For detailed information on requirements and restrictions, contact the United States Customs Service at (906) 632-2631 or Canada Customs Service at (705) 941-3063.

View the Bridge Webcam.

Crossing the border is reasonably easy. As of June 1, 2009, however, you are required to present a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license, NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI card, U.S. Merchant Mariner Documentation or U.S. Military Identification. For more information on travel documents, visit the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Please answer all questions truthfully and completely. Click here for the U.S. Border website. Please contact them with specific questions.

Clearing Customs

Everyone crossing the border is required to speak to a customs officer to answer a few questions that establish your citizenship and clarify the purpose for your trip. You are required to have photo identification for yourself and birth certificates for any children traveling with you. Proper identification includes a birth certificate, passport, citizenship card, a record of landing or a certificate of Indian status.

You must also declare all goods you will leave behind, including all gifts.

Firearms

All firearms must be declared at the Canadian border.

Other Imported Goods

Please check with the Canadian Border.

When returning home, you’ll be required to clear Customs Service and declare all articles you acquired abroad. If you are bringing large or expensive items for use during your trip that you’ll be taking back with you (such as snow machines, skis, cameras, etc.), it’s a good idea to register them with Customs before you leave the country – or have proof-of-purchase with you to ensure easy clearance on your return trip.

For detailed information on requirements and restrictions, contact the United States Customs Service at (906) 632-2631 or Canada Customs Service at (705) 941-3063. The International Bridge Authority phone number is (906) 635-5255. Also see the “Know Before You Go” brochure created by U.S. Customs.

Effective June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 16 and older should no longer expect that they will be able to prove identity and citizenship by relying on an oral declaration alone. Instead, travelers will be asked to present documents from the list below when entering the United States at land or sea ports of entry. Travelers who do not present one of the documents listed may be delayed as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers attempt to verify their identity and citizenship.

U.S. and Canadian Citizens-Single Document Option:

U.S. or Canadian Passport, U.S. Passport Card (available Spring 2008), Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST), State or Provincial Issued Enhanced Driver’s License, Enhanced Tribal Cards, U.S. Military I.D. w/ Military Travel Orders, U.S. Merchant Mariner Document, Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Card.

U.S. and Canadian Citizens-Two Document Option:

All U.S. and Canadian citizens who do not have one of the documents from the list above must present both an identification and citizenship document from the lists below:

Identification Document:

Enhanced Driver’s License or I.D. card issued by federal, state, provincial, county, territory, or municipal authority.

U.S. or Canadian military identification card w/ Military Travel Orders. All documents must have photo, name, and date of birth.

Citizenship Document:

U.S. or Canadian birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory or municipal authority, U.S. Consular report of birth abroad, U.S. Certificate of Naturalization, U.S. Certificate of Citizenship, U.S. Citizen Identification Card, Canadian Citizenship Card.

Procedures for Children:

Effective January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizen children ages 15 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, or municipal authority

For more information:

Contact http://www.cbp.gov/, or call (906) 635-5255.

Customs officials will ask where you live and your citizenship as well as how long you have been in Canada, and if you have made any purchases or are bringing anything back with you. If you are bringing items back that you purchased, be sure to tell them and show your receipts.
If you have been in Canada for less than 48 hours, even if it was just for an hour or two, you are entitled to bring back $200 (U.S.) worth of goods, duty free. If your goods total more than the $200 maximum, you will pay duty on everything, not just on the overage amount. Keep your receipts. If you have been away for more than 48 hours, you are allowed to bring back $400 worth of goods duty free.

For more specific information on crossing the border, it may be wise to pay the customs office a visit before crossing into Canada. There is a public entrance to Customs off of West Portage Ave.
If you have other questions or concerns, please contact the following: Canadian Customs & Revenue Agency 1 (800) 622-6232 or 1 (800) O-CANADA. 24-Hour Customs information can be found at the Sault, Ontario entry, or at 1 (705) 941-3063