When you are in Washington County, Maine, stop by The Puffin Pines for up to date visitor information.
After your visit to Maine, are you planning to visit Canada? Ordinarily, entering Canada is straightforward and easy. For individuals and families, returning to the USA after a visit to Canada is still pretty painless, even after 9/11, though sometimes there are lines and you must wait a while at the border.
VISITING CANADA IN 2004?
Guidance for residents of the USA
DO THESE THINGS
1. Bring a government-issued photo ID. A valid state driver’s license normally is sufficient ID for a U.S. citizen traveling in Canada, though proof of citizenship may be asked for. A non-U.S. citizen should have an Alien Registration Receipt Card or passport.
2. Bring your cameras, as there will be lots to photograph.
3. Upon entering, pick up from Canadian customs the booklet entitled Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada. It will explain how to get a rebate of some of the taxes you paid while in Canada.
4. When traveling in a motor vehicle, wear your seatbelt at all times; children 5 and under must be in a child restraint. Motorcyclists must wear helmets.
DO NOT DO THESE THINGS
1. Do not bring a radar detector into Canada. Their use is illegal in Canada’s Maritime provinces.
2. Do not bring automatic firearms into Canada. They are prohibited firearms.
REMEMBER THESE THINGS
1. Prior to visiting Canada, check to ensure that your auto and health insurance are valid in Canada.
2. If you have foreign-made items, you might want to register them with U.S. customs when you depart the USA to ensure that you can bring them back into the USA duty-free.
3. If you are a single parent, grandparent, or guardian entering Canada with a minor child, bring proof of legal custody, or a notarized letter of consent, and proof of the child’s citizenship. If a non-family minor is traveling with you, you also should have a document authorizing you to make health care decisions for that child.
4. Your vehicle may be inspected upon entering Canada. If you are driving a vehicle other than your own, you must have the owner’s written permission to use the car in Canada.
5. Upon entering Canada, you may have to pay a security deposit on your personal baggage. The deposit will be refunded to you when you depart Canada with the baggage. If you intend to leave things in Canada (e.g., clothes, car, boat at a summer home), pick up a free permit when you enter Canada.
6. If you bring into Canada any gift of more than C$60.00 (approximately US$40.00), you will have to pay regular duty and taxes on the amount in excess of C$60.00.
7. If you bring a dog/cat into Canada, you must have a leash for the pet. To visit for a few days/weeks, you must bring proof of rabies vaccination within the last year for your cat and within the last two years for your dog (except that a dog’s first rabies vaccination is valid for only one year). Be sure the vaccination period does not expire while traveling in Canada, as this proof also will be needed to bring the pet back into the USA. If you will stay in Canada for several months, transport your animal from Canada to another country, or bring a horse into Canada, your animal must have a health certificate issued within the past 30 days and signed by a licensed veterinarian clearly identifying and describing the animal, affirming it is in good health -- and for dogs and cats, certifying that the pet has been vaccinated against rabies (and for dogs, distemper). To bring in a pet bird, complete a bird import form when entering Canada.
8. You must declare plants or plant material, except houseplants, when you bring them into Canada. For more information on pets or plants, contact the CFIA Import Service Center at 1-877-493-0468.
9. You must be at least 18 years old to bring a firearm into Canada. If you plan to do so, register the firearm with U.S. customs before departing the USA. You must declare any firearm you bring into Canada. To bring in a non-restricted firearm (hunting rifle or shotgun), you also must complete Form JUS909EF (Non-resident Firearm Declaration) upon entering the country. A customs officer must confirm the Declaration, which will serve as a 60-day temporary license and registration certificate. Prior to hunting, obtain a hunting license from the province/territory in which you propose to hunt, and secure the services of a Canadian-licensed Guide. For additional information, visit www.canadianfirearms.com (1-800-731-4000). To bring a restricted firearm (certain handguns) into Canada, review information on the web site first, as you will have additional requirements (e.g., obtaining an Authorization to Transport (AT) from a provincial/territorial Chief Firearms Officer before entering the province/territory).
10. A 15% harmonized services tax (HST) usually is added to prices in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland; a 7% goods and services tax (GST) in PEI; and a 7.5% sales tax (TVQ) in Quebec. Visitors may apply for a GST/HST/TVQ rebate on most goods and accommodations. Refer to the tax refund booklet you picked up upon entering Canada. For more information, contact Visitor Rebate Program, Summerside Tax Center, Canada Customs & Revenue Agency, 275 Pope Road, Suite 104, Summerside, PEI C1N 6C6 Canada; 902-432-5608 (or in Canada 800-668-4748); www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/visitors.
11. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are on Atlantic time, an hour later than Eastern time. (Newfoundland/Labrador time is another half hour later.) Upon entering New Brunswick or Nova Scotia from Maine, remember that you just lost an hour.
12. Temperature in Canada is measured in degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit. Equivalents are as follows:
-10C = 14F, 0C = 32F, 10C = 50F, 20C = 68F, 30C = 86F.
13. Speed limits in Canada are in kilometers per hour, not miles per hour, and distances are measured in kilometers not miles. Equivalents are as follows: 40 KM = 25 miles, 60 KM = 37 miles, 80 KM = 50 miles, 100 KM = 62.5 miles.
14. Gasoline and other liquids are measured in liters, not gallons. Equivalents are as follows: 1 lit = .26 gal, 5 lit = 1.3 gal, 10 lit = 2.6 gal, 15 lit = 3.9 gal, 20 lit = 5.2 gal, 25 lit = 6.5 gal; 5 gal = 19 lit, 10 gal = 38 lit, 15 gal = 57 lit.
15. Air pressure in tires is measured in kilopascals, not pounds per square inch. Equivalents are as follows: 24 psi = 165 kPa, 28 psi = 193 kPa, 32 psi = 221 kPa.
16. Articles purchased at U.S. duty-free shops before entering Canada are subject to U.S. duty if brought back into the USA. Articles purchased at Canadian duty-free shops are subject to U.S. Customs exemptions and restrictions.
17. The approximate exchange rate is C$4.00 = US$3.00. Usually you will get your best exchange by using a credit card.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF U.S. CUSTOMS RE-ENTRY INFORMATION
1. As you depart the U.S., pick up the booklet providing customs regulations for U.S. residents, Know Before You Go. If you have questions, ask them at the customs office before you enter Canada.
2. Returning residents of the USA who have been in Canada at least 48 hours can bring in to the USA $400.00 per person of duty-exempt goods, if this exemption has not been used within the past 30 days. The articles must accompany you at the time of re-entry into the U.S. The individual exemptions for family members can be combined into one "family exemption" if desired so that individual articles valued in excess of $400 can be exempted.
3. Returning residents of the USA who have been in Canada less than 48 hours have a $200.00 per person exemption. These individual exemptions cannot be combined into a family exemption.
4. As a result of NAFTA, goods of Canadian origin are exempt from duty. Special instructions apply to alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars, and perfume.
5. The value of the goods is "fair retail value" as determined by the sales receipts. Keep your receipts. Duty will be charged on the value in excess of the exemptions.
6. All Canadian agricultural products, whatever their value, must be declared upon re-entering the USA.
7. For additional information, visit www.customs.gov or telephone one of the U.S. Customs offices in Washington County – Lubec (207-733-4331), Eastport (207-853-4313), Calais (207-454-3621), Vanceboro (207-788-3907).
8. Please allow sufficient time for the inspection of your vehicle (and possibly your luggage and packages) upon your return to the United States.
Revised September 2003 by The Puffin Pines Country Gift Store & Visitor Information
US 1, PO Box 99, Whiting, Maine 04691 USA. 207-733-9782. www.puffinpines.com
Local reproduction encouraged with credit to The Puffin Pines retained.