Frequently Asked Questions and Tips for Travellers

About 30 million visitors cross the border every year from the United States into Canada and an additional 18 million visitors arrive by boat or airplane from the USA and every other nation on earth. Visit the Canada Customs website for more information to make the crossing easier.

Border Crossing Update
Click here to view estimated wait times for crossing the Canada-United States borders. Border crossing wait times are updated every 10 minutes. Also see live Border Web Cams

Customs & Duties
To enter into Canada, Americans are not required to have passports. However, you must have personal identification that proves citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Some country's residents require visas. If you are unsure about any of these requirements, it is best to check with the nearest Canadian Consulate office before your trip to Canada.

For Visitors to Canada:
As a non-resident of Canada visiting Ontario, you may bring in any reasonable amount of personal effects and food, and a full tank of gas. Special restrictions or quotas apply to certain specialty goods, and especially to plant, agricultural and animal-related materials.

For more detailed information, please contact one of the following Revenue Canada offices:

Toronto, Ontario Tel: (905) 612-7937
Windsor, Ontario Tel: (519) 257-6400
Hamilton, Ontario Tel: (905) 308-8715

Duty-Free Limits for Visitors Returning to U.S.

U.S. residents returning to the United States after 48 hours can take back $400 US worth of merchandise duty free every 30 days. After a visit of less than 48 hours or if the $400 allowance or part of it has been used within the previous 30 days, an exemption of $200 U.S. is allowed.

Absence from U.S. Total Amount
(U.S. $) Alcohol Allowances Tobacco Allowances How Often?
Any Trip
(no minimum time) $200 150 ml.
(4 oz.) 10 Cigars
(non-Cuban) Daily
After
48 hours $400 1 Litre
(33.8oz.) of Liquor 1 Carton
(200 Cigarettes
and 100 Cigars (non-Cuban) Monthly

Members of a family travelling together may combine their personal exemptions except in the case of the $200 exemption. Articles brought back into the U.S. as part of an exemption must be for personal or household use. They must be brought with the person and properly declared. They must not be prohibited or restricted items. The duty charged varies on the country the article was made in and the type of article.

For further information on entering or re-entering the United States, please contact U.S. Customs.

Duty-Free Stores
Motorists crossing the U.S./Niagara border, and air travellers leaving at major airports, will find duty free shops where they can enjoy duty-free shopping for goods that are to be taken with them directly into the United States.

There are Duty-Free shops open year round. Locations and approximate hours of business are listed below.

Nearest City Location Open Phone Number Nearest U.S. Land Port
Queenston, ON Lewiston/
Queenston Bridge 24 hours Tel: (905) 262-5363 Lewiston, NY
Niagara Falls, ON Rainbow Bridge varies Tel: (905) 374-3700 Niagara Falls, NY
Fort Erie, ON Peace Bridge Plaza 24 hours Tel: (905) 871-5400 Buffalo, NY

GST Tax Rebates
The GST Visitor Rebate Program offers tax refunds to both tourists and to business travelers. Instant cash rebates can be claimed at Canadian Duty Free Stores located at international border crossings. See our GST tax rebate page

What You Should Know About Taxes
There is an 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST), a 7 % federal value-added General Services Tax (GST), special taxes on food and liquor in restaurants, and a room tax on visitor accommodation.

As a visitor you will be charged:

GST - the federal Goods and Services Tax of 6%. This is a value-added consumption tax that applies to most goods, purchased gifts, food/beverages, and services, including most hotel and motel accommodation.
PST - the Ontario provincial sales tax of 8% on any goods you buy, but not on services or accommodation.
Room Tax - a 5% provincial tax (in place of PST) on most tourist accommodation charges, as well as the 6% GST.
Food Service - In restaurants, 6% GST and 8% PST will be added to the food portion of your final bill, as well as a Liquor Service - a provincial tax on alcoholic beverages (10%, in addition to the 6% GST).

NEXUS
If you are a frequent, low risk traveller, you may be eligible for NEXUS and you will enjoy a simplified entry process while travelling back and forth across the Canada/U.S. border.

For more information about NEXUS please call:Toll free 1-866-NEXUS 26 (1-866-639-8726)

Metric Conversions
Canada is a metric nation. Here is a guide to help with the basics:

Metric Conversions for Distance and Road Speed

Metric systems are based on the metre, which is just a little over an American yard. Long distances are measured in kilometres, and road speeds in kilometres per hour (km/h). The ratio between miles and kilometres is 5/8, therefore 50 miles is 80 kilometrs.

20 mph = 30 km/h
30 mph = 50 km/h
50 mph = 80 km/h
68 mph = 110 km/h

Metric Conversions for Fuel and Other Liquids

Don't let the price at the gas station fool you. Gas is sold by the Litre, which is just over an American quart. Just remember one U.S. gallon is 3.8Liters. If you are used to putting in 10 gallons of gas in your tank, this is equivalent to 38 Litres.

Metric Conversions for Temperature

Canadians measure temperature in Celsius where Zero is the freezing point of water and 100 is the boiling point of water. When you are travelling in Canada and you hear the forecast in Celsius and you want to know what it is in Fahrenheit, remember the following:

When it's zero it's freezing,
when it's 10 it's not,
when it's 20 it's warm,
when it's 30 it's hot! Celsius Fahrenheit
10°C 50°F
20°C 68°F
25°C 77°F
30°C 86°F

Currency Exchange
Currently, the U.S. dollar enjoys a high premium in Canada. It is recommended that visitors to Niagara use Canadian funds. The rates for currency exchange vary in different establishments and there are no laws that enforce these rates of exchange. It is recommended to change your money at a bank or at a Currency Exchange Center. Banks are normally open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Casino Niagara also offers currency exchange with rates comparable to banks.

Travelers cheques should be purchased at a traveler's own bank and should specify Canadian funds. Travelers cheques should be treated as carefully as cash and converted at a bank or trust company.

Banking & Credit Cards
Most major North American credit cards are welcome in Niagara, including American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club EnRoute, Mastercard and Visa.

Automated banking machines (ATMs) with 24-hour access, and various in-store debit card services, are available across Niagara on a basis similar to the services available elsewhere in Canada and in the United States. Many support interbank cash transactions. They are located in many small and large stores, malls, banks, trust companies, and public transportation terminals. Before you leave home, check with your bank to find out what range of banking services its cards will allow you to use.

Liquor Laws
The legal minimum age for buying and consuming alcohol in the province of Ontario is 19. Beer and liquor stores are open daily and normally close at 6pm. Some evening hours are available on Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday. Also, the Sunday hours are from 11am-6pm.

Liquor Service in restaurants, bars and hotel lounges is for consumption on the premises only, and is allowed between 11am and 2am Monday to Saturday, and from noon to 2am on Sundays.

Travel Centres
Ontario Travel Information Centres are operated by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism. They are an excellent source of information for activities throughout the Niagara Region and the province of Ontario.

Provincial road maps, tourist guides and attraction brochures are just a few of the free items at your disposal. Niagara Falls travel information is also available at 1-800-ONTARIO. Canada Travel Information Centre locations are listed below:

Niagara Falls, ON 5355 Stanley Ave
Fort Erie, ON 100 Goderich St
St. Catharines, ON Westbound Q.E.W. Garden City Skyway

Useful Phone Numbers
Emergency (Entire Niagara Region) Dial 911
Ambulance: (905) 688-2191
Police Dept. (Non-Emergency): (905) 688-4111
Fire Dept: (905) 356-1321
CAA Emergency Road Service: (905) 684-4396
Hospitals: Greater Niagara General (905) 358-0171
Road Reports (905) 682-6641
Weather Reports (905) 227-3393 or
(905) 688-1847

What to Wear
The coldest months in Niagara Falls are November through March, when temperatures average between -6 and 4°C (21 and 39°F). Snowfall is abundant during the winter months. April and October are also brisk. June, July and August are balmier, with average highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows of 15°C (59°F). Keep in mind that the falls affects local weather conditions. Even on the sunniest days, visitors close to the falls can get quite wet from the mist if the wind is blowing their way. Be prepared to wear rain gear or to don dry clothing.

Months Average Temperatures
January - March between -8 and 3°C (16 and 37°F)
April - June between 1 and 23°C (34 and 73°F)
July - September between 11 and 26°C (52 and 79°F)
October - December between -6 and 13°C (21 and 55°F)