WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU
You MUST take:
- A valid passport, visa and any other travel document for you and each family member.
- Enough funds in cash for short-term expenses.
- Two copies of a detailed list of all personal or household items brought with you. Two copies listing all items to follow later. Form B4 and B4A can be used for this purpose. You should have a photo of the jewelry you are bringing in. Specify the total value of all the goods. When you arrive in Canada, give the list to Custom Officials.
You SHOULD take:
- Birth or baptismal certificates; adoption papers; marriage certificates; separation, annulment or divorce papers.
- School diplomas and degrees; should records or transcripts of your marks, including a description of the courses you have taken.
- Employments certificates, trade of professional certificates; letters of reference from your employers and a list of your qualifications and job experience (resume).
- Immunization, vaccination, dental, optical and other health records.
- Prescriptive medication for about three months.
- Driver's license, or optionally International Driver's License; accident record from your insurance company.
- Warm clothing, if you are arriving in winter.
(make photocopies of all documents stated above and keep these copies in a different place than the originals e.g. check-in baggage, in case the originals are lost)
You are ALLOWED to take:
- You can bring in all your personal and household effects duty free if you owned, possessed, and used them before you arrive in Canada. These include: antiques, family heirlooms, furniture, jewelry, ordinary household goods, etc.
- A bride can bring her wedding gifts, unused, if married within 3 months after arriving in Canada.
Packing your CARRY-ON BAGGAGE / HAND CARRY:
- Travel documents: passport, visa, immigration documents(anything you need to show to an immigration officer from your exiting country and anything you need to show to the immigration officer in Canada.)
- Your customs declaration forms.
- Settlement funds (cash, traveler's checks, bank draft)
- Birth Certificate
- Papers proving your civil status: marriage, separation, annulment, divorce papers.
- Valuables: e.g. jewelry
- Former employment certificates
- Updated Resume
- Letters of Reference
- School Diplomas, transcripts of marks, course content and course descriptions.
- Drivers license.
- Medical, dental, optical records.
- Prescription medication (at least three to four months supply)
- Sweater, light jacket, shawl
- Baby Formula (one week's supply)
- Snacks, toys, books, extra diapers.
Packing your CHECK-IN BAGGAGE :
- Copy of all original documents you have in your carry-on baggage.
- copies of updated resume
- Baby formula (one month supply)
- Leisure and entertainment items (toys, games, music, movies, etc.)
- Clothing (depending on time of year)
*some warm garments
*clothes for job interviews
*variety of clothes for all occasions and seasons.
- Photos of Loved ones.
- Directory of addresses and phone numbers.
- Dictionaries: your mother tongue to English, your mother tongue to French
- Personal effects: anything that fits into the allowed size and weight.
You are NOT ALLOWED to take
- Firearms, explosives, fireworks and ammunition.
- Narcotics, other than prescription drugs (bring your prescription with you)
- Agricultural products (plants, flowers, soil, meat, eggs and dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables etc.)
- Endangered animal species (including the skin, feathers, fur, bones)
- Cultural property: certain antiques and cultural objects considered to have historical significance to their country of origin are prohibited entry into Canada without an export permit from that country. It is permissible to take family heirlooms.
- More than 200 cigarettes (you must pay tax on more than 200) per person. 18/19 years of age and older. There are also restrictions on cigars, tobacco, etc.
- More than 1.14 litres of commercial alcohol (must pay tax on more than 1.14 litres) per person 18/19 years of age and older.
- Items for commercial use.
- Most used vehicles. Transport Canada has many restrictions on vehicles.
(If you do not declare good, or if you falsely declare them, the Customs officer can take away those goods. You may not get them back, or may get them back after you have paid a penalty.)
PETS
Ask at a Canadian diplomatic mission for specific details as there are strict rules on the type of pets you are allowed to take into Canada. Generally, cats and dogs are allowed, but only if accompanied with an up-to-date vaccination certificate.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN TAKE
Generally, each person with a ticket is allowed two (2) pieces of check-in baggage, each bag no more than 24 to 32 kg. plus one (1) carry-on baggage no larger than 23 x 41 x 57 cm and weighing no more than 5-7 kg.
Each airline can enforce carry-on baggage size and weight restrictions. Ask your travel agent or go to your airlines website to get details. Air Canada employees are required to enforce restrictions, as per Transport Canada regulations. Checked baggage is also restricted in size and weight.
Charges for overweight and oversize luggage are high.
If you want to send things by cargo to arrive at a later date, you must inform Customs when you arrive in Canada.
Electrical Appliances
Electrical appliances in Canada use 110-volt, 60-cycle current. Do not bring appliances that cannot use this current.
