Crossing into Canada by Sailboat: What You Need to Know

Planning to cross the Canadian border by boat? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help ensure a smooth and lawful entry into Canadian waters:

1. Before You Depart

Understand CBSA Reporting Requirements:
Requirements vary depending on your nationality, travel itinerary, and the number of people onboard. Review the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website for up-to-date details.

Identification for All Passengers:
Every person onboard must carry valid identification. U.S. citizens need a passport or NEXUS card for themselves and for any children aged 16 and older; children under 16 must have a birth certificate. CANPASS authorization is also accepted.

Ensure Admissibility:
Foreign nationals must meet the entry criteria under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Know What You Can Bring:
Declare all restricted or prohibited goods, including firearms, food, plants, animals, and related products. Cannabis is illegal to transport across the border without prior Health Canada authorization.

Prepare Your Boat:
Clean, drain, and dry your vessel thoroughly to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Boats that don’t meet this standard may be denied entry until cleaned.

Visit the CBSA Website:
For full details on customs, immigration, and boating requirements, visit cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

2. Reporting Your Arrival to the CBSA

Proceed to a Designated Marine Reporting Site:
You must head directly to an authorized reporting location upon entering Canadian waters.

Telephone Reporting (TRC):
At most locations, call the CBSA’s Telephone Reporting Centre at 1-888-226-7277. You may use your cell phone if you’re eligible under CBSA guidelines.

In-Person Reporting:
You can also report directly to a CBSA officer at a staffed marine reporting site.

Be Ready to Provide the Following:

  • Vessel registration or license number
  • Full name, birth date, and citizenship of each passenger
  • Details of all goods being imported

Remain Onboard:
Only the operator may disembark to make the report call. All other passengers must stay on the boat until officially cleared by CBSA.

Declare All Goods and Currency:
You must declare all items, especially those that are restricted or prohibited, as well as any currency over CAN$10,000.

Penalties for Non-Compliance:
Failure to report to the CBSA may lead to a minimum fine of $1,000, vessel seizure, denial of entry, or criminal charges.

3. After You Report

Receive a Report Number:
Once cleared, you’ll be issued a confirmation or report number.

Display the Report Number:
It’s recommended to place this number in a visible location on your boat (e.g., dockside window) as proof of compliance.

4. Special Programs & Exemptions

NEXUS Members:
If all passengers are NEXUS members, you may benefit from faster processing at designated sites.

Innocent Passage:
If you are simply transiting through Canadian waters without stopping, anchoring, or making contact with people or goods, reporting is generally not required—unless instructed otherwise by CBSA.

Final Tip:
Always check the CBSA website for the most current regulations before setting out on your trip.