travel, we recommend you carry a valid passport for all travel abroad, including visits to Canada from the United States. A passport may be required by your airline or other transportation authority, since it is the only universally-accepted, identification document.

Identification requirements for international visitors

All international travellers must carry acceptable identification and a valid visa (if necessary) when entering Canada. A passport is recommended because it is the only reliable and universally-accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel.

Electronic Travel Authorization

Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada. Exceptions include U.S. citizens, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (USLPR) and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens , and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.

Certain low-risk foreign nationals from select visa-required countries may also travel to or through Canada by air using an eTA through the eTA expansion program .

Foreign nationals from select visa-required countries may also travel to or through Canada by air using an eTA, if eligible .

Be prepared: Apply for an eTA before you book your flight to Canada. Most applicants get approved within minutes. However, some applications can take several days to process so don’t wait until the last minute. Get help if you have questions before, during or after you apply.

Fake websites

Travellers who apply for an eTA are advised to be cautious in all dealings with companies that claim to offer help in getting an eTA. These companies are not operating on behalf of the Government of Canada. Many have established websites that charge a fee to provide information and submit eTA applications.

This Government of Canada website is the official place to apply for an eTA .

Travelling with minors

BSOs watch for missing persons , and may ask detailed questions about any minors travelling with you.

Visit the Children and travel page for more information about travelling abroad with minors.

What you can bring with you

As a visitor, you can bring certain goods into Canada for your own use as personal baggage. Personal baggage includes clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras and personal computers. This also includes your mode of transportation, including vehicles, private boats and aircraft.

You must declare all goods when you arrive at the first CBSA port of entry. Our BSO s check goods you are bringing in or taking out of Canada to verify what you have declared. If you declare goods when you arrive and take them back with you when you leave, you will not have to pay any duty or taxes. These goods cannot be:

• used by a resident of Canada;
• used on behalf of a business based in Canada;
• given as a gift to a Canadian resident; or
• disposed of or left behind in Canada.

The BSO may ask you to leave a security deposit for your goods. Your deposit will be refunded when you leave Canada with the goods. If this happens, you will be issued a Temporary Admission Permit. We will keep a copy and give you one for your records. When you leave Canada, bring your goods and your copy of the Temporary Admission Permit, to the BSO . You will get a receipt and your security deposit will be refunded by mail.

Making your declaration

Every traveller entering Canada must report to a border services officer and answer all their questions truthfully. Travellers must also report goods they are bringing with them, including food, plant and animal products.

To ensure a smooth border crossing, have all required identification and travel documents in hand. Be ready to make a full and accurate declaration, including the amount of goods in Canadian dollars you are bringing with you.

If you arrive by land, follow the signs to the first checkpoint. A border services officer will check your identification and other travel documents and you will answer their questions.

If you arrive by private boat, go directly to a designated marine telephone reporting site and call the Telephone Reporting Centre ( TRC ) at 1-888-226-7277 to get clearance. For more information, visit the Private boaters page.

If you arrive at one of Canada's main airports , you can complete your customs and immigration declaration your before arrival with Advance Declaration.

At the airport kiosk or eGate, you will scan your travel document and verify your identity. The device will print your declaration and you will bring it to a border services officer.

If you arrive at a smaller Canadian airport, without a kiosk or eGate, you must fill out a paper E-311 CBSA Declaration Card prior to arrival and present it to a border services officer.

Use Advance Declaration and save time!

Submit your customs and immigration information with Advance Declaration up to 72 hours before you arrive in Canada using your smart phone or your computer. When you use Advance Declaration, you can access express lanes in the arrivals hall. Data shows that it’s up to 50% faster at the airport kiosk or eGate.

Instructions on how to complete the card are attached to the form. You can list up to four people living at the same residence on one card. If there are more than four people living at your address use one additional card for each additional group of four or fewer people. Once the cards are complete you can detach and discard the instructions. Do not fold the card.

Be sure to keep the card handy along with your identification and other travel documents. You will be asked to show this card to our BSOs several times.

If you have any questions about the card or Canadian regulations, ask the BSO when you arrive.

Referrals for secondary services and inspections

At any point during your interactions with our BSOs at a port of entry, you may be referred to our secondary services and inspections area.

We understand that travellers may feel anxious when crossing the border. Referrals to secondary inspection are a normal part of the cross-border travel process that any visitor to Canada may experience.

Why you may be referred to secondary inspection

You may be referred to secondary inspection for a variety of reasons, for example:

• carrying out a random inspection;
• verifying your declaration or documentation;
• asking you more in-depth questions about yourself or inspecting your goods;
• determining your admissibility to Canada or the admissibility of the goods in your possession;
• having you pay duty and taxes;
• completing or processing paperwork to support your entry or the entry of your goods to Canada.

All travellers are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Referrals are not made on any discriminatory basis, such as race, nationality, religion, age or gender.

What to expect from secondary inspections

If you are referred for Secondary Services or Inspection, an officer may:

• ask you to provide detailed information about your plans while visiting Canada, or the time you spent abroad;
• make further enquiries, check records, or conduct research to verify your declaration;
• confirm the guardianship of children travelling with you;
• process the payment of duty and taxes;
• inspect your luggage, purse or wallet, electronics (including laptops and cell phones), your vehicle and any additional goods you are transporting;
• examine visually your pet or any animals travelling with you;
• ask you to produce evidence of the money you have available to fund your visit to Canada;
• request that you produce receipts to account for expenses you incurred or purchases made abroad; or
• count your cash or travellers cheques, in your presence.

While most travellers we inspect comply with Canadian laws and regulations, we do encounter individuals who are intent on breaking the law and who attempt to avoid detection. That is why the officer may not always answer specific questions about a Secondary Inspection.

Travelling with alcohol and tobacco

Alcoholic beverages.

You are allowed to bring into Canada only one of the following amounts of alcohol and alcoholic beverages free of duty and taxes:

Alcoholic beverages are products that exceed 0.5% alcohol by volume. Certain alcoholic and wine products that do not exceed 0.5% by volume are not considered alcoholic beverages.

You must meet the minimum age of the province or territory where you enter Canada. Minimum ages are established by provincial or territorial authorities: 18 years for Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec and 19 years for the remaining provinces and territories.

The CBSA classifies "cooler" products according to the alcoholic beverage they contain. For example, beer coolers are considered to be beer and wine coolers are considered to be wine.

The quantities of alcoholic beverages you can import must be within the limit set by provincial and territorial liquor control authorities that apply where you will enter Canada. If the amount of alcohol you want to import exceeds your personal exemption, you will be required to pay the duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply. Contact the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority for more information before you return to Canada.

You must be of legal age in the province of importation. While you are allowed to import more alcoholic beverages than the amounts listed above, you will be responsible for paying duty and taxes on the additional alcoholic beverages you are bringing into Canada.

For more information on bringing alcoholic beverages to Canada, consult the Alcohol and tobacco limits page.

Tobacco products

As a visitor or a temporary resident, you may bring into Canada, free of duty and taxes, all of the following amounts of tobacco products, as long as these items are in your possession when you arrive in Canada:

You can speed up your clearance by having your tobacco products available for inspection when you arrive.

Whether they are stamped or unstamped, if you bring in tobacco products that exceed your personal exemption, you will be required to pay the regular duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply on the excess amount.

Note: You must be 18 years of age to bring tobacco products into Canada under your personal exemption.

Stamped Tobacco Products – Personal exemption amounts

If you wish to import cigarettes, manufactured tobacco and tobacco sticks duty free as part of your personal exemption, the packages must be stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté ". You will find tobacco products sold at duty-free stores marked this way.

Unstamped Tobacco Products – Special duties rate

A special duty rate applies to cigarettes, manufactured tobacco and tobacco sticks that are not stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté".

For example, if you claim a carton of 200 cigarettes as part of your personal exemption and it is not stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté", you will be assessed at a special duty rate.

Unstamped Tobacco Products – Import limits

In addition to your personal exemption amounts, there are limits on the quantity of tobacco products that may be imported if it is not packaged and not stamped " duty paid Canada droit acquitté ". The limit is currently five units of tobacco products. One  unit of tobacco products consists of one of the following:

For short visits, these quantities may be limited to amounts that are appropriate in respect of the nature, purpose, and duration of the visit.

Restricted/prohibited goods

Certain goods are restricted or prohibited in Canada. To avoid the possibility of penalties, including seizure or prosecution, make sure you have the information you need before attempting to bring items into Canada.

The following are some examples of restricted or prohibited goods:

• Firearms and weapons : You must declare all weapons and firearms at the CBSA port of entry when you enter Canada.
• Food, plants, animals and related products : All food, plants, animals, and related products must be declared. Food can carry disease, such as E. coli. Plants and plant products can carry invasive alien species, such as the Asian Long-Horned Beetle. Animals and animal products can carry diseases, such as avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease.
• Explosives, fireworks and ammunition : You must have written authorization and permits to bring explosives, fireworks and certain types of ammunition into Canada.
• Vehicles : Vehicles include any kind of pleasure vehicles such as passenger cars, pickup trucks, snowmobiles and motor homes, as long as you use them for non-commercial purposes. There are many requirements that apply to importing a vehicle .
• Consumer products : Certain consumer products that could pose a danger to the public (e.g., baby walkers, jequirity beans that are often found in art or bead work) are not allowed to be brought into Canada. Canadian residents should be aware of consumer products that have safety requirements in Canada . Many of these safety requirements are stricter than requirements of other countries.

For more information consult the Restricted and Prohibited Goods page.

Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more

If you have currency or monetary instruments equal to or greater than CAN$10,000 (or the equivalent in a foreign currency) in your possession when arriving in or departing from Canada, you must report to the CBSA. Monetary instruments include items such as stocks, bonds, bank drafts, cheques, and travellers' cheques.

This regulation applies to currency and monetary instruments you have on your person, in your baggage and/or in your vehicle.

When you arrive in Canada with CAN$10,000 or more in your possession, you must report it on the CBSA Declaration Card (if one was provided to you), or in the verbal declaration made to a BSO.

When you leave Canada by air with CAN$10,000 or more in your possession, you must report to the CBSA office within the airport, before clearing security or, if leaving by land or boat, report your intent to export to the CBSA at one of our offices.

For more information, including instructions on how to report your intent to import or export currency in person, by mail, or by courier, you can consult Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more .

Travelling with gifts

If you are travelling with gifts, do not wrap them before crossing the border. If a gift is wrapped, a BSO may need to un-wrap the gift to examine the goods you are bringing into Canada.

Can I enter Canada?

Why some people cannot enter or remain in canada.

There are a number of reasons you can be found inadmissible, denied a visa or refused entry to Canada such as:

• Human or international rights violations
• Criminality
• Organized criminality
• Health grounds
• Financial reasons
• Misrepresentation
• Non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
• Having an inadmissible family member

Visit the Determine your eligibility page for more information.

Ministerial relief

If you have been found inadmissible to Canada on grounds of security, certain provisions relating to human or international rights violations, or organized criminality, you may request that the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (the Minister) make a declaration of relief under subsection 42.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) if the Minister is satisfied that doing so is not contrary to the national interest. This process is commonly referred to as Ministerial relief.

You may apply for Ministerial relief using BSF766. Refer to the Guide to Applying for a Declaration of Relief Under Subsection 42.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act .

Overcome criminal convictions

Depending on the crime, how long ago it was committed, and how you have behaved since the conviction, you may still be allowed to come to Canada, if you:

• convince an immigration officer that you meet the legal terms to be deemed rehabilitated, or
• applied for rehabilitation and were approved, or
• were granted a record suspension, or
• have a temporary resident permit.

Visit the Overcome criminal convictions page for more information.

Resources for visitors

• Come to Canada to settle, study or work
• Refugees (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website)

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Travel tips for snowbirds returning to Canada

From: Canada Border Services Agency

News release

April 12, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario

The Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Snowbird Association are encouraging Canadians who have spent the winter abroad to plan ahead for a smooth return to Canada this spring.

These are the top travel tips to know before arriving at the border:

Have your travel documents handy.  Whether travelling by land, air or water, you can help speed up processing times by coming prepared with your travel documents.

Driving home? Plan ahead and check  border wait times . You can avoid waiting in line by planning your drive to cross the border during non-peak hours such as early morning.

Flying home? Save time with Advance Declaration .  Download the application on your smart phone to make your customs declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at the Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Billy Bishop, Calgary and Edmonton international airports. Data shows that using this tool can reduce time at a kiosk or eGate by up to 50%.

Be prepared to declare your goods upon entry into Canada.  Gather your receipts for goods purchased or received while away before you travel and keep them readily available. Visit I Declare: A guide for residents returning to Canada and use the  CBSA duty and taxes estimator  to help calculate your monies owed. You should be aware of everything that is inside your vehicle as you are responsible for its contents.

Know your exemptions from duties and taxes .  If you have been outside of Canada seven days or more, you can import goods worth up to CAN$800, duty-and tax-free. Within this personal exemption, you are allowed to bring back duty and tax free: 

• Two bottles of wine (1.5 litres total), or one large standard bottle of liquor (1.14 litres),  or  approximately 24 cans or bottles (355 ml each) of beer (8.5 litres total); and,
• 200 cigarettes, and 50 cigars, and 200 grams manufactured tobacco,  and  200 tobacco sticks. The packages must be stamped “duty paid,” as you would find them at a duty-free store. 

Travelling with medication?  If you have a prescription for a narcotic or controlled drug, you must declare it and ensure its in properly labelled container. Learn more about your responsibilities .

Travelling with firearms? If you are travelling with a firearm be sure to check the  rules on importing firearms  and other  restricted and prohibited goods before your departure. Better yet, consider leaving the firearm at home.

Importing a vehicle ?   If you are a resident of Canada you can  temporarily import a vehicle  that is licensed and registered in the United States, however, the duty and tax implications, the length of time the vehicle can remain in Canada, and how the vehicle can be used in Canada may differ. If you are permanently importing a vehicle from the U.S. or Mexico, visit Canada’s  Registrar of Imported Vehicles  website prior to arriving at the border for details about vehicle eligibility and the overall process, including the necessary duties and taxes.

Bringing poultry across the border?  Any poultry products you wish to bring into Canada must be for human consumption, retail packaged and labelled as a "Product of the USA." Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada. Check the latest  Information for travellers: Restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States  before bringing these products across the border.

Travelling with a pet or importing an animal into Canada? You will need the right paperwork at the border to meet Canada's import requirements.

Not sure? Ask a border officer.  The best thing you can do to save time is to be open and honest with the CBSA officer. Be sure to follow all instructions they provide to you. If you are not sure about what to declare, don't hesitate to ask. Our officers are here to help!

Quick facts

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) supports national security and public safety priorities by facilitating the free flow of persons and goods, including animals and plants.

The Canadian Snowbird Association is a not-for-profit advocacy organization for travelling Canadians, representing more than 115,000 members.

Associated links

• Plan your trip across the border
• Duties and taxes estimator
• I Declare: A guide for residents returning to Canada
• Border reminder checklist
• Advance Declaration video
• The CBSA and U.S. CBP provide an update on the NEXUS program

For more information about CBSA programs, services and initiatives, please visit the  CBSA website  or contact:

Border Information Services Canada Border Services Agency 1-800-461-9999 Contact us online Live agents are available Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm local time

For more information or to schedule a media interview, please contact:

Media Relations Canada Border Services Agency [email protected] 1-877-761-5945

Communications Canadian Snowbird Association [email protected]

For more travel tips for Canadian snowbirds, join the Canada Border Services Agency on  Facebook  and  YouTube  and visit the  Canadian Snowbird Association website .

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Travelling to or within Canada? The rules have changed. Here's what you need to know

Vaccinated travellers exempt from quarantine still need to adhere to a number of rules.

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Passport? Check. Plane ticket? Check. What about your vaccination documents and COVID-19 test results? Thanks to the pandemic, entering Canada now requires a lengthy checklist.

"You definitely have to be prepared and it's not going to be the usual experience," said Senka Dukovich of Toronto, who flew home from Croatia earlier this month. 

Even domestic travellers may face challenges when entering certain provinces. 

Here's what you need to know about travelling to or within Canada, with the help of some Canadians who've already hit the road. 

Travelling to Canada

Anyone currently allowed to enter Canada can skip the 14-day quarantine if they meet the country's requirements for being fully vaccinated. That means two doses of either the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson product, at least 14 days before arriving.

Most foreigners are still barred from entering Canada but,  as of Aug. 9 , fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents living in that country will be able to visit, and they won't have to quarantine.

The federal government said it plans to allow fully vaccinated travellers from all other countries to enter Canada and skip quarantine on Sept. 7.

However, all fully vaccinated travellers allowed to enter still face other requirements. 

Dukovich, her husband Ted Read, and their five-year-old granddaughter Ksenija Callaghan, travelled to Croatia in June to visit family.

They had a two-day stopover in Paris before their final flight back to Canada on July 7, which meant the trio had to take COVID-19 tests during their stopover. 

Travellers to Canada — even those who are fully vaccinated —  must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Air passengers need to take the test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of their final direct flight to Canada.

Dukovich was pleased to discover that — at the time — France provided free COVID-19 tests.

"We got three COVID tests [for free] that would have cost at least $400," she said. "No hassles, no waits, no appointment."

However, Canadians departing France now won't be so lucky; on July 7, the country stopped providing free tests to tourists outside the EU.

• Fully vaccinated tourists will soon be able to visit Canada again

Travellers to Canada must submit their travel information to the federal government using the ArriveCAN app or by registering online within 72 hours before their arrival. 

"You had to upload documentation for both your first and second dose," said Dukovich who submitted the family's application from a hotel room in Paris. "We just had our phone, so you can imagine, trying to do this on the little phone."

When travellers finish inputting their information, they're emailed a receipt to show a Canadian border officer upon arrival, along with their COVID-19 test results and any vaccination documents.

On July 9, Shawn Plancke, a Canadian who lives in Barcelona, flew to Halifax with his wife, Samantha McGuinness, and three children. He advises travellers to pack hard copies of their documents before departing for Canada. 

"I know this is going against society these days, but print it out," he said. "I would not have wanted to be flipping through my phone [for documents]."

Currently, both land and air travellers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in Canada, or be given a home test kit. The federal government provides the tests for free and travellers can pre-register online to save time. 

However, starting Aug. 9., fully vaccinated travellers will not need a post-arrival test unless they have been randomly selected to take one.

Travellers to Canada are required to use <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArriveCAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArriveCAN</a> to submit their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid19</a> information electronically. This includes travel history and proof of vaccination. You must enter your info within 72 hours before you arrive.<a href="https://t.co/duPKWrfMud">https://t.co/duPKWrfMud</a> <a href="https://t.co/w5RFdPdJdh">pic.twitter.com/w5RFdPdJdh</a> &mdash; @GovCanHealth

Dukovich and her family landed in Montreal. She said they received home test kits instead of an on-site test, because they had a connecting flight to Toronto.

"On the way out, they just handed us kits like they were giving you a lunch box," said Dukovich. 

At home, she had to go online and be guided by a nurse via video conference who provided instructions including "counting down the seconds you have to have the swab in your nose," said Dukovich. 

That same day, Purolator picked up the tests. 

Travelling with children 

Fully vaccinated travellers don't have to quarantine while waiting for their test results. But Dukovich thought that she and her husband were required to, because their five-year-old granddaughter — who's staying with them — isn't vaccinated.

Children under 12 are currently not allowed to get vaccinated in Canada. 

It was only on day three of their quarantine that Dukovich learned from a quarantine officer that only her granddaughter had to quarantine. 

"That was a relief," said Dukovich. "My husband and I are free to go out."

Unvaccinated travellers — or those who got a vaccine currently not recognized by the Canadian government — must quarantine for 14 days. Those entering by air must also spend up to three of those days in a quarantine hotel  — a rule that will end on Aug. 9. 

However, unvaccinated children under 18 can head home with their vaccinated parents. Currently, they must quarantine — even though their parents can leave the house. But that rule will also change on Aug. 9, when the government will start allowing unvaccinated children under 12 to skip quarantine — as long as they avoid group settings such as school, camps and daycares for 14 days. 

Travelling within Canada

The rules can also be complex for domestic travellers. 

Air passengers travelling within Canada  don't have to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test.

However, Nova Scotia ,  New Brunswick ,  Prince Edward Island ,  Newfoundland and Labrador ,  Manitoba  and the territories still require some inter-provincial travellers to quarantine.

The rules can vary depending on your vaccination status and/or where you're travelling from. For example, most of the Atlantic provinces now allow travellers from within Atlantic Canada to enter, regardless of their vaccination status. 

The rest of Canada can skip quarantine in the Atlantic provinces if fully vaccinated or, in the case of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, have at least one dose. 

Fully vaccinated travellers can also skip quarantine in Manitoba and the territories. 

• Border restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians loosen, but plan for wider reopening remains unclear
• Travel restrictions end in Atlantic Canada, bringing Christmas in July for separated families

Manitoba, Yukon and the Atlantic provinces also exempt from quarantine unvaccinated children under 12 — if all their vaccinated guardians meet the exemption requirement. In Nova Scotia, the rule applies to unvaccinated children ages 18 and younger. 

However, because traveller Plancke and his family flew from Barcelona to Halifax, his three children must follow the current federal rules and quarantine for 14 days — despite that fact that both parents are fully vaccinated.  

"It's quite confusing when you have strict stricter rules, federally, and then you have other rules provincially," said Plancke. 

The provinces and territories listed here may have further requirements for tourists, so travellers to those regions should check the rules online before packing their bags.

For example, the Atlantic provinces require certain visitors to pre-register, and travellers to  Nunavut  must first get authorization. Also,  the Northwest Territories  still bars most leisure travellers. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Business reporter

Based in Toronto, Sophia Harris covers consumer and business for CBC News web, radio and TV. She previously worked as a CBC videojournalist in the Maritimes where she won an Atlantic Journalism Award for her work. Contact: [email protected]

• @sophiaharrisCBC

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Leaving/Returning to Canada

View all answers for this topic (print version)

• I have a visitor visa. Can I leave Canada and come back?
• Must I leave Canada by the valid until date on my visitor visa?
• I need to leave Canada and I do not have a permanent resident card. Can I later return to Canada without a PR card?
• I am outside Canada and do not have a PR card. How can I return to Canada?
• As a foreign student, can I return home or travel outside Canada while studying?
• Can I leave and come back to Canada if I have a work permit?
• I've applied to extend my study permit. Can I travel outside Canada and be able to return?
• I’m waiting for my post-graduation work permit. Can I travel outside Canada and come back with my student visa?
• I got a new passport but I have a valid visa in my old one. Can I use the visa in my old passport?

Update April 12, 2024

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Travel Advisory July 17, 2023

Canada - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Canada.

Read the Country Information page for additional information on travel to Canada.

If you decide to travel to Canada: 

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the Country Security Report for Canada.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.  Exercise normal precautions in Canada.

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Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Ottawa

490 Sussex Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 Canada Telephone:  +1 (613) 688-5335 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (613) 238-5335 Fax:  +1 (613) 688-3082 Email:   [email protected]

The Ottawa consular district includes the counties of Kingston, Lanark, Leeds, Prescott, Refrew, Russell, and Stormont in Eastern Ontario, and those parts of the Québec regions of Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue near Ottawa.

U.S. Consulate General Montreal

1134 Rue Ste- Catherine West Montréal, Quebec H3B 1H4 Canada Telephone:  +1 (514) 398-9695 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (416) 645-9124 Fax:  +1 (514) 398-9748 Email:  [email protected]

The Montreal consular district includes Greater Montreal and the regions of Southern Quebec Province (Laurentides, Lanaudiere, Laval, Montreal, Montregie, Estrie, and the southern parts of Centre-du-Quebec), including Joliete, Drummondville, and Sherbrooke.

U.S. Consulate General Toronto

360 University Ave Toronto, Ontario M5G 1S4 Canada Telephone:  +1 (416) 595-1700 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (416) 201-4056 Fax:  +1 (416) 595-5466 Email:  [email protected]

The consular district includes the province of Ontario except for the counties of Kingston, Lanark, Leeds, Prescott, Refrew, Russell, and Stormont, which are served by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa.

U.S. Consulate General Vancouver

1075 West Pender Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2M6 Canada Telephone:  +1 (604) 685-4311 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (604) 685-4311 Fax:  +1 (604) 685-7175 Email:  [email protected]

The consular district includes British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

U.S. Consulate General Halifax

Purdy's Wharf Tower II 1969 Upper Water Street, Suite 904 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3R7 Canada Telephone:  +1 (902) 429-2480 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (902) 429-2480, Press 1 Email:  [email protected]

The Halifax consular district includes New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

U.S. Consulate Winnipeg

201 Portage Avenue, Suite 860 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 3K6 Canada Telephone:  +1 (204) 940-1800 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (403) 266-8962 and press "0" for assistance (Consulate General Calgary) Fax:  +1 (204) 940-1809

The Consulate in Winnipeg provides only emergency services for U.S. citizens. Routine services such as visas, passports and notarials are handled at other U.S. Consulates General, primarily Calgary.

U.S. Consulate General Quebec  2, rue de la Terrasse Dufferin (Vieux Quebec, behind Chateau Frontenac) Quebec, Quebec G1R 4T9 Canada Telephone:  +1 (418) 692-2095 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +1 (418) 692-2096 Fax:  +1 (418) 692-4640 Email:   [email protected]

The consular district includes Quebec City and those regions of Quebec Province to the North and East of the Montreal and Ottawa Districts (indicated above) – to include the area around Saguenay/Lac Saint-Jean, Rimouski and the Gaspé Peninsula – as well as the Territory of Nunavut.

U.S. Consulate General Calgary  615 Macleod Trail S.E., 10th Floor Calgary, Alberta T2G 4T8 Canada Telephone:  +1 (403) 266-8962 Fax:  +1 (403) 264-6630 Email:   [email protected] The consular district includes Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories, excluding Nunavut.

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

For tourist visits to Canada of less than 180 days, U.S. citizens do not need visas. Other types of travel generally require visas. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for current information.

If you have a criminal record, you may be unable to enter Canada. To determine whether you are criminally inadmissible and get information about how to overcome this finding, refer to the  IRCC website .  Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials determine if you can enter Canada in accordance with Canadian law.  

Travel Programs:  Both the U.S. and Canadian governments urge frequent travelers to join the  NEXUS trusted traveler program .

Entry into Canada:  Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry proof of citizenship and identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens.

Children under 16 only need proof of U.S. citizenship.

Entry into the United States:  When traveling by air from Canada, U.S. citizens must present a U.S. passport book or other approved identification document. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website provides a full list of allowable documents.

Travel with Minors:  If you plan to travel to Canada with a minor for whom you do not have full legal custody, CBSA may require a letter of authorization from the minor’s parents or legal guardian(s). Please refer to the  CBSA website  for more details.

Private Boaters Entering Canada:  Canadian law requires all foreign private boaters, including recreational vessels, to present themselves upon their arrival in Canada to the CBSA. See the  CBSA website  for relevant reporting requirements.

Private Boaters Exiting Canada: Boaters may report their arrival to the United States or apply for a registered boater program using the CBP Reporting Offsite Arrival – Mobile (CBP ROAM) app. Please visit the  CBP ROAM webpage for more information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to Canada. For information on restrictions for HIV positive foreign residents of Canada visit the IRCC website .

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites.

Safety and Security

911 is the emergency telephone number in Canada.

Crime: Although Canada generally has a lower crime rate than the United States, violent crimes occur throughout the country, especially in urban areas. Criminals may target parked cars, especially in large cities and popular tourist destination, for opportunistic smash-and-grab thefts. Do not leave unattended possessions in a vehicle, even in the trunk. Some jurisdictions such as Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver may fine you for leaving your car doors unlocked or for leaving valuables in view. Pickpockets may target you, especially in popular tourist areas. Exercise caution. Safeguard yourself and your property.

Demonstrations  occur frequently. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events. 

• Demonstrations can be unpredictable, avoid areas around protests and demonstrations. 
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.

While there is a very small likelihood of violence at a political gathering in Canada, we strongly encourage U.S. citizens to avoid all protests and demonstrations and maintain a high level of vigilance and practice good situational awareness when traveling abroad.

International Financial Scams:  See the  Department of State  and the  FBI   pages for information.

Victims of Crime:  U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.  Report crimes to the local police at 911 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +1(613) 688-5335. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

•    Help you find appropriate medical care

•    Assist you in reporting a crime to the police

•    Contact relatives or friends with your written consent

•    Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion

•    Provide a list of local attorneys

•    Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.

•    Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution

•    Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home

•    Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulates for assistance.

Tourism: The tourism industry is generally regulated and rules with regard to best practices and safety inspections are regularly enforced. Hazardous areas/activities are identified with appropriate signage and professional staff is typically on hand in support of organized activities. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is widely available throughout the country. 

Outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance. If you are considering travel outside of populated areas, particularly in the northern Arctic territories, you need to know that search and rescue capabilities are limited because of extreme isolation and the harsh climate. You must be prepared for significant delays in receiving emergency assistance in these areas and plan accordingly.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance .  

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Controlled Substances:  Canadian law prohibits possession and trafficking of controlled substances and narcotics, including some substances that may be legal to possess under the law of certain U.S. states. Canada has legalized the personal consumption of recreational cannabis, but Canadian law prohibits taking cannabis across Canada’s national borders . Drug smugglers risk substantial fines, a permanent bar from Canada, and imprisonment.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad  

Firearms : Canada controls firearms more strictly than the United States. Violation of firearms restrictions may result in prosecution and imprisonment.

Visitors bringing any firearms or ammunition into Canada must declare the firearms in writing using a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration form. If you plan to borrow and use a firearm in Canada, you must obtain a Temporary Firearms Borrowing License in advance. You must present these forms in triplicate and sign them in front of a CBSA officer at the border. (It is not possible to make photocopies at the border). Full details and downloadable forms are available at the Canadian Firearms Program website .

Canadian law requires officials to confiscate firearms, ammunition, and other weapons from persons crossing the border who do not declare having the items in their possession. Officials will not return confiscated firearms, ammunition, and weapons and possession of any of these items may result in your arrest and imprisonment. You should inspect all belongings thoroughly before traveling to Canada to avoid the accidentally importing firearms, ammunition, or other weapons.

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTQI+ events in Canada. See our LGBTQI+ Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Pornography: Canada has strict laws concerning child pornography, and in recent years there has been an increase in random checks of electronic media of travelers entering Canada.

Canadian officials may search your computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices without a warrant at the border and illegal content can result in the seizure of the device as well as detention, arrest, and prosecution of the bearer.

Tax Issues:  For information on U.S. Federal tax issues, please refer to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website for international taxpayers .

• Refer to this link for reporting requirements regarding Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) .
• Refer to this link for information on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) .
• Refer to this link for information about the Voluntary Disclosure Practice .

Travelers with Disabilities:  The law in Canada prohibitsdiscrimination against persons with physical or mental disabilities and the law is enforced.  Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is as prevalent as in the United States. For more information, visit the Accessibility Standards Canada website .

Students:  See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for Women Travelers .

For emergency services in Canada, dial 911 . Ambulance services are widely available.

We do not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance coverage. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with Health Canada to ensure the medication is legal in Canada.

Healthcare in Canada : The level of public health and sanitation in Canada is high. Adequate health facilities are available throughout Canada.  Canada’s medical care is of a high standard but is government controlled. Access to ongoing medical care is difficult for temporary visitors who are not members of a Canadian province’s government-run health care plan. Many physicians will not take new patients. Specialist care is only by referral and may take months to obtain. Although trauma-care is on par with that in the United States, emergency room waits for non-life threatening problems can be very long. Some health care professionals in the Quebec may only speak French.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of doctors and hospitals . We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Vaccinations:  Be up-to-date on all CDC-recommended vaccinations .

Further health information:

World Health Organization U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Air Quality:  Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Medical Tourism and Elective Surgery: We strongly recommend supplemental insurance  to cover medical evacuation in the event of unforeseen medical complications.

Pharmaceuticals:  U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States. Medication should be for personal use and must be approved for usage in the United States. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration websites for more information.

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy:  If you are considering traveling to Canada to have a child through use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or surrogacy, please see our ART and Surrogacy Abroad page .

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  As in the United States, all emergency assistance in Canada can be reached by dialing 911.

For detailed information on road conditions throughout Canada, as well as links to provincial government websites, please see the Transport Canada website or the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) website. The CAA honors American Automobile Association memberships. Automobile warranties of vehicles purchased in the United States may not be valid in Canada.

Winter travel can be dangerous due to heavy snowfalls and hazardous icy conditions. Some provinces require snow tires. CAA has tips for winter driving . Both winter conditions and wildfires may prompt the sudden closure of highways. Provincial ministries of transport typically post closures and other alerts about road conditions on their websites.

Traffic Laws:  Driving in Canada is similar to driving in many parts of the United States. Distances and speeds, however, are posted in kilometers per hour and some signs, particularly in Québec, may only be in French. U.S. driver’s licenses are valid for visitors in Canada. Proof of auto insurance is required. U.S. auto insurance is accepted  for tourists in Canada. For specific information concerning Canadian driving permits, mandatory insurance, and entry regulations, please contact the Canadian National Tourist Organization .

Some provinces require drivers to keep their vehicles’ headlights on during the day and some have banned driving while using a hand-held cell phone. Motorcycles cannot share a lane, and safety helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers are mandatory.

It is illegal to take automobile radar detectors into Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon, or the Northwest Territories, regardless of whether they are used. Police may confiscate radar detectors and impose substantial fines.

Drivers approaching border crossings into the United States may encounter traffic backups. Drivers should be alert, as lane restrictions at border approaches exist for drivers in NEXUS and FAST expedited inspection programs.

Public Transportation: Public transportation options vary across Canada, but all cities and most major towns have a public transit system .

Aviation Safety Oversight:   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Canada’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Canada’s air carrier operations.  Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Canada should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the NGA broadcast warnings .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Canada .  For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.

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Travel outside Canada

It is important to be prepared and to expect the unexpected wherever in the world you may be. Here is helpful information on health and safety, travel documents, Canada-U.S border wait times, travelling with children and more.

Measles cases are increasing worldwide

Before travelling, check that you and your family have received the recommended measles vaccinations.

Do not travel if you have symptoms of measles or have been in contact with someone with measles.

If you develop symptoms of measles after your return to Canada, call a health care provider right away.

Global Measles Notice

Services and information

Travel advice and advisories.

Official Government of Canada travel information

Travel Advice and Advisories archives

Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories archives from November 16, 2012 to the present

Health and safety outside Canada

Essential information on travel health and safety risks and how to prevent them

Travel documents

Passports, visas, international driving permits and other documents you will need when you travel abroad

Types of travellers

Find travel information specific to dual citizens, women, older people, 2SLGBTQI+ people and other types of travellers

Canada to U.S. border wait times

Regularly updated list of wait times at border crossing points for drivers going to the U.S. from Canada

• Registration of Canadians Abroad

Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home

Children and travel

Everything you need to know to travel safely with children abroad

Living abroad

Be informed and prepared for the benefits and challenges of working, studying, retiring, volunteering or travelling on business abroad before you leave Canada

Resources for educators, students and travel counsellors

Online training and web-based resources for educators, students and travel counsellors

Publications

Ordering and reading our wide range of publications is a good first step to a safe and healthy trip abroad

Cannabis and international travel

Understand and avoid the risks related to cannabis and international travel

Travelling and money

Information about using cash, credit cards and debit cards abroad, taxation and travelling with $10,000 or more

Schengen Area

Important information for travellers to Europe

What we are doing

Policies, acts and regulations.

• Citizenship Act
• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act
• Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act
• Public Health Agency of Canada Act
• Bon voyage, but... Essential information for Canadian travellers
• Travelling with children
• Well on Your Way - A Canadian's Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad

All related publications

• CATSA claims forms
• Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad

Before travelling, check that you and your family have received the recommended measles vaccinations and know what symptoms to look out for.

A quick searchable guide to what you can and cannot bring on a plane.

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10 frequently asked questions by visitors to Canada

Recent changes to visitor visa requirements for some Mexican nationals may leave some foreign nationals looking to visit Canada with questions about their own situation.

To assist, CIC News has compiled a list of frequently asked questions that may be helpful to review before expending the time, energy and money necessary to come to Canada.

How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor?

In most cases, visitors to Canada can remain in the country for six months from the day they enter Canada (or until their passport expires, whichever comes first). The date by which a visitor must leave Canada will be indicated by a stamp in their passport and/or a document provided to them by a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Visitors who would like to remain in Canada beyond their initially authorized stay can apply for an extension (more on this later).

What is the difference between a single and a multiple-entry visa?

As indicated by the name of the visa, single-entry visas permit the holder to enter Canada one time only, while a multiple-entry visa allows repeated entry to Canada so long as the visa remains valid.

Note: All visitor visa applicants are automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews each application separately and issues every visitor a visa accordingly.

IRCC clarifies that single-entry visa recipients will require a new visa to enter Canada once they have left, unless they are travelling directly to either the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Meanwhile, multiple-entry visas are valid for the shorter of the following two periods: 10 years or one month before the expiration of the visa holder’s passport. Every entry to Canada using a multiple-entry visa allows the visa holder to remain in Canada for up to six months at a time.

Can I fill out one visa application for my whole family if we are travelling together?

No. While all visitor visa applications for one group of family members may be submitted in the same envelope (alongside one payment receipt accounting for the total fee of all applications), everyone must complete and sign their own visitor visa application.

This rule also applies to any other required forms, excluding the Family Information form, which must only be completed by applicants 18 years or older.

Note: Parents and guardians can help their children fill out their form(s), and every visitor visa applicant under the age of 18 must have their document(s) signed by a parent/guardian.

Is there any way I can help a friend or family member visit Canada?

Although your friends and family members must complete their own visa applications, a letter of invitation is a document you can submit to help a loved one come to Canada.

It should be noted that this document, which details how you may help the visa applicant (ex. offering to pay for accommodation), can help but does not guarantee the applicant will be approved for their visitor visa.

Do I need a medical exam to get a visitor visa?

This depends on the visitor’s length of stay in Canada.

In most cases, visitors in Canada for six months or less do not require a medical exam unless they will be working in a job where the “protection of public health is essential.” The list of jobs under this requirement is available here .

The above public health protection condition also applies to visitors who will be in Canada for longer than six months. In addition, visitors in Canada for six months or longer will need a medical exam if they meet either of the following two requirements:

• The applicant has been, for six or more consecutive months, living or residing in a designated country or territory *
• The applicant is applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa

*This applies to all visitors, even those who are citizens of visa-exempt countries, who have been in any of the eligible countries “in the one year immediately preceding the date [the visitor] sought entry into Canada.”

Is a visitor visa the same thing as a visitor record?

No. A visitor visa is required by foreign nationals looking to travel and enter Canada as a visitor (in most cases, for up to six months).

Conversely, a visitor record is provided by CBSA officers to either extend or restrict the recipient’s stay in Canada. This type of document may also be given to foreign nationals, by either CBSA or IRCC, after their application to extend their stay or restore their status in Canada is approved.

Click here for additional details regarding the difference between a visitor visa and a visitor record.

I got a new passport but I have a valid visa in my old one. Can I use the visa in my old passport?

IRCC notes that it is possible to travel to Canada using a valid visitor visa placed in an old passport. However, travellers in this situation must bring both of the following documents with them to Canada:

• The old passport with the valid visa*
• The new valid passport or travel document

*Travellers may need to explain to CBSA officers why their old passport is no longer valid

Note: To avoid processing delays at the Canadian border, IRCC recommends that all visitors to Canada obtain a new visitor visa in their new, valid passport.

How can I extend my stay as a visitor?

Extending your stay in Canada requires that you submit biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph) and apply for a visitor record. This document allows visitors to Canada three options to extend their stay in the country:

• As a visitor
• As a worker authorized to work in Canada without a work permit
• As a student authorized to study in Canada without a study permit

The steps to applying for a visitor record online can be found on this IRCC webpage .

Can I file an appeal if my visitor visa is denied?

There is no appeal process for a visitor visa application from IRCC.

When an applicant is denied a visitor visa to enter Canada, they may re-apply, but IRCC recommends that they only do so if their situation has changed, or they have new information to submit that may alter the outcome of their application.

Do I need a visa if I’m just travelling through Canada on my way to another country?

Documentation for those transiting through Canada depends on an indvidual’s unique situation.

Generally, travellers can be broken down into two categories: visa-required travellers (from a visa-required country ) and visa-exempt travellers (from a country that requires an electronic Travel Authorization , eTA).

Some visa-required travellers need a visitor visa. This applies to travellers who are:

• Visiting Canada (even if travelling by air and the traveller is in Canada for less than 48 hours)
• Staying in Canada for more than 48 hours while transiting through the country to another destination
• Crossing the Canadian border via any of the following five modes of transportation: bus, car, train, boat or cruise ship

Other visa-required travellers may only require a transit visa. This applies to travellers who:

• Have an international flight that stops at a Canadian airport on the way to another country
• Will be connecting between two international flights at a Canadian airport
• Will be transiting through Canada in 48 hours or less
• Do not have a valid visitor visa

Visa-exempt travellers need an eTA to transit through Canada by air. Travellers transiting through Canada by train, bus, boat or cruise ship are not required to obtain an eTA, but must still bring with them the correct travel documents .

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• Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
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Do you need a passport to go to Canada?

T raveling to Canada from the United States is relatively straightforward, but the documentation required can vary depending on your mode of transportation and citizenship status. While a passport is the most widely accepted form of identification for international travel, alternative options are available for U.S. citizens entering Canada by land or sea.

What you need to know about traveling to Canada

So, what exactly do you need to cross into Canada? It really depends on how you’re getting there.

What documents do I need to cross the Canadian border by car?

If you’re a U.S. citizen traveling to Canada by land or sea, you have a few options for acceptable documentation:

• Passport: A valid U.S. passport is the most widely recognized and accepted form of identification for international travel, including entry into Canada. It’s also the only document accepted for air travel to Canada.
• Passport card: This wallet-sized card can be used to re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports of entry. It cannot be used for air travel.
• Enhanced driver’s license (EDL): Several U.S. states, including Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington, issue enhanced driver’s licenses that are designed to meet the document requirements for land and sea travel into Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. EDLs are not valid for air travel.
• Trusted traveler program card: U.S. citizens enrolled in trusted traveler programs like NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST can use their program card to expedite entry into Canada at designated land border crossings.

What do you need to enter Canada from the U.S.?

To enter Canada from the United States, you need to present one of the following acceptable documents:

• Valid U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card (land and sea travel only)
• Enhanced driver’s license issued by an approved state (land and sea travel only)
• Trusted traveler program card (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST) (land travel only)

Can I travel to Canada with my U.S. birth certificate?

No, a U.S. birth certificate alone is not sufficient for entry into Canada. Although it serves as proof of citizenship, it does not include the necessary identification information required for international travel. A birth certificate must be accompanied by additional approved documentation, such as a government-issued photo ID.

Can you get into Canada with an enhanced license?

Yes, an enhanced driver’s license (EDL) issued by an approved U.S. state is a valid document for entry into Canada by land or sea. However, an EDL cannot be used for air travel to Canada or any other international destination. For air travel, a valid passport is required.

EDLs are currently issued by the states of Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington, specifically to facilitate land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean destinations. These licenses incorporate additional security features and are approved by the Department of Homeland Security and the Canadian government for border-crossing purposes.

Before traveling, it’s always a good idea to check the latest entry requirements and regulations with the Canadian government, as these can change over time. 

Bottom line

While a passport is the most widely accepted and recommended form of identification for travel to Canada, U.S. citizens have several alternatives for land and sea travel, including passport cards, enhanced driver’s licenses, and trusted traveler program cards. Regardless of the documentation used, all travelers need to meet Canada’s admissibility requirements and should familiarize themselves with the latest entry regulations before going on their trip.

The post Do you need a passport to go to Canada? appeared first on The Manual .

Bipartisan bill introduced by Washington, Idaho representatives could ease Native Americans’ travel across Canadian border

This story originally appeared on Underscore.news .

Before there was a border dividing North America, there was the Ktunaxa Nation. Relatives from all across the Ktunaxa Nation could visit each other freely, and hunt and gather along their vast homelands to feed their families. Now the nation is divided by a border, with four First Nations in what’s now Canada, and two in what’s now the United States. The last hereditary nasukin, or chief, of the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqǂiʾit First Nation — one of the six making up the Ktunaxa Nation — could cross from Canada into the United States by walking from one side of his house to the other.

After the American Revolutionary War the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation , commonly known as the Jay Treaty , in 1794. It allowed for commerce and provided free border crossing to U.S. citizens, British subjects and Indigenous peoples but the border boundary remained unclear. The colonial border between the U.S. and Canada was formally decided in the Oregon Treaty of 1846 which placed the future states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana in what is now the U.S. When creating the border, there was never any consultation with the Native nations whose ancestral lands the border divided, cutting nations in half. Some Indigenous people woke up one morning in a new country, subject to a whole new set of laws.

An undated photo of Chief David, the last hereditary chief, or nasukin, of the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqǂiʾit First Nation. The colonial implementation of the border between the United States and Canada literally divided his house between two nations.

Courtesy Heidi Gravelle / Nasukin of the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqǂiʾit First Nation

Citizens of federally recognized First Nations in Canada can cross the border, or what many Indigenous people call the northern medicine line, into the United States with identification issued by a Native nation. However, they may be asked to show proof of at least 50% blood quantum , violating the rights of Native nations to establish their own citizenship requirements. Washington Rep. Derek Kilmer and Idaho Rep. Russ Fulcher, in collaboration with the Jay Treaty Border Alliance , introduced legislation in March called the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act . This legislation would eliminate the blood quantum requirement, simplifying the process for Indigenous people to cross from Canada to the U.S., something Indigenous leaders across the U.S. and Canada are in support of.

“Blood quantum was originally imposed by the United States as a method of eliminating Indians and Indian Nations,” said Jennifer Porter, chairwoman of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. “While some tribes continue to use blood quantum to determine citizenship, it is their choice to do so. It gets back to tribal self-determination and governance. Tribes and First Nations should have the right to determine who our citizens are based on criteria we have adopted, not criteria imposed by outside governments like the United States.”

Porter went on to say that Native identity is not tracked using blood quantum in Canada, adding another layer of complications at the border.

“It separated families,” said Heidi Gravelle, Nasukin of the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqǂiʾit First Nation, also known as the Tobacco Plains Indian Band .

The Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqǂiʾit First Nation is one of several Ktunaxa Nation communities in Canada, where the southern boundary of their reserve touches the U.S. border in Montana. With the creation of the border, Gravelle’s own family was split in half. Her grandmother had to choose whether to live with her father’s family in what’s now considered Canada or her mother’s in what is now considered the U.S. All her family used to live in one region and the border separated them into two different countries with their own unique laws.

The border has added additional difficulties in daily life as well. Today, kindergarten through 12th grade students from the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqǂiʾit First Nation must cross the border to get to and from school in Montana, according to Gravelle.

“You never know when you cross which rights of yours as an Indigenous person are going to be violated and to what extent,” Gravelle said.

Addressing broken promises to tribal nations

The Ktunaxa Nation is made up of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes along with four first nations: ʔaq̓am , ʔakisq̓nuk , yaqan nuʔkiy , and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it . Although each nation has separate governments, they remain connected with cultural and familial ties bonding them together, according to Porter.

“Let’s be clear – the Ktunaxa Nation predates both the United States and Canada and Ktunaxa people were created in Ktunaxa territory to guard and keep the land forever,” Porter said. “It is the inherent right of Ktunaxa people to travel throughout our territory, despite artificial boundaries imposed by the colonial powers.”

The Department of Interior currently has the authority to issue certificates “proving” a person’s Native American or Alaska Native heritage. The process requires extensive documentation, and Native nations believe it infringes on their rights to determine their own citizenship qualifications.

The goal of this bill is to restore the original intent of the Jay Treaty, allowing citizens of Native nations to freely cross between the U.S. and Canada, according to U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer.

“I see this bill as addressing just one of many broken promises that the federal government has made to tribal nations,” said Kilmer. “For far too long, the federal government has failed to live up to its trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations.”

Originally, the Jay Treaty did not set forth blood quantum requirements to exercise that sovereign right to cross the northern medicine line. The Jay Treaty of 1794 established trade policies between the U.S. and Great Britain in the name of peace between the colonial powers. It also established the right of Native Americans to freely cross the newly implemented border. It wasn’t until over 150 years later with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that set forth an amendment imposing a blood quantum requirement.

“It’s important to note that our right is inherent and does not rely on the Jay Treaty,” said Porter. “But, it’s good to remind the United States that it recognized that right in a treaty, which means it’s the supreme law of the land and needs to be implemented properly.”

Larry Wright, Jr., Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians believes that removing the blood quantum requirement is an act of honoring the sovereignty of Native nations and their inherent right to determine their own citizenship criteria. He also believes it would facilitate greater freedom of movement across the border, allowing Native communities to engage in important cultural and spiritual practices.

“The [50% blood quantum] requirement undermines tribal sovereignty, and really perpetuates discriminatory practices rooted in termination era,” said Wright. “The Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act is a welcome amendment to the Jay Treaty, and aims to rectify those discrepancies by ensuring that the right to cross the border extends to all members, and those eligible to become members, of federally recognized tribes.”

Gravelle echoed Wright’s sentiments.

“How does my blood quantum level impact the safety or equity of your country?,” Gravelle said. “It’s just a derogatory racial implication that they want to hold onto for that falsified sense of power over Indigenous people.”

Underscore is a nonprofit collaborative reporting team in Portland focused on investigative reporting and Indian Country coverage. It is supported by foundations, corporate sponsors and donor contributions. Follow Underscore on Facebook and X .

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Elephant seal makes ‘epic’ trek back after Canadian officials relocate him

Notorious for drawing large crowds, Emerson was removed by officials who were surprised to find him back in Victoria in a week

Last week, gun-wielding conservation officers stuffed a 500-lb elephant seal in the back of a van, drove him along a winding highway in western Canada and left him on a remote beach “far from human habitation”.

The plan was to move the young seal far from British Columbia’s capital city, where over the last year, he has developed a reputation for ending up in “unusual locations”, including flower beds, city parks and busy roads.

Emerson, as he is known to locals, had other plans.

Less than a week after he was removed from Victoria, he made an “epic” 126-mile trek along the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island back to the city, a return that has left conservation officers in disbelief.

But Emerson’s presence and growing popularity has alarmed those same officers, as the public takes increasingly risky behaviour around the animal, including one group who encouraged a child to pet his nose.

Born in Washington state in 2022, the young pup was cared for by a group of volunteers after his mother left. Last year, he began popping up on beaches around Victoria and has since taken on near-celebrity status. When word spreads that he has been spotted lounging in the sun or sleeping between parked cars , crowds quickly gather with their cameras drawn.

“I’ve been coming down every day to see him for a month – big, old, fat thing,” Peggy McCann told local media last year . “Everybody else here also started watching him. I just think it was marvelous. It’s so nice to see this.”

Northern elephant seals spend most of their lives in the water but they come ashore to breed and moult. Emerson is currently doing the latter, undergoing a month-long biological process where he sheds all of his fur and underlying layer of skin that is “highly taxing” on the seal, said Canada’s department of fisheries and oceans.

On 1 April, he was spotted moulting in a busy park, prompting conservation officers to cordon off the area in yellow caution tape and post a sign warning the public to stay back – a request that was ignored.

Five days later, he was moved out of the city to better let him to moult “in peace”, the department said.

But his return – and apparent lack of interest in people – has created a troubling situation for conservation staff. Although Emerson has so far seemed unmoved by the gawking crowds, reports of harassment have increased to “concerning levels”.

“People have approached Emerson to try and pet him, take selfies with him, and on occasion prompted their small children to do the same,” the department said. “If public disturbances of the elephant seal continue, someone will get hurt.”

Conservation staff say they will probably be forced to move the young pinniped again.

“However, it would be ideal if this could be avoided to allow Emerson his space to complete his moulting process in the location he has chosen.”

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Destination Canada CEO Bets on New Promotion Fund, World Cup 2026

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

April 11th, 2024 at 11:02 AM EDT

Canada's adapting to changes to its tourism sector and relationship with the Chinese market.

Dawit Habtemariam

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The U.S., Britain, and other Western destinations are still waiting for Chinese group tours to return to their pre-pandemic levels. Canada, however, has been adapting to the continued absence of Chinese groups. The country has sought other sources of tourism growth, such as through its new fund to attract business events and its plans to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“There are some geopolitics going on right now that are having an impact on tourism,” said Destination Canada CEO and president Marsha Walden.

Canada last year surpassed its 2019 tourism revenue thanks to visitors from the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and Australia. It accomplished this feat despite disputes between the leaders of Canada and China souring relations. For over three years, China has banned travel agencies from selling group trips to Canada — traditionally a key tourism source.

In a wide-ranging interview, Destination Canada’s Walden spoke with Skift about a new tourism data project launching in May, a new fund to lure business events that the country launched last month, the country’s preparations for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and more. The interview has been edited for length and clarity .

Skift: What has been the pace of Canada’s post-pandemic international tourism recovery? 

Marsha Walden:  We’ve already fully recovered in terms of revenue, and we feel really good about that despite some areas of our overall market portfolio that haven’t been performing like they did pre-2019.

China is still missing. There are some geopolitics going on right now that are having an impact on tourism. We don’t have nearly the number of flights that we had from China. We’re currently not on China’s Approved Destination Status (ADS) list. 

That’s not to say that Chinese travelers can’t come to Canada. The ADS ban just prevents group travel from being sold into Canada.

But we’re not necessarily seeing that as a huge negative because it aligns more closely with how we see our strategy going forward, really focusing more on FIT [fully independent travelers] guests who not only have the propensity to spend more but who also experience our country in a different way that adds to our new strategy, which is inviting guests that can really contribute to the wealth and wellbeing of Canadians. The group travel business is less of a concern than it was pre-pandemic.

And despite that, we are still at 104% of revenues from 2019. That’s because we’ve had really good performance out of the U.S., Mexico,  parts of Europe, and Australia. 

Asia generally is taking a little longer to bounce back. Our Japanese and South Korean clients are a little slower to recover as well, but we’re expecting that will turn around in 2024 or 2025.

Getting Ready for the FIFA World Cup

Canada is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. and Mexico. A major challenge for the U.S. is getting visa wait times down so fans can attend the tournament. What does Canada need to do to make travel easier for World Cup fans?

We do, of course, have visa wait times, but they’re significantly lower than what the U.S. is experiencing right now. I have a lot of confidence that the government’s going to resolve these things prior to FIFA showing up. 

In fact, there are conversations going on between our two nations to streamline how we can make the experience for travelers who are going between countries for games the smoothest it could possibly be. 

What role will Destination Canada play in the World Cup?

The thing that I think is marvelous about FIFA is yes, the event draws millions of people to experience a country, but it’s really the other 4 billion eyeballs that you’ve got on your country and the opportunity to showcase the way you live, what it’s like to visit here.

It’s really the legacy impact over the next four to five years that I think is the most powerful part. From a tourism perspective, yes, it gives an initial nice lift and hit, but it’s that legacy that I think is something that we all work toward, is making sure that we’re just showcased in a way that makes Canada incredibly appealing.

Canada’s New Tourism Promotion Fund

LA Tourism CEO Adam Burke told me that Canada is one of the three names that come up repeatedly from his meetings with travel trade partners. What’s Canada doing to get such attention?

Canada’s partners across the country have really been investing in how to attract business events and reignite interest in [conferences] coming to Canada. They’re working together under our common banner too. Everything from being uniformly dressed to bringing a big contingent of cities to these events and having a slightly different strategy, I would say, than most destinations. 

Destination Canada focuses on what we call the sixth economic growth sector. We pursue businesses that also have significant economic potential for us as a nation beyond tourism. For instance, life sciences, agrotech [agricultural technology], and other areas where Canada wants to position itself in the greater economy are the areas where we help our industry secure events for the future. 

We just launched the International Convention Attraction Fund , and this is an investment by our federal government of 50 million [Canadian dollars] over three years to help secure events that may need an incentive to come to Canada. Our destinations can apply for up to a million dollars to help offset some of the costs of bringing a convention to Canada. 

Is this to help offset the slow recovery of business travel? During its lockdown, Canada lost some conventions and events to other destinations .

Every extra month of delay costs the industry some business. We did see a tremendous surge in re-bookings in the first two years of opening our borders once again. But we’re now at about below 80% of where we were in terms of overall delegates [attendees], and we don’t expect to fully recover for another couple of years, probably 2025. 

However, I think there are lots of things that we’re doing to help position ourselves and to become more competitive. One of which is we have 20 of our cities now participating in measuring their sustainability of events. We can offer events that are more attractive to corporate event producers on a sustainable basis and fully measure the impact of their event.

Celestial Tourism in Canada

Has there been a general rise in interest from international tourists to experience Canada’s celestial events?

Absolutely. There’s been tremendous interest in our Northern Lights product. In fact, a number of operators have said, look, we’re sold out through all of 2024 and 2025.

We also find that it’s a big draw for Japanese and South Korean clients. Last year, we had a big campaign around our Northern Lights. We did a takeover in Times Square of all the outdoor formats available there. 

Another popular niche product is “dark skies,” which are settings where there’s no light pollution and you get the full impact of the galaxy. We have dark sky preserves, many of which are in the northern parts of our provinces. 

Some Canadian Businesses Struggling

Last year, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada found more than half of Canada’s small-and-medium-sized businesses were struggling to pay back their loans to the government , causing a potential wave of shutdowns. Isn’t this a cause for concern?

The recovery has been uneven across the country. The government made significant investments to keep businesses alive. More than 80% of all loans offered by the government are now being repaid.

But for the 20% that were really impacted, those are the ones that are struggling to repay it and looking for extensions. Those government loans have already been extended twice. And so I think there certainly is concern. 

There were about 1.5% fewer tourism businesses in Canada in 2023 than in 2019, which speaks to the impact.

Normally, you’d see business growth. It is of concern, but is it devastating for our industry? No, we have a very healthy and vibrant industry.

But we are going through a period of turnover and change as some people just can’t survive carrying the debt load they had to take on to make it through the pandemic. 

A long-term challenge for Canada emphasized in Destination Canada’s industry report last year was not having the capacity to meet travel demand. With these businesses gone, this will make it even more difficult to deal with this challenge.

Of course it does. That’s why we’re trying to shift our marketing emphasis to ensure that people know that fall and winter are fantastic times to come to Canada as well. It doesn’t have to be all about summer, but we’re working as part of our strategy that we’re about to launch our 2030 strategy in May. 

We’re working with our “North Star partners,” which include all the provinces and territories and major cities and resorts across the province, to really define strategies that will help us attract investment and help us create the return on investment that businesses are seeking to bring their money to Canada.

What’s your new data project?

We’re about to launch our Canadian tourism data collective, something we’ve been working on for a couple of years. Parts of it will go public in mid-May. 

It’s a significant new intelligence platform that brings together statistics from Canada’s national stats agency, Parks Canada, and the private sector to give the most robust view of Canadian tourism that we’ve ever had, both on the demand side, so customer profiles, revenue visitation, all that typical stuff, occupancy. What’s the intensity of tourism in different locations? Where are the investment opportunities? 

It will also help governments at every level make good decisions about the value of tourism in their community because this goes down to a granularity that we’ve never had before. Every community can be looked at — I think it’s 4,000 communities or something in Canada.

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Tags: business events , business travel , canada , ceo interviews , china , corporate travel , international tourism , meetings and events , tourism , travel leaders

Who will be first? Canadian Victoria Cross has never been awarded: Heroes Among Us

Thirty years after its creation, Canada's highest military award for bravery, still sits in a glassed case, unused

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The National Post is launching Heroes Among Us , a special series on Canadian military valour, celebrating courage in the presence of the enemy. Over the coming weeks, we will propose 10 heroic Canadians who could be the first-ever recipients of the Canadian Victoria Cross, created three decades ago as a homegrown version of the Commonwealth’s highest award for valour. In conjunction with the True Patriot Love Foundation, Anthony Wilson-Smith of Historica Canada, Gen. (ret’d) Rick Hillier and entrepreneur/benefactor Kevin Reed, we will celebrate them all at a June 26 gala at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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Who will be first? Canadian Victoria Cross has never been awarded: Heroes Among Us Back to video

OTTAWA — If you want to see a Canadian Victoria Cross, you won’t find it pinned to the chest of a war hero.

To see Canada’s highest award for combat bravery, you’ll have to book a tour of the Governor General’s residence in Ottawa. When you get to Rideau Hall, you’ll need to find your way up a staircase to the second floor, through the cavernous ballroom, and there, beside the flamboyant “tent room” with its candy-striped walls, is the tiny ambassador room holding the various honours our country hands out.

In a glass case in the corner is a dull metal cross with the words “Pro Valore” inscribed below a crowned lion.

Get a good look, because it’s the only place you’ll see one. You might be able to find the rest of the honours out in the wild because , unlike the Victoria Cross, they’ve actually been awarded. No one, so far, has been given the highest award within the Canadian military honours system.

In fact, no Canadian has been given the British Victoria Cross since 1945, when Lieut. Robert Hampton Gray earned it posthumously for leading an attack against a Japanese warship. It’s been nearly 20 years since a Canadian recipient of the British Victoria Cross walked among us, since Sgt. Ernest “Smokey” Smith died in 2005 at the age of 91.

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According to the government, the Victoria Cross is only “awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy.”

While these are the technical criteria for the award, a more vivid demonstration of what it takes to get the Victoria Cross pinned to a soldier’s left breast comes from the gallantry of Smokey Smith.

The were all crazy. Smokey Smith's theory on what quality all Victoria Cross recipients shared

On an October night in 1944, Smith’s Seaforth Highlanders were met with a vicious enemy counterattack while establishing a bridgehead across the Savio River in Italy. In torrential rain, Smith almost single-handedly held off three German tanks and 30 soldiers with an anti-tank gun while rescuing an injured comrade.

According to the citation that accompanied his award, Smith showed “utter contempt for enemy fire” while he pulled his injured friend to safety to receive medical aid and then returned to his position to ward off further possible attacks.

Like the medal he won, Smith was from a different era.

When he was about to be awarded the Victoria Cross, Smith was locked up in Naples, apparently to keep him out of trouble until he could travel to meet King George VI. Smith was annoyed about this turn of events until they gave him a couple of beers, which he said cheered him up considerably.

When a Buckingham Palace guard demonstrated to Smith how he would have to bow to the king — a deep bow from the hips — the Canadian wasn’t impressed. Instead, he saluted the king, put the medal in his pocket and kept it there until the British recipients received their awards and the newspapers could be notified.

“So for three days, I’m sitting in a bar in London drinking to beat hell. Someone came and said, ‘OK, Smokey, you can put on that medal now.’ So I took it out and put it on my chest, and I never bought another drink that day,” Smith later told Maclean’s magazine .

The Canadian Victoria Cross had a long and uncertain path to its creation. In 1967, the Pearson government created the Order of Canada and then decided the Canadian government should stop recommending its citizens for British awards.

Canada created new bravery awards in 1972, but nothing comparable to the Victoria Cross and, pressed on the issue, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau seemed to imply that Canadians would no longer receive the British Victoria Cross. For decades, the Royal Canadian Legion urged the government to clarify if the Victoria Cross was still the country’s highest honour for combat gallantry, to no avail.

Finally, Queen Elizabeth approved the “Canadianized” version of the Victoria Cross in 1993, to almost equal amounts of fanfare and consternation among veterans and military historians. A possible sign of the ambivalence surrounding the new award could be found in the fact that then-prime minister Brian Mulroney was happy to leave the news conference to a Red Deer member of Parliament who had sponsored a private member’s bill on the issue.

Since then, no Canadians have been deemed valorous enough to receive the Canadian Victoria Cross.

Eighty-one Canadians who served in Canadian military forces were awarded the British Victoria Cross for valour in earlier conflicts, mostly the two world wars, but also including four veterans of the Boer War. Other countries with similar awards, such as Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, have all awarded them for valour in recent wars, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. But Canada has not.

There has been advocacy to change this, especially in the case of Pte. Jess Larochelle, who is credited with saving many of his fellow soldiers’ lives after a Taliban rocket destroyed an observation post in Pashmul in October 2006.

The account of Larochelle’s heroism in the citation for the Star of Military Valour is reminiscent of Smokey Smith’s gallantry in Italy.

Larochelle provided covering fire for his company’s position while severely injured and receiving sustained enemy fire in an exposed position. Through Larochelle’s bravery, the company was able to to fend off an attack from more than 20 insurgents.

As an MP inspired by Larochelle’s case, former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole proposed a Military Honours Review Board in 2022 to re-examine medals and decorations, with a wide mandate to re-evaluate historical awards, including failure to fairly consider Indigenous or minority soldiers. T he motion was defeated by the governing Liberals. Larochelle died last summer, aged 40.

Smith believed that soldiers who showed that kind of bravery were simply doing their job. He never thought of surrendering, even when he was massively outnumbered and considered anyone who did a “coward.” He also didn’t believe in taking orders and he considered killing Germans “fun and games.”

Asked by Maclean’s in 2005 what made Victoria Cross recipients different from the average soldier, Smith said simply that they would fight instead of sitting around. Pushed on the question, Smith came up with a theory.

“Crazy,” he laughed. “They were all crazy.”

With files from Joseph Brean

National Post [email protected]

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