List of things needed when you enter Canada at POE
You must have some documents with you enter Canada. Without these documents, you will not be allowed into Canada.
Essential documents:
a Canadian immigrant visa (if applicable) and a Confirmation of Permanent Residence for each family member travelling with you
a valid passport or other travel document for each family member travelling with you
two (2) copies of a detailed list of all goods (personal or household items) you intend to bring into Canada as settler’s effects (showing the value, make, model and serial number if the item has one). Divide the list into two sections: the goods you are bringing with you and the goods to follow. Learn more about bringing goods to Canada
Two (2) copies of a list of items that are arriving later and their money value.
Do not pack these documents in your luggage. Keep them with you at all times.
Disclosure of funds
Tell a Canadian official when you arrive in Canada if you are carrying more than CDN $10,000. If you do not tell an official, you may be fined or put in prison. These funds could be in the form of:
cash
securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
negotiable instruments in bearer form (for example, bankers’ drafts, cheques, travellers’ cheques or money orders)
Find out more about your responsibilities to disclose funds.
Customs declaration card
Before you arrive in Canada, you may be asked to complete a Customs Declaration Card. You must complete this card before you meet with customs and immigration officials, even if you are not a Canadian citizen. If you are travelling by air, it is a good idea to complete the card before you leave the airplane.
What to declare
Use the Customs Declaration Card to declare the following:
Any items that you must pay duty on, including alcohol, tobacco and gifts that you are bringing into Canada.
Any business goods, plants, food, animals, firearms or other weapons that you are bringing into Canada.
Any amount of money more than CDN $10,000 that you are bringing into Canada.
Do not use this form to list the personal and household goods that you are bringing with you or are following you to Canada. You will show your lists of those items separately to a customs officer.
Declare all items
If you do not tell an official that you are carrying items that should be declared, you may be fined or put in prison. The money you declare can be in the form of cash, securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures or treasury bills) or negotiable instruments in bearer form (for example, bank drafts, cheques, travellers cheques or money orders).
Visit the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website to find more information about Moving to Canada.
Interview
When you arrive in Canada, you will have to go through two screening interviews. If all your documents are available and in order, your interviews should be over quickly:
First interview — official documents
An officer from the CBSA will greet you. The officer will ask to see your visa and travel documents. The officer will also check to make sure that you and any family members travelling with you have the proper travel documents. The officer will inquire about your health and will ask you questions similar to those on the immigrant application form.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
Are you traveling with your family?
Have you been convicted of a serious crime in your home country?
How long do you plan to stay in Canada?
How much money do you have with you?
Are you healthy?
Have you been to Canada before? Were you required to leave?
After you complete your first interview, you will meet with another officer from the CBSA. This officer will check the items you are bringing with you. At some ports of entry, you will work with the same officer twice.
Second interview — personal goods
The second interview is for you to declare what you are bringing with you into Canada.
The officer will ask to see your declaration card. You must tell the officer you have arrived in Canada to immigrate. At this point, the officer may direct you to another area for the customs procedure.
You must give the officer the list of goods you are bringing with you and the list of goods that will be arriving later. The officer will go through both lists with you and may ask questions about some of the goods. The officer may also inspect your luggage.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
What are you bringing with you to Canada?
Do you have any live animals or plants with you?
Do you have any firearms, ammunition or fireworks with you?
Do you have any meat or dairy products with you?
Do you have any fresh fruits or vegetables with you?
Do you have any items from endangered species?
Do not give false answers
You must answer all the questions truthfully. It is a serious offence to make a false statement. If you make a false statement you may not be allowed to stay in Canada. If you are well prepared and you have no items that are not allowed in Canada, the process will go quickly.
If there are no difficulties, the officer will sign your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and authorize your entry into Canada as a permanent resident.
By the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Lord, our stamped passports have been received
