Canada Travel
Canada urges March break travellers to plan ahead as border traffic rises
Ottawa: Canada’s border agency is urging travellers heading to the country during March Break to prepare in advance to avoid delays and ensure smoother crossings at airports and land borders.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said travellers should have proper documents ready, declare goods accurately and check wait times before arriving at ports of entry as travel volumes increase during the holiday period.
The advisory comes as Canada continues to see heavy cross-border travel. In 2025, CBSA officers processed more than 82 million travellers, intercepted over 83,000 kilograms of illegal drugs, and seized more than 17,700 weapons and firearms, highlighting the agency’s dual role in facilitating travel while protecting public safety.
Officials said travellers can help reduce wait times by preparing documents before reaching border inspection points. Those flying into Canada can submit customs and immigration information using the Advance Declaration system up to 72 hours before arrival at participating airports.
CBSA officers with Vancouver Police in Vancouver, BC. Photo: wikipedia.org
For people entering Canada by road, the agency recommends checking border wait times and considering alternate ports of entry with less traffic.
Early morning crossings generally experience shorter lines, while Mondays during long holiday weekends tend to be the busiest.
The CBSA also warned travellers about restricted and prohibited items. Transporting cannabis across international borders is illegal without special authorisation from Health Canada, even though cannabis is legal within Canada.
Travellers are also advised to avoid carrying items for others, declare all goods they bring into the country and leave firearms and prohibited weapons at home unless they comply with strict import rules.
Officials added that travellers entering Canada with children who are not their own should carry a consent letter from the child’s parents or legal guardians to avoid delays during inspection.
The agency said being transparent with border officers and declaring all items brought into Canada can significantly speed up the inspection process.
“Knowing what you need to enter Canada will help ensure a smoother border crossing experience,” the CBSA said, encouraging travellers to review border rules before starting their trip.
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