Canadian High Commission
Immigration Section
38 Grosvenor Street
London, U.K
W1K 4AA
What quantities of alcohol and tobacco can I bring into Canada?
Alcohol - Those meeting the age requirements of the province or territory of entry (19 in most provinces; 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec) may bring either 40 oz. of liquor or wine or 24, 12 oz. containers of beer or ale
Tobacco - Visitors meeting the age requirements of the province or territory of entry may bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 7 oz. loose tobacco and 200 tobacco sticks.
What do I need if I am a single parent or I am travelling with children who aren't mine? -- If a minor child is travelling with one parent only:
The child should have a copy of his/her birth certificate as well as a letter of authorization, preferably in English or French, signed by the parent who is not travelling with him. The letter of authorization should give the address and telephone number of the non-accompanying parent. A photocopy of the passport or national identity card of the non-accompanying parent, with the bearer’s signature, should be attached.
In addition:
If the parents are separated or divorced, and they share custody of the child, the parent travelling with the child should carry copies of the legal custody documents. It is also recommended that they have a letter of authorization from the other custodial parent to take the child on a trip out of the country.
If the parents are separated or divorced and one of them has sole custody of the child, the letter of authorization may be signed by that parent only and a copy of the custody decree presented.
If one of the child’s parents is deceased, a copy of the death certificate should be presented.
-- If a minor child is travelling with a person other than his/her parents or legal guardian:
If the child is travelling with an adult who is not his/her parent or legal guardian, the adult should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the child. The permission letter should include addresses and telephone numbers where the parents or legal guardian can be reached.
Note: These documents are not always requested upon entry to Canada, but they may be. We therefore strongly recommend bringing them in case they are required by the immigration officer at the point of entry (airport or border crossing). A minor child will not be admitted to Canada if the officer is not satisfied that his parents or legal guardian have authorized his stay.
It is not necessary for the letter from the parent(s) described above to be certified, but a certified letter is acceptable. A photocopy of the parents’ or legal guardian’s passports or national identity cards bearing their signatures should be attached to the letter.
What is the baggage allowance? Air Canada you are allowed 2 checked bags and one piece of carry on baggage
For each bag the maximum weight is 50 lbs (23 (kg). One bag may be sporting equipment ie skis or golf bags.
The maximum linear dimensions of your suitcase must be no more than 62 inches or 158 cms.
Air Transat
Free allowance on Air Transat is 20 kg (44 lbs) total per passenger in Economy Class and 40 kg (88 lbs) in Club Class plus a small carry-on bag. Free carriage of certain items such as golf bags, child seats and skis.
Seat Requests on your flight? If flying on Air Canada, we will reserve your seats free of charge. On all low-cost carriers we can reserve seats but there is a charge, usually £8 per person each way.
What is GST? A 5% purchase tax that is levied on most goods and services similar to the VAT in the UK. Confusingly for us, it is not included in the price labels of things in shops but levied at the check out counter. Tax can be reclaimed on certain articles.
How do visitors to Canada get a tax refund for items purchased in Canada? The Canadian Inland Revenue have recently removed the rebate for GST on hotel accommodation so this is now included in your holiday. If you buy certain goods over the value of $50 in Canada, you may be able to reclaim the tax. Visit the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency website for more details.
What travel information is available to people with disabilities? For most able-bodied people, taking a vacation is no great challenge. Just put together the money, climb aboard a plane and away you go. For many people with disabilities, it is not so easy. Getting on and off airplanes, getting around your vacation spot, finding accessible hotels and restaurants can all pose great challenges.
Increasingly, travel providers are recognizing the need to increase accessibility for travellers with disabilities. A variety of travel services are now offered to travellers with special needs. So, as you are planning your trip, visit Access to Travel for details on national transportation carriers, local transportation, and a variety of travel resources on facilities and services.
What type of electrical outlets are used in Canada? Canadian appliances operate on 110 voltage, direct current 2 pins. This means that unless you have a transformer your electrical appliances will only work at half their usual strength as the UK has 240 volts and AC. For more information, check out the World Electric Guide which can tell you what the voltage, frequencies and plugs are in many different countries, including Canada.
How do I telephone the UK from Canada? To dial the UK from Canada prefix the number with 011 44 ie 01144 208 776 8709 A UK mobile, unless it is a tri-band, will not work in Canada. You will also find that much of Canada is not covered by a mobile network. Many Canadian pay phones take credit cards and you can buy phone cards in Canada that offer very cheap telephone calls to the UK. To dial Canada prefix the 10 digit number by 001. You will normally see Canadian numbers written (000) 123 4567. You will need to dial all this.
What do things cost in Canada? Things are generally cheaper in Canada than in the UK. Here are some sample prices based on an exchange rate of $2 to the £1:
litre of bottled water: 45p
cup of coffee and doughnut: £1.00
pack of cigarettes: £2.50 to £3.50
newspaper: 50p
roll of 36 exposure print film: £3.25
t-bone steak per kg: £11.00
litre of petrol: 45p
souvenir t-shirt: £5.00
bottle of Molson: £1.50
litre of milk: 70p
movie ticket: £4.50
What is the time difference in Canada? Canada has 6 time zones!
London - GMT -0000
Newfoundland - GMT -0330
Atlantic - GMT -0400
Eastern - GMT -0500 (Toronto & Montreal)
Central - GMT -0600
Mountain - GMT -0700 (Calgary and the Alberta Rockies)
Pacific - GMT -0800 (Vancouver and British Columbia)
How big is Canada? 9,976,000 square kilometres (UK is 244,820 square kilometres)
