How to Fill Canada Arrival Card Online? Requirements & Customs Entry Guide

Learn how to fill out the Canada arrival card online via ArriveCAN. Discover mandatory customs requirements, entry processes, exemptions, and expert tips for international travelers.

What is the Canada Arrival Card?

The traditional paper document formerly distributed on flights—the CBSA Declaration Card—has been largely replaced by a modernized digital framework.

Today, the "Canada arrival card" is formally known as the Advance CBSA Declaration. This digital declaration allows you to answer mandatory customs and immigration questions up to 72 hours before flying into Canada. Administered through the official ArriveCAN platform (available via mobile app or web browser), the system securely transmits your details directly to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Who Needs a Canada Arrival Card?

Understanding whether you need to fill out this form is critical for a smooth border experience.

Who Should Use the Advance Declaration?

The online Advance CBSA Declaration is highly recommended for all international air travelers (including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, visa holders, and Electronic Travel Authorization [eTA] holders) arriving at major Canadian international airports.

Is It Mandatory to Fill Out Online?

No, the online ArriveCAN Advance Declaration is optional but strongly recommended.

• If you complete it online: You bypass standard queue times and can reduce your time at airport inspection kiosks by up to 50%.
• If you do not complete it online: You are not barred from entering Canada. Instead, you must manually complete your customs declaration on a physical Primary Inspection Kiosk (PIK) or eGate touchscreen immediately upon landing at the Canadian airport.

Exemptions: Who Does Not Need to Use It?

You cannot or do not need to use the Advance Declaration via ArriveCAN if you fall into these categories:

• Land or Sea Borders: The digital Advance Declaration is strictly built for air travel. If you are driving across the US-Canada border or arriving via a cruise ship/ferry, you will clear customs verbally with an officer or via designated terminal procedures.
• Connecting Passengers (ITI): If you are landing in Canada strictly to transit to another international destination without exiting the airport secure zone, you do not clear Canadian customs.
• Non-Supported Airports: If your flight lands at a smaller regional Canadian airfield that lacks automated Primary Inspection Kiosks, you will be handed a physical paper declaration form on the plane or clear customs directly with a live border agent.

Requirements for Entering Canada: Information & Documents

To successfully complete both the digital arrival card and the formal customs entry process, gather the following essentials before you start:

1. Identity & Travel Authorizations

• A Valid Passport: The baseline requirement for all international global users. Ensure it has at least 6 months of validity remaining.
• Entry Authorization: Depending on your nationality, you must possess either a valid Canadian Visa or an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) linked electronically to your passport.
• Minor Documentation: If traveling with children under 18 without both legal parents present, you must carry a signed consent letter from the non-accompanying parent(s).

2. Information Required for the Customs Entry Part

The Canadian government requires absolute transparency regarding what you bring into the country. You must be prepared to declare:

• Currency: Any cash or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 CAD (~$7,350 USD) or more (or its foreign equivalent). Failing to declare this can lead to seizure and heavy fines ranging from $250 CAD to $5,000 CAD (~$183 USD to $3,675 USD).
• Commercial Goods: Items intended for sale or business use.
• Food, Plants, & Animals: All agricultural products, meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and live animals. Canada enforces strict biosecurity laws to protect its ecosystem.
• Gifts: Any items brought as gifts for residents. Visitors enjoy a duty-free allowance for gifts valued under $60 CAD (~$44 USD) per item (excluding alcohol and tobacco).
• Controlled Items: Strict limitations apply to alcohol, tobacco products, and weapons. Cannabis—even though legal within Canada—cannot be brought across international borders under any circumstances.

All Prices subject to change, so it's just for reference.

How to Fill Out the Canada Arrival Card Online

Completing the declaration online is simple and can be completed via the mobile application or a standard desktop browser.

1.Download or Log In: Within 72 hours of departure.

Download the official ArriveCAN app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or access the web version via the official Canada.ca portal. Create a secure account using your email address.

2.Create Traveler Profiles: Scan or Input details.

Input travel identity documents manually or scan your passport page using your device's camera. You can add up to 8 travelers under a single submission if you are traveling together as a family group.

3.Answer Customs & Immigration Questions: Be entirely truthful.

Complete the questionnaire honestly. The app will ask about your trip purpose, flight details, and the custom declaration queries (currency, food, goods).

4.Submit and Save Confirmation: Receive your receipt.

Submit the form. The app will display a confirmation screen and email you a digital receipt with a reference number. You can edit this digital declaration at any point until your flight lands.

Detailed Arrival Process in Canada

What happens once wheels touch down on Canadian soil? The airport terminal flow is structured as follows:

[Flight Lands] ──> [Follow Signs to Baggage/Customs] ──> [Primary Inspection Kiosk / eGate] ──> [Baggage Claim] ──> [Final CBSA Exit Point]

• Proceed to the Border Hall: Follow the terminal signage directing you toward Customs and International Arrivals.
• Scan at the Kiosk or eGate: Locate an automated Primary Inspection Kiosk (PIK) or eGate. Solo travelers aged 14 and older can use eGates. Scan your physical passport.

• Retrieve and Certify Your Declaration: Because you completed your card online, the kiosk will instantly pull up your pre-filled ArriveCAN declaration. Review the screen, make any last-minute adjustments if your luggage contents changed, and click Certify.
• Take Your Ticket: The kiosk will print a physical paper receipt. Keep this receipt in your hand.

• Baggage and Final Clearance: Speak briefly with a Border Services Officer who checks your kiosk receipt, collect your checked luggage from the carousels, and hand your paper receipt to the exit officer as you leave the secure customs terminal.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

• The "When" Rule: Do not try to fill out the online declaration months in advance. The Advance CBSA Declaration window opens exactly 72 hours before your scheduled flight departure time to Canada.
• Avoid Third-Party Scams: The ArriveCAN app and web portal are 100% free ($0 CAD / $0 USD). Never pay a third-party website promising to process your Canada arrival card. Always use official government links ending in .gc.ca or .canada.ca.
• When in Doubt, Declare It: The absolute biggest mistake travelers make is hiding food items (like packed apples, snacks, or regional treats). If you declare an item that isn't allowed, the border agent will simply discard it. If you fail to declare it and it is found, you face automatic fines ranging from $500 CAD to $1,300 CAD (~$367 USD to $955 USD) and a permanent black mark on your travel record.
• Match Documents Exactly: Ensure the passport number typed into ArriveCAN perfectly matches the physical passport you hold at the airport kiosk. A single typo will prevent the machine from retrieving your digital file.

🔥[Discount] Canada Hotel Recommendations