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Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

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The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for securing Canada's borders by ensuring that the country's laws on customs, immigration and agriculture are respected. When you arrive, you must follow the four steps of the customs clearance procedure:

  1. Fill out a declaration by providing the required information about your trip, and what you're bringing back into the country on a kiosk.
  2. First inspection: a border services agent will examine your declaration card, your ID and other travel documents.
  3. Removal of baggage: You'll go through a second checkpoint to pay your fees and taxes and wait to pick up your baggage. You will also need to show your declaration card to a service agent.
  4. Leave the CBSA checkpoint.

For details on the procedure to follow upon arrival by plane, as well as personal exemption limits and foreseeable wait times, please refer to Canada Border Services Agency.

Save time with ArriveCAN

Before you arrive in Canada, you can download the ArriveCAN app and submit your customs and immigration declaration within 72 hours of your arrival in Canada. Once you have provided your declaration, a receipt will be displayed and emailed to you.

At Québec City airport, you will have to scan your passport at the kiosk to retrieve your declaration before finalizing the process. You will receive a printed receipt from the kiosk which you will need to show a Border Services Officer.

Using the functionality, via the ArriveCAN mobile application, for customs and immigration declaration is optional but simplifies the procedures for entering Canada. For more information about the ArriveCAN app, please visit the Use ArriveCAN for a faster border experience page of the Government of Canada website.