Being aware of the CBSA declaration questions is important when traveling to Canada. These questions are designed to be answered truthfully and accurately on the CBSA declaration form before your arrival. By completing and answering these questions to the best of your ability, you can help ensure a smooth entry into Canada.
Here are the questions you’ll encounter in the Advance CBSA Declaration form:
- Which Country are you traveling from?
- Arrival Airport.
- Date of Arrival.
- Time of Arrival in Canada.
- Intended days of stay in Canada.
- Do you exceed your visitor allowances?
- Which Document would you like to register?
- Document Issuing Country.
- Document Number.
- Surname.
- Given Name.
- Date of Birth.
- Where do you live?
- Purpose of Visit?
There is also a declaration page in the form, which includes the following questions:
- Are you bringing firearms or other weapons into Canada?
- Are you bringing commercial goods to Canada?
- Will you be bringing any food, plants, or animals?
- Do you have any animals, plants, or food items besides chocolates, granola bars, coffee, trail mix, ground spices, and smoked/dry fish?
- Will you bring currency or monetary instruments totaling CAN$ 10,000 or more into Canada?
- Did you have any unaccompanied goods, apart from your checked baggage?
- Did you visit a farm and will be going to a farm in Canada?
- Are you bringing cannabis or goods containing cannabis?
The Advance Declaration is a service that can be availed by travelers who are arriving at specific Canadian international airports.
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) (Terminals 1 and 3)
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Using this, you can submit your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours before you arrive in Canada.1 This helps you to clear the border more quickly and easily. If you are interested in using this service, please note that it is available at Visas for Future.
What We’re Offering
International travelers entering Canada can complete the customs declaration upon their arrival at the airport, but it is more convenient to complete it online in advance. Our processing service will mail you your Advance Canada Border Services Agency Declaration within one business day.
- Advance Canada Border Services Agency Declaration is not a visa and does not replace a Canadian visa.2
- It is single-entry.
- It costs $56.24.
- Valid 72 hours after submission.1
Why choose us
Our forms are easy and simple.
We validate your application.
We answer your questions.
We plant a tree!
What is the advance CBSA declaration?
The Canada Advance CBSA Declaration is an optional customs and immigration document that a traveler, including children, needs to provide at the airport. Canada Advance CBSA Declaration is not a visa and does not replace a Canadian visa. If a traveler’s nationality requires a visa, he/she must obtain one. International travelers entering Canada can complete the customs declaration upon their arrival at the airport, but it is more convenient to complete it online in advance.3
What are the questions that are asked in the Advance CBSA Declaration form?
The Advance CBSA declaration questions include:
- Your travel identity document information (passport or Canadian permanent resident card)
- Your flight number and arrival date
- Your country of residence and citizenship
- Your purpose of travel and length of stay
- Your contact information in Canada
- Your goods to declare, such as currency, food, plants, animals, firearms, or commercial goods
- Your exemptions, such as alcohol, tobacco, or gifts
- Your eligibility questions include criminal record, communicable disease, or previous violation of immigration law.
Here is the sample CBSA form provided by Visas for Future:
Where can I use the Canada Advance CBSA Declaration?
The Canada Advance CBSA Declaration is currently available at the following airports in Canada:2
- Atlantic Region
- St. John’s International Airport (YYT)
- Quebec Region
- Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Ontario Region
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
- Manitoba Region
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
- Alberta Region
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- British Columbia Region
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
How do you answer the questions in the Advance CBSA Declaration form?
To answer the questions in the form, you need to follow these steps:
- Confirm your travel identity document information (passport or Canadian permanent resident card)
- Answer the customs and immigration questions truthfully, such as where you are coming from, what you bring into Canada, and your contact information.
- Submit the declaration 72 hours before arriving in Canada.
- When you land, scan your travel document at the airport kiosk or eGate, review and edit your declaration if needed, and take the receipt to a border services officer.
Tips for answering the question in the Advance CBSA Declaration form
Here are the tips on answering the questions in the Advance CBSA Declaration form:
- Be truthful and accurate: This is the most important tip. Misinformation or omitting details can lead to delays, fines, or even denial of entry into Canada.
- Read carefully: Don’t rush through the questions. Take your time to understand what each question is asking and provide the most relevant information.
- Gather documents: Have your travel documents, receipts, and other relevant paperwork readily available if you need to present them to a border service officer.
- Declare everything: Be honest about what you bring into Canada, even if you think it’s insignificant. This includes food, alcohol, tobacco, currency, plants, animals, and goods exceeding the duty-free limit.
- Use clear and concise language: Avoid unnecessary jargon or abbreviations. Stick to simple, factual answers.
- Proofread before submitting: Double-check your answers for typos or inconsistencies before finalizing your declaration.
- Save your confirmation: Keep a copy of your declaration receipt for your records. This may be helpful if you need to reference it later.
- Update your declaration if needed: If your travel plans or answers change before you arrive in Canada, update your declaration through the ArriveCAN app or kiosk.
How do you fill out the declaration form at the Canadian airport?
- Obtain the form
- If you haven’t submitted an Advance CBSA Declaration, you’ll receive a paper Declaration Card on the flight or at the airport before landing.
- Have a pen ready to fill it out.
- Fill out the personal information.
- Print your full name, date of birth, and passport details.
- Indicate your citizenship and country of residence.
- Provide your flight information (airline, flight number, arrival airport).
- Include your contact information (email address, phone number).
- If applicable, fill in your home address in Canada.
- Answer the travel details
- State the purpose of your travel to Canada.
- Specify the length of your intended stay.
- List any countries you’ve visited in the past 14 days.
- Mention any previous visits to Canada within the past year.
- Declare goods and items
- Accurately list any goods you’re bringing into Canada, including:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Food
- Plants
- Animals
- Currency or monetary instruments (over CAD 10,000)
- Firearms or weapons
- Commercial goods
- Accurately list any goods you’re bringing into Canada, including:
- Complete the health declaration
- Describe your current health status.
- Indicate any symptoms of illness you may have.
- Specify if you’ve had contact with anyone who has a communicable disease.
- Provide your COVID-19 vaccination status, if applicable.
- Customs declaration
- Declare whether you have anything to declare.
- State the value of goods you’re bringing into Canada.
- Confirm whether you have any prohibited or restricted items.
- Review and submit
- Carefully review your answers for accuracy and completeness.
- Sign and date the declaration form.
- Proceed to the Primary Inspection Kiosk, eGate (if available), or a border services officer.
Here is the sample CBSA card you can fill out at the airport.4
Frequently Asked Questions
What items need to be declared at customs?
When entering Canada, you may need to declare certain items at customs depending on the type of item, the country you’re coming from, and your previous activities. All food, plant, and animal products require declaration, regardless of the quantity or value. Amounts exceeding CAD$10,000 and any goods intended for commercial use must be declared. Declare alcohol, tobacco, goods, and gifts exceeding specific values. Check the CBSA website for a list of prohibited or restricted items.
What happens if you forget to declare something at customs?
If you forget to declare something at customs in Canada, the consequences can vary depending on several factors, including:
The nature of the undeclared item:
Prohibited or restricted items: This can be very serious, potentially leading to the seizure of the item, fines, and even criminal charges.
Duty-free allowances: For exceeding allowed quantities of alcohol, tobacco, or other goods, you may face fines and have to pay applicable duties and taxes.
Food, plants, and animals: Undeclaring these items can result in seizure, fines, and even quarantine for further inspection.
Other non-prohibited items: For forgetting to declare something with no restrictions, you may receive a warning or a small fine, especially if it was an honest mistake.
- Government of Canada, C. B. S. A. (2022, September 26). Government of Canada. ArriveCAN: Advance CBSA Declaration. www.cbsa-Asfc.gc.ca. Retrieved January 29, 2024,<https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/multimedia/declaration/menu-eng.html> [↩] [↩]
- Government of Canada, C. B. S. A. (2022, September 26). Government of Canada. ArriveCAN: Advance CBSA Declaration. www.cbsa-Asfc.gc.ca. Retrieved January 29, 2024, <https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/multimedia/declaration/menu-eng.html> [↩] [↩]
- Canada, P. H. A. of. (2020, November 2). COVID-19: Use ArriveCAN to enter Canada. www.canada.ca. Retrieved January 29, 2024<https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/services/arrivecan.html> [↩]
- Duration of stay in Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2024,<https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/e311-eng.pdf> [↩]
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Written by
Apple Gajes 
Apple is a skilled content writer of Visas For Future who had a bachelor's degree in Education. She does well at producing high-quality visa articles and continuously upgrading her skills by actively engaging herself to various courses and training opportunities. She also contributes to travel forms and visa fulfillment in Turkey and India. Committed to writing exceptional visa articles, she performs real visa orders and provides customer support quarterly to stay abreast of the visa processing process.
Managed by Glen Vidania
Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
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Gajes, Apple. "Advance CBSA Declaration Questions." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/advance-cbsa-declaration-questions/. Accessed on 23 October 2023.
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Gajes, Apple. "Advance CBSA Declaration Questions." Visas For Future. October 23, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/advance-cbsa-declaration-questions/.