Stay organized

Avoid wasting time or holding up the line at customs checkpoints by knowing exactly where you placed your travel documents while you were on the move. You’ll need to show your passport or Permanent Resident card at customs.

A small bag, sometimes called a belt bag or fanny pack, worn across your chest can be a convenient way to keep these items protected and within close reach. A purse, briefcase or interior backpack pocket also work – just avoid sticking this important identification in the pockets of your clothes since it could fall out.

If possible, declare early

When you arrive in Canada you must declare goods you’re bringing from outside of the country, including food and souvenirs. If you are flying into certain international airports in Canada, you can use a feature on the official ArriveCan app or website to fill out your customs and immigration declaration forms up to 72 hours before arriving. This optional service is offered by Canada Border Services Agency as a quicker way to get through customs. You can update the forms when you land, if needed.

Pack smart

Even if you’re only bringing items for personal use, it’s still important to declare them. While you might expect some items to be prohibited, such as cannabis products from another country, others might be more surprising and could slow you down at the border. It’s a good idea to double check.

Some food products could contain possible hazards for Canada. For example, pork products could potentially bring a disease called African swine fever into the country. Though it does not infect humans, the disease is deadly for pigs. And an outbreak could spread through contaminated items, which can include pork from a country with the disease such as Germany, Poland, Ukraine, China, Vietnam and the Philippines to name a few. An outbreak here would hurt Canadian pork farmers.

To avoid delays due to problematic items in your luggage, double check what you can and cannot bring. When in doubt, always declare. If there’s a problem with something that is a food, or is a plant or animal based product and you didn’t declare, you could face a penalty of more than $1,000.

(Source : News Canada)

You can check out the “What Can I Bring?” online search tool from the Canadian Air Transportation Authority to find out if an item is permitted in your carry-on or checked bag or not at all. You just type in the name of the item (such as skateboard, video game console or baby formula), hit “search,” and it will tell you if it’s permitted and if there are any quantity restrictions.

For example, liquids, aerosols and gels can be packed in your carry-on luggage as long as they respect the 100 ml rule. Remember to place them all in a one-litre clear, re-sealable plastic bag and have it ready to be put in a bin when you get to the security checkpoint. Anything that doesn’t fit in your one-litre bag won’t be allowed, so additional travel-sized containers and items larger than 100 ml must go in your checked baggage or be left at home.

Here are some important exceptions:

• The size restriction doesn’t apply to items for children under two years old. This includes liquids like milk, breast milk, baby food, formula, juice and ice packs to keep these items chilled.
• Both prescribed and over-the-counter medications can be in larger containers, but it is advisable to leave them in the original manufacturer’s packaging or with pharmaceutical labels intact so they can be easily identified.

Pack these items in an easy-to-access area of your carry-on bag and be ready to take them out for the screening officer to inspect.

If you’re flying internationally and considering some duty-free shopping, all purchases must be properly sealed in an official security bag and accompanied by an itemized receipt if you have a connecting flight in Canada on your way home. Official security bags are used in several – but not all – countries around the world, so always check to make sure your duty-free bag has the proper security features:

• a checkmark;
• a circular arrow; and
• a red border.

Find more tips to help you and the kids navigate security screening like pros at catsa.gc.ca.

(Source : News Canada)