CBSA reminds boaters of their reporting obligations as boating season approaches

Ottawa – As summer and boating season approaches, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would like to remind all boaters boating in Canadian waters or entering Canada by boat of their entry and declaration.

General reporting requirements for boaters:

All travellers entering Canada by boat must report their arrival to the CBSA through the Telephone Reporting Center (1-888-226-7277) using a cell phone, at a telephone reporting site or by appearing in person at a designated marine reporting site. When it enters Canadian waters, the operator of a boat must immediately report it to the CBSA.

• Travellers leaving and re-entering Canadian waters with interruption must report their arrival to the CBSA. Travellers leaving and re-entering Canadian waters without interruption are not required to report their arrival to the CBSA. We speak of an interrupted voyage when a traveller leaves Canadian waters and before re-entering it, he sets foot outside Canada, drops anchor, moors, establishes contact with another boat while is outside Canadian waters (including the Seaway Canal systems), or embarks or disembarks persons or goods while outside Canada.
• Foreigners who set foot on Canadian soil, drop anchor, moor or come with another vessel, or land persons or goods in Canadian waters must:

                  – report their arrival to the CBSA;

                  – report their arrival to the CBSA

                  – be eligible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

 Foreigners entering Canadian waters for recreation, tourism or excursion purposes (loop movements) are not required to report to CBSA until the boat docks on Canadian soil , does not anchor, moor or come into contact with another vessel in Canadian waters.

Quick Facts:

• Educate yourself. Boaters planning to come to Canada should review the reporting requirements for private boaters before making their travel plans.
• Make sure you know what you are carrying. Regulated and prohibited goods include, but are not limited to, firearms and weapons, food, plant, animal and related products, explosives, fireworks and ammunition. You must report these goods to the CBSA and obtain the necessary permits (if applicable), even if you qualify for a reporting exception.
• NEXUS members can call the NEXUS Telephone Reporting Center at 1-866-99-NEXUS. For more information on NEXUS reporting procedures, visit NEXUS – Maritime .
• Failure to report to the CBSA , even if you are only entering to refuel, may result in the detention, seizure or confiscation of your vessel and result in monetary penalties. The minimum penalty for failing to report to the CBSA upon entry to Canada is $1,000.

Related links

Reporting requirements for private boaters

List of telephone/marine reporting centers open in Canada

How to use NEXUS to enter Canada (asfc-cbsa.gc.ca)

I Declare: A Guide for Returning Residents of Canada