How to use these checklists
Each checklist fits on one page. Print the one for your direction, tick items off as you pack, and keep it with your documents. For the reasons behind each item, read the full guide for your direction.
RV Camping Canada · rvcampingcanada.ca
Entering Canada with an RV: checklist
For travellers coming from the United States. Details are in our guide to crossing the border into Canada.
Date: ______________ Crossing: ____________________ Travellers: ________
Before you leave
- Passport (recommended), or proof of citizenship plus photo ID for U.S. citizens; visas checked for other nationalities
- Children's consent letters and custody papers, if travelling without both parents
- Vehicle registration and proof of insurance, with Canadian coverage confirmed in writing
- Rental agreement that allows travel into Canada, or lender permission
- Pet rabies certificate signed by a vet
- Roadside assistance that works in Canada; phone roaming checked
- Tires, brakes, and hitch inspected
Pack and declare
- Food plan: declare all meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, and plants
- No firewood
- Alcohol within one of: 1.5 L wine, 1.14 L liquor, or 8.5 L beer (legal age 18 in AB, MB, QC; 19 elsewhere)
- Tobacco within: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 g tobacco
- No cannabis; no handguns; no pepper spray made for people; bear spray labelled for animals declared
- Rifles or shotguns only: RCMP 5589 completed but NOT signed, C$25 fee, signed in front of the officer
- Currency of C$10,000 or more declared
At the border
- Wait times checked and a morning crossing planned
- Everyone's documents together and within reach of the driver
- Propane valves and appliances handled (see our propane guide)
- Answer questions directly and honestly
- If you are unsure whether to declare something, declare it
- Phones and laptops can be examined by officers
Official sources: Canada Border Services Agency (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca), border wait times (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/bwt-taf), RCMP firearms (rcmp.ca/en/firearms), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (canada.ca).
Last updated September 2026. Rules, fees, and limits change, so confirm anything that matters to you on the official sites above before you travel.
RV Camping Canada · rvcampingcanada.ca
Entering the USA with an RV: checklist
For Canadians heading south, including the trip home. Details are in our guide to crossing the border into the USA.
Date: ______________ Crossing: ____________________ Travellers: ________
Before you leave
- Passport, NEXUS or FAST card, or enhanced driver's licence, valid for your whole stay
- Children's consent letters and custody papers, if it applies
- Vehicle registration and proof of insurance, with U.S. coverage confirmed in writing
- Travel medical insurance for everyone
- Rental agreement that allows travel into the USA, or lender permission
- Dogs: CDC Dog Import Form receipt, microchip, at least 6 months old. Cats: healthy; check state rules
- Staying 30 days or more? Plan your I-94 or USCIS registration (Form G-325R); NEXUS admissions count as registered. Keep a log of your days
Pack and declare
- Declare all food, plants, and pet food
- No citrus fruit; no firewood; meat no more than 50 lb; poultry subject to current restrictions
- Alcohol: up to 1 L if you are 21 or older
- Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 2 kg smoking tobacco; gifts up to US$100
- No cannabis, even if it is legal where you are going
- No firearms or ammunition (ATF Form 6NIA needed for hunting or sport); sprays declared
- More than US$10,000 in currency reported
At the border, and on the way home
- Wait times checked (CBP) and a morning crossing planned
- Documents ready; answer honestly; declare when unsure
- Keep receipts for everything you buy and every repair
- Back in Canada, declare purchases and RV repairs or parts
- Exemptions: 24 h = C$200, no alcohol or tobacco; 48 h or 7 days = C$800; they cannot be combined
- No cannabis back into Canada; declare any firearms
Official sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov), border wait times (bwt.cbp.gov), I-94 (i94.cbp.dhs.gov), USCIS registration (uscis.gov/alienregistration), USDA (aphis.usda.gov), CDC dogs (cdc.gov/importation/dogs), CBSA returning residents (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).
Last updated September 2026. Rules, fees, and limits change, so confirm anything that matters to you on the official sites above before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I print just one checklist?
Press the Print this checklist button under the one you want, or download its PDF. Pressing Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P) on the page prints both, each on its own sheet.
Can I save the checklist to my phone?
Yes. Download the PDF and save it to your phone's files or your travel app, so you have it even without cell service at the border.
Are the checklists up to date?
They were last updated in September 2026. Border rules and limits change, so each sheet lists the official sources to confirm against before you travel.
Official sources
Rules, fees, and services change. Check these directly before you travel.