Is a passport required for an overnight anchorage in Canada?

[SeaMarie168]

First time poster. Planning to cruise north on Detroit River and charts show some nice anchorages on Canadian side of river. Is a passport required if not planning to visit marinas or go ashore?

[s/v Beth]

If you bury your anchor in Canadian soil you are no longer passage making and considered in Canadian territory. If they decide to visit you (Canadian Border Guard) you could be in big trouble. I have heard of people waved over on the high seas, but I don't really think river navigation is all that risky.
I found out this the hard way near Sidney BC. They threatened to take my boat and everything in it. I had my passport and all things in order (just hadn't checked in yet)

[deblen]

Travellers - Reporting requirements for private boaters


Don't forget to check with US customs as you may be considered "returning" from Canada by US CBP under some conditions.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/pleasure-...-boat-overview

[deblen]

Link to Public FB group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2687...?ref=bookmarks

This FB Group contains many useful links for cruising Canadian waters.
Check the Files at top of group for links. (You may have to join-it is Public so far.

Cheers/Len

[Mike OReilly]

You need to clear in through customs as soon as you touch land. Anchoring or mooring is considered touching land.

Technically speaking Canada does not require Americans to show a passport to enter our country. Other official id will still suffice. However, the USA demands that everyone have a passport to enter ... even its own citizens. So you can come here without your passport. You just can't go back home.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

You need to clear in through customs as soon as you touch land. Anchoring or mooring is considered touching land.

Technically speaking Canada does not require Americans to show a passport to enter our country. Other official id will still suffice. However, the USA demands that everyone have a passport to enter ... even its own citizens. So you can come here without your passport. You just can't go back home.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

We're so nice!!

[Stu Jackson]

I stumbled on this while looking for other Canada info:

Pat's Boating in Canada

[valhalla360]

They generally won't bother you if you cross a little into Canadian waters while under way. In fact it's almost impossible for most sailboats to get past the Blue Water bridge without hugging the Canadian side due to the current.


But digging your anchor in is considered being in Canada. Same rules as if you pulled into a marina.

[Dave Lochner]

Our friends to the north can take things seriously, especially when it comes to catching fish in Canadian waters.

See: Canadians expected to clarify their border enforcement policies today on St. Lawrence River | syracuse.com

If you plan to travel to Canada frequently, get a Nexus Card. You'll need to get a passport first.

Once you have the Nexus card you'll be enrolled in the Trusted Traveller Program and can use the TSA Pre-Check lines at the airport and faster lanes when crossing the border.

NEXUS Pass Application | USA Immigration Visa & Travel

[hamburking]

Pre-911 this was not an issue at all.
Unfortunately, now it is.

As others have stated already, technically you should check in.

Around here its actually a huge issue. There is a great beach at Big Sandy Bay (Canadian side), which is very close to the American side south of Kingston. American power boats flock there in the summer...but there is no place to check in...its a wilderness park. What to do? I think most of the boats just go anyway, and if anything official looking shows up, they just raise the anchor and float. On long weekends there will easily be over 100 boats there...its a beautiful beach.

[George DuBose]

I seem to recall that checking in with Canadian immigration just required a phone call.

TSA is just a way to give 62,000 morons a job alternative to working at McDonalds.

[Gareth Hughes]

I always travel with my passport.

[scareygary]

I just returned from an international sailboat race from Oregon to B.C. One guy on the ferry home had no passport, but some sort of government i.d. He'd just changed his name, as well, so we expected some trouble. He got in. One of my other crew got back in with an 'enhanced driver's license' and no passport. Frankly, I don't go to Canada and back without it. Yes, we often check in by phone in Canada, especially when finishing the race in the middle of the night, but one still needs official documentation.....or risk big trouble.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Dave Lochner

Our friends to the north can take things seriously, especially when it comes to catching fish in Canadian waters.

See: Canadians expected to clarify their border enforcement policies today on St. Lawrence River | syracuse.com

If you plan to travel to Canada frequently, get a Nexus Card. You'll need to get a passport first.

Once you have the Nexus card you'll be enrolled in the Trusted Traveller Program and can use the TSA Pre-Check lines at the airport and faster lanes when crossing the border.

NEXUS Pass Application | USA Immigration Visa & Travel

Thank you Dave.This is mainly for Canadians entering USA.
What I don't like about it is that the application process requires a Canadian to send their passport to US CBP for up to 3 mos. during the application process-as I read it. No thanks!

For entry by US citizens to Canada-we have the CanPass system.
US citizens need only send COPIES of their ID to Canadian Customs (CBSA)

CANPASS - Private Boats

Correct me if I'm wrong please.

/ Len

[Stu Jackson]

Waggoners Guide, now available online also details requirements.