U.S. residents or citizens moving or transporting personal belongings through Canada to another state in the U.S.

If you are an U.S. citizen or resident moving or transporting your personal equipment, household and/or personal effects in-transit through Canada from one U.S. State to another, you will encounter Customs in the U.S. and Canada.

Customs in both countries will enforce their regulations and may want to inspect your goods to determine admissibility. (In most cases, the below described process is very similar for Canadians transiting the U.S. with household effects.)

There are measures you can take prior to leaving the U.S. with your belongings to assist both customs authorities in determining the goods' admissibility and to avoid complications when clearing Customs in Canada and the U.S.

1. Prepare an inventory list of the items you are transporting and present it when you declare your goods to the Canadian Customs (going into Canada) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers (when reentering the U.S.).

2. Present documentation to the Canadian Customs officer to prove you do not intend to stay in Canada. For example, if you are moving to another U.S. State for employment reasons, a letter of employment can be presented to Canadian Customs. A new signed lease or mortgage for a new house in the U.S. would also be sufficient proof of your intent.

3. Register any equipment with serial numbers on a Certificate of Registration form (CBP 4457) with an U.S. CBP officer prior to leaving the U.S. You must physically take the equipment to a CBP Port of Entry and have a CBP Officer fill out the form and stamp it. You will need to present the form when you reenter the U.S. with the equipment (if you have sales receipts for these items, you do not have to register them with CBP, but make sure you have the receipts handy).

4. Avoid taking items that are restricted or prohibited from entering Canada. For instance, household plants and dirt generally can enter Canada temporarily. However, under no circumstances can outdoor plants or firewood enter Canada.  Additionally, firearms are restricted and / or prohibited from entering Canada and require licensing and registration requirements.  The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for deciding whether to let a non-resident bring a firearm into Canada. As a general rule, non-residents may bring a non-restricted rifle or shotgun into Canada for approved purposes such as hunting, target shooting, wilderness protection or in-transit movement by a reasonably direct route to another point outside Canada. Restricted firearms (mainly handguns and some semi-automatic long guns) can generally only be imported if the person can demonstrate a need for having the firearms in Canada ? for example to take part in an organized target-shooting event.   For more information on the documents you will need to import a firearm, please refer to the fact sheet for firearm owners visiting Canada.

If you are planning on moving to Canada and would like to bring your firearm, please refer to the fact sheet for Firearm Owners Moving to Canada.

5. Avoid purchasing goods in Canada that are restricted or prohibited from entering the U.S. For instance, lamb and sheep products are not admissible at this time; neither is pet food containing lamb and/or sheep. Also, citrus or tropical fruits purchased in Canada are prohibited. Fruit and vegetables that are grown in Canada, such as apples, peaches, etc, may be admissible, but must be declared and presented for examination.

Meats, meat products, and animal by-products from ruminant animals of Canadian origin are PROHIBITED. This includes frozen, cooked, canned or otherwise processed products containing beef, veal, or lamb. This rule also applies to homemade foods, such as lasagna, stews, chili, spaghetti sauce and sandwiches that you may have in your vehicle for consumption while traveling. See below for exception. Ruminants include cows, sheep, and goats.

Hunter-harvested bison, buffalo, goat, antelope, musk ox, sheep, or yak which are eviscerated, headless, and accompanied by a valid hunting license are enterable. If not hunter-harvested, these animals are prohibited.

Caribou, deer, elk, moose, and reindeer are enterable with or without head and eviscerated or not eviscerated, provided that the type of animal can be determined or proven with documentation.

All pet foods made in Canada are PROHIBITED. Pet foods in original packaging clearly labeled "Product of U.S.A." or "Made in the U.S.A." are enterable.

Meats and meat products (fresh, frozen, or cooked) from swine, poultry, or fish of Canadian origin are enterable. Quantities over 50 pounds require inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service.

Hard cheese without meat is enterable from all countries.

Other dairy products for human consumption of Canadian origin are enterable.

When entering Canada, you will not be required to fill out a declaration. The inventory list will be sufficient. However, you may be required to fill out a Customs declaration CBP 6059B when returning to the U.S. It would be helpful to present the inventory list as well. If you registered equipment prior to leaving the U.S., present the certificate of registration.

Any purchases acquired while you were in Canada must be declared on the CBP 6059B. These items may be subject to duty, unless you stayed in Canada for 48 hours or more, in which case you will be eligible for an $800 duty-free personal exemption. The next $1,000 worth of your purchases will be subject to a flat rate of 3%. The duty rate for goods purchased valued over $1,800, will be subject to duty rates in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). If you were in Canada for less than 48 hours, you will be eligible for a $200 exemption. The remaining value will be subject to duty rates in the HTS.

For additional information on U.S. regulations, you should reference our publication Know Before You Go.

For additional information on Canadian regulations, you should can contact Canadian Customs at (519) 257-6510 or visit their Website.

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