Canadian immigration for Thai travellers: CBSA inspection, officer questions, declaring Thai food and transiting to the US
Knowing the steps before you land makes the Canadian border quicker. This guide covers kiosks, ArriveCAN, common questions and what to declare.
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- On arrival in Canada, travellers complete their declaration at a CBSA Primary Inspection Kiosk or eGate at major airports, or with an officer, then answer short questions about the trip.
- The CBSA says travellers must declare all food, plants, animal and related products, which includes Thai items such as chili paste and dried snacks.
- Taking cannabis across the Canadian border is a criminal offence without a Health Canada permit, even if it is legal in Thailand or in Canada.
When you land in Canada, you complete your declaration at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Primary Inspection Kiosk or eGate at major airports, or with an officer, then answer questions about your trip. Declare all food, plants and animal products, report large sums of cash, and never carry cannabis across the border.
What happens at Canadian immigration when you land?
The main step is CBSA primary inspection, which combines immigration and customs. The border officer decides how long you may stay; most visitors can stay up to 6 months.
- 1Follow the signsLeave the aircraft and follow Arrivals and Border Services signs to the inspection hall.
- 2Complete your declarationUse a kiosk or eGate where the airport has them, or declare directly to an officer.
- 3Meet the officerHand over the passport with your visa or the one linked to your eTA and answer short questions.
- 4Collect bags and exitCollect your bags and exit as directed, ready to open them if asked.
Where can you use kiosks, eGates and ArriveCAN?
This table follows the CBSA pages: Primary Inspection Kiosks are at 11 major airports, eGates are listed only at Toronto Pearson Terminal 1, and the ArriveCAN Advance Declaration works at 10 airports.
| Airport | Kiosks | eGates | Advance Declaration |
|---|---|---|---|
| YVR Vancouver | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YYZ T1 Toronto Terminal 1 | 필요 | 필요 | 필요 |
| YYZ T3 Toronto Terminal 3 | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YUL Montreal | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YYC Calgary | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YEG Edmonton | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YOW Ottawa | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YWG Winnipeg | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YHZ Halifax | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YQB Quebec City | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YTZ Toronto Billy Bishop | 필요 | 불가능 | 필요 |
| YHM Hamilton | 필요 | 불가능 | 불가능 |
- The ArriveCAN Advance Declaration is optional, can be done up to 72 hours before your flight, and the CBSA says it can be up to 50% faster.
- You confirm the advance declaration at a kiosk or eGate, and it does not work at NEXUS kiosks.
- eGates are for travellers aged 14 and over; children under 14 travelling with family use a kiosk.
- Travellers without a passport, unaccompanied minors and refugee claimants go straight to an officer.
What questions do Canadian border officers ask?
Most questions are short and direct: the officer wants to know why you are visiting, how long you will stay and what you are bringing. Answer truthfully and consistently with your documents.
- Why are you visiting Canada, and which cities will you go to?
- How long will you stay, and do you have an onward or return ticket?
- Where are you staying, or who are you visiting?
- Are you bringing any food, cash or goods to declare?
What must you declare at Canadian customs, including Thai food?
The CBSA says: "You must declare all food, plants, animal and related products." Firearms and weapons must also be declared. Declaring an item does not mean it will be taken; it lets the officer decide what may enter.
| Common Thai item | Declare it? | 실용 팁 |
|---|---|---|
| Chili paste, curry paste | 필요 | Keep it in the original labelled pack |
| Pork floss, sausage, fermented pork | 필요 | Animal products may get a closer check |
| Dried squid, dried fish | 필요 | Name the item clearly |
| Fresh fruit such as mango, longan | 필요 | Fresh produce is the most likely to be refused |
| Instant noodles, packaged snacks | 필요 | Seasoning sachets may contain meat |
| Herbal medicine, balm | 필요 | Carry it in hand luggage with labels |
Do you need to declare cash when entering Canada?
Yes, if your currency or monetary instruments reach the reporting threshold set on the CBSA's cross-border currency page. There is no limit on how much you may carry, but undeclared amounts can be seized. Check the current threshold on the CBSA site before you travel.
Can you bring cannabis into Canada?
No. The CBSA puts it plainly: "Don't bring it in. Don't take it out." Taking cannabis across the Canadian border is a criminal offence without a Health Canada permit, even if it is legal at home or in Canada, and even with a medical document.
Can Thai travellers transit Canada to the US without a visa?
Yes, through the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program. IRCC's page, dated October 8, 2026, says Thai travellers with a valid US visa can transit Canada to the US without a Canadian visa if they meet these conditions.
- A confirmed onward flight to the US within 24 hours.
- Flying a participating airline, such as Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Philippine Airlines or WestJet.
- Connecting at YYZ Terminal 1, YVR, YYC or YWG and staying in the international transit area.
- On the return direction, the flight from the US must be non-stop.
Why does mobile data help at Canadian immigration?
Because most of what an officer may ask to see lives on your phone: hotel bookings, return tickets and your ArriveCAN declaration. Having data from touchdown lets you open them at once.
- Complete the ArriveCAN Advance Declaration within 72 hours before your flight and keep the confirmation screen.
- Save hotel bookings and return tickets offline in case signal in the hall is weak.
- Message your host or pickup as soon as you clear the border, and book rides in an app.
- Install a Canada eSIM before leaving Thailand so you have data from landing without hunting for a SIM at the airport.
자주 묻는 질문
What should I prepare to pass Canadian immigration?+
Bring the passport with your visa or eTA, hotel bookings, a return ticket and a list of items to declare. If your airport supports it, complete the ArriveCAN Advance Declaration to save time.
Why do travellers get held at Canadian immigration?+
Problems usually come from answers that do not match your documents, undeclared items, or entry documents that do not fit how you arrived, such as an eTA at a land border.
Can I bring Thai chili paste to Canada?+
You may pack it, but you must declare it, because the CBSA requires all food to be declared and the officer decides whether it may enter. Keep it in its original labelled pack.
Do I have to use ArriveCAN for Canada?+
No. The ArriveCAN Advance Declaration is optional, works at 10 major airports, and the CBSA says it can be up to 50% faster.
참고 자료
- ArriveCAN Advance Declaration — Canada Border Services Agency, 2026년 10월 23일
- Primary Inspection Kiosks and eGates locations — Canada Border Services Agency, 2026년 10월 23일
- What to declare — Canada Border Services Agency, 2026년 10월 23일
- Cannabis and the border — Canada Border Services Agency, 2026년 10월 23일
- Transit Without Visa eligibility — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2026년 10월 23일
About the author
Porsch Kunnipat Siramanakul
- Co-founder of eSIMonline.asia
- Digital marketer
- Performance marketing and marketing planning
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