Cruising information 2021
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BORDER BETWEEN CANADA AND THE USA IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PLEASE CONTACT THE CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY FOR MORE INFORMATION
BRINGING YOUR BOAT TO CRUISE IN CANADA
Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft:
For a visitor to Canada, an operator card or other document that meets the requirements of his or her home state or country.
Proof of competency is not required in the following situations:
- a visitor to Canada is operating the boat he or she brought into Canada for less than 45 consecutive days
Reporting to Canada Border Services
As owner/operator of the boat, it is your responsibility to report to the CBSA.
Go directly to a Telephone Reporting Site-Marine (TRS/M) and follow the instructions posted on location to contact the CBSA Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/trsm-sdtm-eng.html and request clearance to enter Canada. Only the owner/operator may leave the boat to place the call to the TRC. Everyone else must remain onboard until the CBSA gives authorization. Toll free: 1-888-226-7277
OR
Report directly in-person at one of 10 Direct Reporting sites, which are CBSA staffed marine
ports of entry. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/drsm-dmsm-eng.html
Making your report:
When you contact the TRC, you will be asked about your trip, passengers, and whether you have any goods to declare. You must collect the information from each passenger onboard and provide it to the TRC.
Pre-registration of travel information
To help ensure minimal wait times for private boat owners/operators reporting their entry into Canada using the CBSA TRC, we recommend that you pre-register your personal and travel document information in advance. You must provide the following information for each individual on the boat:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Travel document number, type and expiry date
You can e-mail your information to TRC_PreRegistration_InscriptionPréalable_CRT@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. The CBSA will enter your information into the system within 24 hours of receipt. You must still use the regular reporting methods to report your entry.
Whether you chose to pre-register or not, be sure to always have your travel documents on hand when you call the TRC to report entry into Canada. This will assist the CBSA in facilitating your entry into Canada as quickly as possible.
Faster processing with the NEXUS program
NEXUS is available at over 400 reporting sites across Canada and at all marine crossings southbound into the United States (U.S.). The boat master is the person in charge of the boat. Boat masters are responsible for presenting themselves and their passengers to border officers, and for reporting all goods on behalf of the NEXUS members on board. All persons on board must be NEXUS members in order to take advantage of NEXUS reporting procedures.
The boat master must do the following:
- Call the NEXUS Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 1 866-99-NEXUS (1-866-996-3987);
- Provide advance notice to the CBSA at least 30 minutes (minimum) and up to four hours (maximum) prior to arriving in Canada. The boat master must provide the following information to the TRC:
- an estimated time of arrival;
- the name and location of the landing site of arrival (in Canada, it must be a “designated site” https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/nexusmarine-nexusmaritime-eng.html
- the registration number and/or name of the boat;
- the full name, date of birth and country of citizenship and/or permanent residence status of all NEXUS members on board;
- the destination, purpose of the trip and length of stay in Canada for each passenger; and
- the passport and visa details of passengers when applicable or required.
- Ensure that all passengers have photo identification and proof of citizenship, permanent residence status and/or other immigration status documents when applicable or required; and
- Declare all goods being imported, including currency information.
If any information changes before arrival, contact the NEXUS Telephone Reporting Centre at 1 866-99-NEXUS (1-866-996-3987).
Nexus up to date information is here
In addition to the above, the person in charge of the conveyance is responsible for the following:
- ensuring that all people being transported into Canada on board the pleasure craft are in possession of all travel documents required by the legislation, i.e. passports, visas, or other; and
- the removal of inadmissible passengers and any associated administrative and medical expenses and fees.
Note: Any contraventions of the legislation may result in detention, seizure or forfeiture of the conveyance and/or lead to criminal prosecution, monetary penalties and/or imprisonment.
As proof of presentation, the boat master will receive a report number for his or her records and he or she must produce this number when asked to do so by border officers.
If a border officer is not at the specified landing site to meet the boat at the reported estimated time of arrival or actual time of arrival, the individuals who have reported may proceed to their intended final destination.