Canada Immigration Check – Know Here What Happens At Airport

Last Updated On 25 April 2023, 8:37 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

When you arrive in Canada as an immigrant for the first time, you will have to undergo two screening interviews.

This interview process can be quick if you have all your paperwork and information is in order as well as you are aware of the information mentioned in this article. 

Overview of the immigration check at Canada Airports 

First interview: verifying official documents 

During your first interview, a CBSA officer will:

• Greet and welcome you 
• Request for your visa and travel documents. 
• Verify that you and any accompanying family members have proper travel documents 
• Ask about your health 
• May ask you questions similar to those on your immigrant application form, including:
  • Are you travelling 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 your first interview, you will meet another CBSA officer who will check the items you bring. You may work with the same officer twice at some ports of entry. 

Second interview: personal goods

During the second interview, you must declare what items you bring into Canada. The officer will request to see your declaration card to check what you are bringing to Canada. 

Then, you must inform the officer that you have arrived in Canada to immigrate. After that, the officer may direct you in another direction for the customs process.

You must provide the officer with a list of the items you carry with you and those that will arrive later. You and the officer will go over both lists, and they could ask you questions regarding some of the items. The officer could also inspect your bags.

Here are some of the questions the officer may ask, What are you bringing with you to Canada? Furthermore, they may also ask do you have any:

• live animals or plants with you?
• firearms, ammunition or fireworks with you?
• meat or dairy products with you?
• fresh fruits or vegetables with you?
• items from endangered species?

Newcomers to Canada – Here Are Free Services You Should Know

Always Remember – Never provide misleading information

Answer all questions as truthfully as possible. Because, providing misleading or false information is a serious crime in Canada. So, you may not be allowed to stay in Canada if you make a false statement. 

However, the process will be swift if you are well prepared and don’t bring any prohibited things into Canada.

The officer will sign your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and approve your admission into Canada as a permanent resident if there are no issues.

Bringing personal goods to Canada 

You can bring your personal and household belongings duty-free while moving to Canada from another country. However, any unopened goods you bring will be subject to duty charges.

Generally, when goods enter Canada, the government charges a fee for those new goods called a duty. 

However, you do not have to pay duty on the following items: 

• books
• linens
• clothes
• jewellery
• antiques
• furniture
• silverware
• musical instruments
• gifts worth CDN $60 or less each
• hobby tools and other hobby items
• private collections of coins, stamps or art
• appliances, such as a stove or refrigerator

However, you do have to pay duty on the following items:

• farm equipment
• equipment you plan to use in:
  • contracting
  • construction
  • manufacturing
• vehicles you plan to use for business
• items you have bought on your way to Canada
• items you have leased or rented
  • Leased or rented items are not considered as things that you own 

Bring your sales receipts and registration paperwork if you’re unsure about paying duty on particular items.

Wedding gifts

You can bring your wedding gifts without paying duty if you:

• get married within three months of arriving in Canada
• have plans to marry no later than three months after you arrive 

Nevertheless, you must have owned the goods before you arrived in Canada. The same rules apply to domestic items brought in as wedding presents.

Tobacco and alcohol

If you bring alcohol or cigarettes, you may be required to pay duty. Learn more about the restrictions that apply to these items.

Bringing Vehicles to Canada

Vehicles brought into Canada for personal use are duty-free. However, there may be some restrictions. For example, cars must comply with Canadian safety and pollution control regulations.

Learn more about vehicle importation into Canada.

Items that are restricted In Canada

There are different rules for bringing firearms into Canada depending on whether you are:

• Permanent resident 
• Plan to move to Canada 

In addition, bringing endangered species, animals, and plants into Canada is prohibited. 

Jewellery or valuable ornaments

During customs interviews, officers may inquire about your jewellery or precious ornaments. So make sure to include these things in your list of goods. To avoid customs delays while entering Canada:

• Use your insurance policy wording or jeweller’s appraisal on your list of goods.
• Add photographs of the items.
• Have a receipt showing how much you paid for the item
  • Family heirlooms are exempt from duty or tax 

Gifts

Ensure that you declare all gifts to the Canada Border Services Agency. You: 

• May bring gifts worth CAD 60 or less each duty-free and tax-free
• have to pay duties and taxes on any gift over CAD 60 
• Can’t bring tobacco and alcohol as gifts

Source: IRCC

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