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Customs and Immigration Declaration upon returning after 3 years

M

mmahmud

Star Member
Mar 30, 2018
186
71
Hi, I am a PR returning to Canada after about three years (I know the implications of this). I found out that I will have to fill up a "Customs and Immigration Declaration" form where I need to state what goods I am bringing in and what I have purchased on my time abroad. Can you advice on this? Does someone need to declare ALL of their goods including clothes, devices and what not? Or in which cases I will have to declare something? It also says I will have to declare the values of goods I have with me which is also quite confusing.
Thanks in advance.
 
mmahmud said:
Hi, I am a PR returning to Canada after about three years (I know the implications of this). I found out that I will have to fill up a "Customs and Immigration Declaration" form where I need to state what goods I am bringing in and what I have purchased on my time abroad. Can you advice on this? Does someone need to declare ALL of their goods including clothes, devices and what not? Or in which cases I will have to declare something? It also says I will have to declare the values of goods I have with me which is also quite confusing.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Pick one of the two option:

1) Are you settling in Canada for the first time or
2) you are a former resident and returning to Canada?
 
steaky said:
Pick one of the two option:

1) Are you settling in Canada for the first time or
2) you are a former resident and returning to Canada?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. I landed already and had to return but got stuck for the Covid-19 situation. Now I am returning with a valid PR but after 3 years.
 
steaky said:
Pick one of the two option:

1) Are you settling in Canada for the first time or
2) you are a former resident and returning to Canada?
Click to expand...
So number 2. What do I put in for the total value of goods? Total of everything I have with me including clothes, personal electronics? This is quite confusing.
 
mmahmud said:
So number 2. What do I put in for the total value of goods? Total of everything I have with me including clothes, personal electronics? This is quite confusing.
Click to expand...

You have not answered my question. Did you settled in Canada after you landed in 2018 for at least a year (until 2019)? If not, you should pick number 1.
 
steaky said:
No, you are settling in Canada for the first time. So number 1.
Click to expand...
Are you referring to the online declaration when you are saying Number 1? I did not make the online declaration, I am expecting the on-flight form that is given out before landing.
 
mmahmud said:
Thanks for the reference. But can you tell me what to put in the form on the link: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/e311-eng.pdf
or am I missing something? Thanks.
Click to expand...

These forms are no longer given on flight. Instead, you would need to scan your passport, declare the customs and take a picture on the machine. Afterwards, you show your prepared settlers effect BSF186 form to the custom officer with the receipt you received from that machine.
 
Last edited:
steaky said:
These forms are no longer given on flight. Instead, you would need to scan your passport, declare the customs and take a picture on the machine. Afterwards, you show your prepared settlers effect BSF186 form to the custom officer with the receipt you received from that machine.
Click to expand...
Oh okay. Thanks so much for the information. I had no idea.
A follow up question: Do I need to prepare a list of everything I have with me?
 
mmahmud said:
Oh okay. Thanks so much for the information. I had no idea.
A follow up question: Do I need to prepare a list of everything I have with me?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can be more organised just in case they ask.
 
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