What Canadians should know about travelling to the U.S. this Thanksgiving

A Canada border services officer hands passports back to a visitor entering Canada from Vermont at the Highway 55 Port of Entry in Stanstead, Que., on March 13, 2025. (Christinne Muschi / The Canadian Press)

As some Canadians head to the United States for Thanksgiving, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says travellers may have to pay surtaxes on certain goods they bring back due to tariffs.

As of Sept. 1, the border agency says Canada has removed counter-tariffs on most U.S. imports. A 25 per cent counter-tariff still applies on steel and aluminum products and auto imports originating from the United States.

The CBSA provided travel tips for those crossing the border into Canada for the Thanksgiving weekend in a press release this week.

Canada and the U.S. have been in a trade war since earlier this year, resulting in the tariffs imposed by each country. Goods covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA, are exempt.

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Duties and taxes

Personal exemptions apply to Canadian residents. These exemptions allow them to bring back goods purchased abroad, including alcohol and tobacco up to a certain value, without paying regular duty and taxes, the CBSA said.

“Make sure you know the value of goods you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts available for the officer,” it wrote in the press release.

Forbidden products

Check the list of the restricted and prohibited goods to avoid possible fines, seizure or prosecution, the CBSA said.

Want to bring back homemade food or leftovers containing turkey from Thanksgiving dinner? The CBSA said these products are forbidden. It recommends travellers review restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States.

Certain firearms and weapons, narcotics and cannabis are also banned.

Advice for drivers

The CBSA advises drivers to plan their route by checking border wait times and using a GPS application, such as Google Maps. An alternative port of entry may have shorter wait times or less traffic, it added. To avoid wait times, it’s best to cross the border early in the morning, the agency said. The busiest time to travel is typically the Monday of holiday long weekends, it added.

Travel documents

To make border processing smoother and faster, ensure your travel documents are ready to present to an officer, the CBSA added.

Customs and immigration declaration

Those flying into Canada can make their customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of their arrival at participating airports, according to the CBSA. To do this, the border agency said travellers can use the Advance Declaration feature in the ArriveCAN app.

Moreover, the CBSA said travellers should declare everything they have with them. Those arriving by land are responsible for everything inside their vehicle, it said.

Travelling with children

Those travelling with children for whom they don’t have full legal custody, or who are not their own, should bring a consent letter, CBSA said. The parent or legal guardian must write the letter that permits travellers to bring their child on trips. Officers may ask additional questions if travellers don’t have it, it added.

With files from CTV Ottawa News Bureau’s Spencer Van Dyk