Finding information about visiting Canada with a boat can be difficult even with the internet.  Here is information for Boaters and others visiting Canada.  This information is geared to boating because boaters have very specific safety and operator requirements when bringing a boat into or operating a boat in Canada.

Ministry of Transport – Safe Boating Guide

What you need to know about  operating a boat in Canada, including educational requirements and Canada’s Pleasure Craft Operator Card (Operators “License”)  requirements and equivalency requirements for foreign visitors.

Office of Boating Safety
(604)-666-2681
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-menu-1362.htm

Safety Equipment Required for your Pleasure Craft

http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/marinesafety/TP-511e.pdf – (5.6 MB File)

Canadian Coast Guard

Notice to Mariners / Special Notice to Mariners
Notice of updates to charts and other publications
https://www.notmar.gc.ca/go.php?doc=eng/index

 Canadian Weather

Canadian Weather Home
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html

Official Text Marine Forecasts for the Pacific waters
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/forecast/textforecast_e.html?Bulletin=fqcn13.cwvr

Canadian Tides, Currents and Water Levels

(613)-998-4931
http://tides.gc.ca/eng

CANPASS – Private Boats

CANPASS permit holders who wish to enter Canada aboard private boats from the United States to receive pre-authorized customs clearance.
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/canpass_private_boats.shtml

NEXUS

The NEXUS program allows low-risk pre-approved travelers to use designated NEXUS border crossings without being subject to regular questioning by customs and immigration officers.

General NEXUS information
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/nexus_highway.shtml

NEXUS Home
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

Canadian Ports of Entry

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/indextype48-e.html

Who is eligible to visit Canada?

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/jamaica-jamaique/visas/visit_eligible_visite.aspx?view=d

British Columbia Key Travel Information

Guidance on what you can and can’t bring into Canada
http://www.hellobc.com/british-columbia/about-bc/key-travel-information.aspx

Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Restrictions on Bringing Food Into Canada

Home Page
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/visitor-to-canada/eng/1389644337592/1389644527136

Restriction on imports from US States affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/imports/travellers/restriction-on-imports/eng/1421341696172/1421341727507

What Can I Bring Into Canada in Terms Of Food, Plant, Animal and Related Products?
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990

Recreational Fishing in the Pacific Region

(866)-341-3474
(This includes the 2011 – 2013 Tidal Water Sport Fishing Guide
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.htm

Fresh Water Fishing Guide – for fishing in lakes and rivers in British Columbia

(250)-751-3100
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/

Observe, Record and Report (24 hour reporting line)

Reporting fishing violations.

(800)-465-4336
(604)-607-4186  in Greater Vancouver area
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/points/ORR-ONS-eng.htm

Canada Border Services Agency (Customs)

(800)-461-9999
Outside of Canada (204)-983-3500
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca

Province of British Columbia – Conservation Officer Service

Environmental Protection and to report Poachers and Polluters.
(250)-356-9234
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/

International Pacific Halibut Commission

(206) 634-1838
http://www.iphc.int/

BC Hunting Regulations

(800)-663-7867
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/

Working Near Water in British Columbia

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/habitat/index-eng.htm

The fine folks at the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada had a handout at the Seattle Boat Show with useful information for boaters and sportsmen visiting Canada.  A special thanks to them for the original list and Lee Youngblood for helping add more information for boaters.

Disclaimer / Note: This is not intended to be all the resources that might be needed by a visitor to Canada, each person entering a foreign country may have unique entry or visa  requirements, it is the responsibility of each person visiting a foreign country to do the due diligence and research for their own requirements.  This information was accurate at the time of publication but may have changed since publication.

Thanks for your support of Boating Safety.

– c / m –