Here is what you need to do when navigating Canadian waters

NEWS RELEASE
CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY
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With summer and boating season fast approaching, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would like to remind all boaters of their entry and reporting obligations when navigating Canadian waters or entering Canada by boat.

General reporting requirements for boaters

• All travellers entering Canada by boat must report their arrival to the CBSA through the Telephone Reporting Centre (1-888-226-7277) using a cellular phone, at a telephone reporting site, or by reporting in person at a designated marine reporting site. When entering Canadian waters, the operator of a boat must report to the CBSA without delay.
• Those who leave Canada and re-enter Canadian waters with interruption must report to the CBSA upon re-entry. Travellers who leave and re-enter Canadian waters without interruption do not have to report to the CBSA. Interruption to travel means that a traveller leaves Canadian waters and, before re-entering, lands outside Canada, anchors, moors, makes contact with another boat while outside of Canadian waters (including the Seaway canal systems), or embarks or disembarks any people or goods while outside Canada.
• Foreign nationals who land on Canadian soil, anchor, moor or come alongside another boat in Canadian waters must
  • report to the CBSA; and
  • be admissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Foreign nationals who enter Canadian waters for leisure, sightseeing or touring (known as loop movements) are not required to report to the CBSA as long as the boat does not land on Canadian soil, anchor, moor or make contact with another boat in Canadian waters. 

Quick tips

• Get informed. Boaters planning to come to Canada should review Reporting requirements for private boaters before making travel plans.
• Know what you have onboard. Restricted and prohibited goods include, but are not limited to, firearms and weapons; food, plants, animals and related products; explosives, fireworks and ammunition. You must report these goods to the CBSA and obtain the necessary permits (if required), even if you meet the conditions for a reporting exception.
• NEXUS members can call the NEXUS Telephone Reporting Centre at 1-866-99-NEXUS. For more information on NEXUS reporting procedures, visit NEXUS - Marine.
• Failure to report to the CBSA, even if it is to refuel, may result in detention, seizure or forfeiture of your boat and/or monetary penalties. The minimum fine for failing to report to the CBSA upon entry to Canada is $1,000.

Associated links

• Reporting requirements for private boaters
• List of Open Marine Telephone Reporting Sites across Canada
• How to use NEXUS to enter Canada (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)
• I Declare: A Guide for residents returning to Canada

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