Canada acceptance of USCG Licenses and permission to work there?

[jmschmidt]

British Commonwealth countries have (or had) a special reciprocal arrangement where young people (up to late 20's I believe) could work in other Commonwealth countries. Work permits were not required, or very easy to get, and permanent residence was not needed. This is why, at one time, 35% of the employees at Whistle Blackcomb in BC were Kiwis and Aussies and about the same percentage of Canadians and Brits made up the bartending and wait-person staffs in the Commonwealth islands of the Caribbean.

For everyone else it's difficult to impossible without being a full-on landed immigrant.

[SeattleSailNPow]

So from reading above it seems someone with a US Documented and Inspected boat and USCG license could in theory take US passengers to Vancouver and return with Canadians to the US.
I wonder what (Solas? STCW) requirements would also be needed.
I also mean a person with only US citizenship.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by SeattleSailNPow

So from reading above it seems someone with a US Documented and Inspected boat and USCG license could in theory take US passengers to Vancouver and return with Canadians to the US.
I wonder what (Solas? STCW) requirements would also be needed.
I also mean a person with only US citizenship.

Transport Canada and Canada Customs may have a different view

[Mystic38]

its unclear how you make that last assumption..

picking up a bunch of canadians from a port in canada would 100% be deemed making money in canada to any reasonable viewpoint.
doing that while without the right to work, or the correct license on a vessel not certified or insured would pretty much put you into the bin of being a "canadian smuggler"

Originally Posted by SeattleSailNPow

So from reading above it seems someone with a US Documented and Inspected boat and USCG license could in theory take US passengers to Vancouver and return with Canadians to the US.
I wonder what (Solas? STCW) requirements would also be needed.
I also mean a person with only US citizenship.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by SeattleSailNPow

So from reading above it seems someone with a US Documented and Inspected boat and USCG license could in theory take US passengers to Vancouver and return with Canadians to the US.
I wonder what (Solas? STCW) requirements would also be needed.
I also mean a person with only US citizenship.

Your comment, as written, would almost certainly have problems with several Canadian and US agencies. It MIGHT be different if you were a U.S. boat picking up U.S. citizens in the U.S, going to Canada and then returning the same U.S. passengers to the U.S.

This MAY be no different than a U.S. limo driver picking up U.S. citizens in Buffalo, NY and taking them to Toronto for a ball game, then returning them to the U.S. I know that as of several years ago this was not an issue for limos. Whether the same courtesy applies to vessels is unclear but in theory, it would so long as you notify customs.

Once the lock down ends the safest bet would be to call Canada customs and ask them. I would start with the limo example since they used to do this on a regular basis, in particular for sports, casinos, and events such as birthdays, bachelor parties, etc. Once that is done, ask them if being in a boat makes a difference.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by SeattleSailNPow

So from reading above it seems someone with a US Documented and Inspected boat and USCG license could in theory take US passengers to Vancouver and return with Canadians to the US.
I wonder what (Solas? STCW) requirements would also be needed.
I also mean a person with only US citizenship.

The Canadian federal Department of Transport (DOT) has the authority to inspect any commercial vessel in Canadian waters, regardless of flag. If your operation came to their attention, you could expect a visit - and they have an awful lot of regulations they could impose on you if they think you are pulling a fast one on them. Very, very expensive!

[IslandInfedel]

Take a look under the new NAFTA, see if that’s on there as a profession.

My experience with Canada is they are VERY strict about anyone taking jobs away from Canadians

I had to go talk to one of the customs people inside once, the person at the booth couldn’t wrap her head around why I had a apartment in Canada. I explained that I lived right off the border and on my time off enjoyed going up there as my place state side was rural, see VERY quiet. The customs person asked a bunch of questions but the big point was if I was trying to work up there, I ended up explaining that I was employed in the states and had zero desire to work a second job on my time off, I asked why on earth would I take a job in Canada that pays the same as the US when their currency was worth 25-30% less, that was the end of that topic and I went along my merry way.

Canada does not like anyone who isn’t Canadian making money in Canada.

[TrentePieds]

Very sensible, don't you think? And not so very different from Canadians and all other Non-US citizens (and their employers) breaking US law if they take work or conduct business in the US without being in possession of a "green card".

But not to worry. We have dealt quite adequately with the elephant in the room (and the donkey too, for that matter) since the early 17th century, and we will no doubt continue to do so.

In the immortal words of Mae West: "Come up 'n' SEE me sometime!"

TrentePieds

[Uricanejack]

Originally Posted by SeattleSailNPow

So from reading above it seems someone with a US Documented and Inspected boat and USCG license could in theory take US passengers to Vancouver and return with Canadians to the US.
I wonder what (Solas? STCW) requirements would also be needed.
I also mean a person with only US citizenship.

Yes, you could.

The Anacortes to Sydney ferry does it every day.
It’s an international voyage.

Your vessel, and crew would have to comply with all USCG requirements for a vessel of its sise and No of pax on board. And for the voyage.
(Canada and US have reciprocal agreement re domestic vessels. not all domestic vessels can do international voyage, in all areas. they have to be Canada or US certified for the area. ie. inland waters or near coastal)

Transport Canada would have no issue.
In theory port state control could apply. For regular service, probably one annual inspection.


Canada Border Service would be interested as with any border crossings.
All persons disembarking or boarding would have to have met all requirements to enter Canada and or The US by boat.
(Canadian and US citizens are not required to cave crew visa, permanent residents? Non residents are)

Provided you declare what your are doing, no problem. Routine issue planes trains and automobiles do this every day.

[Rumrace]

An American citizen or Mexican citizen in good standing can get a work visa to Canada in hours under nafta. If you need and sections of Canadian immigration law just ask. If you are seeking go to Immigration Canada go to menu and open “Job Bank”. Enter profession and you’ll find a good number. Immigration Job bank has 80,000-150,,000 jobs. If you boat into Toronto. Pleasure boat entry was on the Islands Wards Island Ferry to starboard is a customs slip just inside the QCYC.
Driving you can apply and wait at the boarder for a work visas There are about 900,000 Americans working in Canada

[Rumrace]

“NAFTA facilitates trade as well as the movement of persons involved in the trade of goods or services. NAFTA covers foreign workers : business visitors, professionals, infra-company transferees applying only to citizens of Mexico and United States. “

<http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp:work/international/nafta.asp>


It’s pretty much bring a fishing rod.

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by Uricanejack

Quite simple answer. No.
Canada currently requires all operators of a Canadian vessel to be landed immigrants and have Canadian certificates.

Visiting vessels on international voyages have to have certificate accepted by flag state,

So an American vessel can pas through Canadian waters begine or end a voyage in Canada but not operate between tow Canadian ports.

Currently. American Sea time is accepted to qualify to write Canadian certificates.
All the exams have to rewritten.
Except for some approved additional courses which may be acceptable.
This may change if the proposed changes to manning regs are approved.
Which may provide exemptions for some of the written exams for some recognized STCW certificates.

Most smalll vessels are covered by domestic regulations and certification and are not STCW.

The minimum is a PBOC with basic marine emergency duties.

Most are SVO Small Vessel Operator.
Not hard to get.

There used to be an exemption for recognized sailing instruction for instructor with recognized associations.
I am not sure I believe the PCOC is required now in addition.

The hardest bit is the green card. Or landed Immigrant.

Sailing schools still have an exemption. We are subject to regulation but not has a passenger carrying vessel. We do have to comply with a bunch of regulation.
A charter company ( with captain ) would bet rated just like a Canadian Cruise ship operating in Canadian waters. Very expensive just to meet all requirements.

[paralog]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

One option you may want to look at is doing the RYA Yachmaster cert rather than a captains license. This qualifies you to run private charters or work as captain on a private yacht up to 80ft & 200t. The certificate is well recognized as an international cert. You cannot take 'fare paying passengers' ie run a ferry, or carry cargo. All the stuff the others have said about who can run a business in Canada is I think sound and you have to show your Canadian passport or permanent residence docs to take any transport Canada exams. I have not seen anything about USA citizens being exempt but there may be a reciprocal arrangement. To get a definitive answer to this you need to speak to Transport Canada as they are the regulator. Her is a short summary of the process for getting the first basic captains cert in Canada, as it is a 60t cert I don't think you USA 25t cert would be seen as equivalent. Master Limited 60 ton - Transport Canada Certification

RYA is not recognised in Canada for commercial purposes. You will need to do all of the Transport Canada required course like Med A3 or 2, SVOP, VHF.

[JPA Cate]

Generally speaking, working in foreign countries (even close allies) demands not only a work visa, but also appropriate licensing. Charters are licensed. If you go up there and try to combat with the locals for the fees the charterers pay, and are not similarly licensed, even kindly and polite Newfoundlanders will resent it. We saw this happen to a friend here in Oz, and it was not pretty. He didn't stay long.

Ann