| Travelling in Canada |
|
This
section provides some basic information to make your
travel within Canada more enjoyable. If you wish to
get further information on a given subject, you can
use the addresses, phone numbers and links of provincial
or national agencies that we have provided in our
"Tourism
Information" page. |
You can also find other travel information in the
"Travel Canada" website at http://www.travelcanada.ca |
| Border
Crossing |
As
a visitor to Canada, you are permitted to bring
(free of duty) in a reasonable number of personal
effects, a four-day supply of food, and a full
tank of gas. All visitors aged 19 or over may
also import for personal consumption up
to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and 200g (8 oz) of
tobacco, up to 1.14 litres (40 oz) of spirits
or wine, or in lieu 8.5 litres (288 oz) of beer
or ale. All goods purchased, received or acquired
abroad must be declared.
All
revolvers, pistols, fully automatic firearms and
other weapons, and self-defense sprays such as,
pepper spray and mace are prohibited entry
into Canada. All firearms (ie: hunting rifles,
shotguns) and personal protection devices (ie:
stun guns, mace, pepper spray) must be declared.
Sporting equipment such as fishing tackle, boats,
outboard motors, camping gear, golf clubs, as
well as tape recorders, stereos, cameras, etc.
to be used by the individual while in Canada should
be declared when entering the country and exported
when leaving the country. For more information,
click
here.
|
| CAA
/ AAA |
The
Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has its national
office at 1775 Courtwood Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario
K2C 3J2. CAA clubs provide the same services for
the American Automobile Association (AAA) members
as do the AAA clubs in the Unites States.
|
| Currency
exchange |
Normally,
the best exchange rates on foreign money can be
obtained at major financial institutions. Currency
exchange services is also available at certain provincial
Visitor Information Centers located along the Canada-USA
border.
|
| Duty-free
shopping |
Information
pamphlets are available at the customs offices along
the Canada-USA border. Duty-free shops are located
at major Canada-USA border crossings.
|
| Emergencies |
Most
areas within Canada offer a "911"
service. If you have an emergency, get to a phone
and simply dial "911" and an operator
will assist you.
|
| Fishing
|
Separate
licenses are required for saltwater and freshwater
fishing. Saltwater licenses are issued by the Federal
Department of Fisheries and Oceans; freshwater licenses
are issued by the provincial Ministry of the Environment,
Lands and Parks. Both types of licenses can be purchased
at sporting goods stores and other fishing retailers
as well as most Government Agents' offices. A specific
license is required in National Parks and can be
purchased at the Park Headquarters at each Park
site.
For more information,
click
here.
|
Goods
and Services
(GST) Tax |
GST
is a 5% federal tax that is charged on most goods
& services sold or provided in Canada. It
is separate & distinct from Provincial Sales
Tax (PST) which varies between 7% and 9%. When
you buy goods for export, you can claim a GST exemption on your purchases. When taking
the goods with you, you pay the tax at the time
of sale, but you can claim a full rebate if the
goods are taken out of the province within 30
days. Note that there is no refund for GST you
pay on meals and beverages; wine, liquor, beer,
and other alcoholic beverages; tobacco products;
transportation such as air, train or bus tickets
and car rentals; services such as dry cleaning,
shoe repair, auto repairs, entertainment, etc.;
rentals of campsites, tents and houseboats; rentals
of travel trailers and all other recreational
vehicles; cruise ship cabins or train berths;
automotive fuels; or goods consumed or left in
Canada.
For
more information,
click
here or call toll-free from
anywhere in Canada, 1-800-668-4748 (1-800-66VISIT).
If you are outside Canada, call 1-902-432-5608.
|
| Hospitals |
Visitors
are advised to obtain health insurance before coming
to Canada. Check your policy; many health insurance
plans only provide partial coverage for services
rendered outside the borders of the policy holder's
country of residence. Hospitals in Canada are marked
by a 
on road signs. Once you're at your destination,
you should always look in the local telephone directory
for the hospital nearest you!
|
| Metric
system |
The
metric system adopted by Canada in 1980 can be
summarized as follows.
|
Canada
|
US |
|
Distance |
1 kilometer (km)
1 meter (m) |
5/8th of a mile
39.37 inches (in) |
|
Weight |
1
kilogram (kg) |
2.2 pounds |
|
Volume |
1 litre |
0.264 US gallons
0.219 Imperial gallons |
|
Temperature |
0° Celsius
100° Celsius |
32° Fahrenheit
212° Fahrenheit |
|
| Motor
Vehicles |
Vehicles
and trailers not exceeding 2.6 meters (8' 6")
in width are permitted into Canada for touring purposes
for periods up to 12 months and without payment
of customs fees. Motor vehicle registration forms
should be carried, and if the vehicle is rented
from a company, a copy of the rental agreement bearing
an endorsement to the effect that the rented vehicle
is permitted entry into Canada should also be carried.
Canadian residents cannot bring in a rented vehicle
from the US.
Drivers'
licenses, whether from any state of the US or
from other countries, and international drivers'
licenses, are valid in Canada.
|
| Passports
and Visas |
All visitors arriving in Canada require a passport and a valid Visa (if coming from a country from which one is required) with the exception of United States citizens/permanent residents. US  citizens / permanent residents do not require passports or visas but must provide an identification such a birth certificate, a proof of citizenship/naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status as well as a photo ID. Permanent US residents must also bring their permanent resident cards. If you are a citizen of another country residing in the United States, you must also bring your Alien Registration Receipt Card. All children under 18 accompanied by an adult must bring written permission of a parent or guardian to travel in Canada.
Click
here for more information.
|
| Pets |
Domestic
pets arriving from outside Canada must be accompanied
by a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian.
The certificate must clearly identify each animal
and certify that it has been vaccinated against
rabies within the preceding three (3) years. For
more information,
click
here.
|
|
Private
Aircrafts
Pleasure Boats |
Prior
to departure from the US, all visitors are required
to contact Canadian Customs Border Services
at 1-888-226-7277.
Customs
Border Services of Revenue Canada, along with
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, offer a
pre-approval program for Canadian and US citizens/residents.
Please call the CANPASS Enrollment Centre at
(604) 535-9346 for more information.
|
| Radar
detectors |
In
most Canadian provinces, the carrying (transporting)
of radar detectors in vehicles is prohibited
whether the device is in use and connected or
not.
|
| Seat
belts |
Seat
belts are mandatory for drivers and passengers.
Children under 5 years of age and under 18 kilograms
(40 lbs.) must be in an infant carrier
or approved child restraint.
|
| Speed
limits |
In
most Canadian provinces, the speed limit is 100
km/hr (60 mph) on highways (unless indicated otherwise)
and 50 km/hr (30 mph) in urban districts (unless
indicated otherwise).
|
Statutory
holidays
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
New
Year's Day |
January 1 |
January 1 |
January 1 |
|
Good Friday |
March 25 |
April 14 |
March 30 |
|
Victoria Day |
May
23 |
May
22 |
May
21 |
|
St-Jean Baptiste (QC only) |
June 24 |
June 24 |
June 24 |
|
Canada Day |
July
1 |
July
1 |
July
1 |
|
Civic Holiday |
August
1 |
August
7 |
August
6 |
|
Labor
Day |
September 5 |
September 4 |
September 3 |
|
Thanksgiving Day |
October 10 |
October 9 |
October 8 |
|
Remembrance Day |
November 11 |
November 11 |
November 11 |
|
Christmas |
December 25 |
December 25 |
December 25 |
|
Boxing Day |
December 26 |
December 26 |
December 26 |
|
| Time
zones |
|
|
Vehicle
Towing
Regulations |
When
a vehicle or trailer weighing 1,400 kilograms
(3,087 pounds) or more is towed behind a recreational
vehicle, the towed vehicle must be outfitted with
functional braking and emergency breakaway devices
which apply the brakes at the end of the axles.
As well, one or more safety chains must be attached
which can hold the weight of the towed vehicle. To find out more about towing regulations (by province),
click
here.
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