Crossing the border over Easter? Here’s what you need to know from CBSA

The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel seen in Windsor, Ont. on March 13, 2026. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is providing some tips and reminders for travellers planning on crossing the border over the Easter long weekend.

Officials say knowing what you need to enter Canada will help ensure a smoother border crossing experience and gives CBSA officers more time to focus on stopping dangerous goods and inadmissible people.

Here are some travel tips to help you plan for your trip:

• Have your travel documents readily available to present to an officer. This will speed up processing times at the border.
• Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada (at participating airports).
• Driving into Canada? Check border wait times to plan your route.
• Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
• Visitors to Canada may also bring gifts for their friends and family as long as the gifts are unwrapped or in gift bags, in case border services officers need to inspect the contents.
• When travelling with children who are not your own or for whom you don’t have legal custody, bring a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. We are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
• Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.
• Smuggling drugs is illegal. Trafficking cannabis and other drugs across the border is a criminal offence. Beware of people who ask you to carry anything for them. Consequences are serious in Canada and abroad.
• Leave your firearms and weapons at home. You are encouraged not to travel with firearms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing firearms.
• Know before you go: Review the restricted and prohibited goods to avoid the possibility of penalties, including fines, seizure or prosecution. Make sure you have the information you need before attempting to bring items into Canada.

Officials say the best way to save time is to be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, you can call the CBSA at 1-800-461-9999.