Driving from Alaska through Canada, and down into the Lower 48 - What do I need (pets & firearms included)? (live in, moving) - (AK) - Page 5 - City-Data Forum

seldoviadad · 01-21-2011, 04:24 PM

So here it is, down and dirty, Imy wife and I have made quite a few trips into Canada and through Canada and this is what we have discoverd. Every border guard is different. I have been waived through with no more than a where you headed, have any guns, have money, see ya, enjoy it, to a full blown car search becasue my wife was napping at the crossing. Recently, Canada changed their firearms laws even for transportation. They now charge for every firearm you transport with limits on how many of each type. I have found it is cheaper to mail firearms through the USPS than it is to transport through Canada. And no you do not need an FFL to mail yourself a gun via USPS. Buying firearms and selling firearms and shipping them you need the FFL but if they are your own guns you can mail them (unloaded of course). As far as pets same thing for border crossing, going into canada on a trip two summers ago the Canadian guard wanted to see the health certificate and the rabies vaccination, coming back into Alaska, the border guard said have a nice day, didn't ask about anything. It really does just depend on the guard and what they have been tasked with that day. Like the other responders have said, take all the paperwork, just in case, guns have gotten too expensive to mess with, as far as protection, I tavel with bear spray and recently I started carrying a bow. Canada does not regulate archery as a weapon yet. The Milepost is the best book for highway details, Canada has great online resources for everything else, remember to have copies of vehicle insurance and registrations, they asked for that one last year, and check with your bank to see if they charge you fees for using your debit and credit card in Canada. Some banks will charge an exchange rate and some of them are high so prepare for that cost or watch craigslist a month before you travel, sometimes there are postings of folks unloading loonies and other coinage at a good exchange rate. U.S. banks don't like the Canadian coinage and some won't take it. Canada deals heavily in $1 and $2 coins. Our last trip was great, we traveled the Casiar to Hyder and saw 18 bears and a few moose. Most of the bears were black but did enjoy a sow grizzly and two cubs for a half hour. And trust me when I say, it is always exciting to see wildlife, no matter how many you have seen already.

warptman · 01-21-2011, 06:59 PM

Use all left over Canadian money at a gas station before you cross back in to Alaska or the States.

Dakster · 01-22-2011, 08:57 AM

If gas prices continue to go up, it won't be hard to unload it at the border.

I've had similar experiences driving through Ontario - Sometimes a wave through, sometimes a more thorough interrogation.

I was looking at getting NEXUS cards, anyone have any experience with them?

Florida doesn't do "Enhanced Drivers Licenses" that I know of yet.

warptman · 01-22-2011, 10:21 AM

Just get a regular passsport, this way you can travel the world and the seven seas...

Dakster · 01-22-2011, 10:24 AM

I have a full passport and a passport card - I thought the nexxus card made the check in at the border quicker???

CDAZ · 04-30-2012, 06:03 AM

I realize I need a health cert. for my dog going from lower 48 into/through Canada. I was told it had to be under 10 days old. My problem is this...If driving from the SE of the lower 48 and wanting to 'enjoy the drive'...it would be hard to do it in 10 days..and certainly I would miss a lot of scenery on the way.
Then when coming back after 3 months in AK will I have to have my dog re-certified? $$$ If that is the way it is then that is the way it is. Sure would like to understand the best way to handle this.
cdaz

akck · 04-30-2012, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDAZ

I realize I need a health cert. for my dog going from lower 48 into/through Canada. I was told it had to be under 10 days old. My problem is this...If driving from the SE of the lower 48 and wanting to 'enjoy the drive'...it would be hard to do it in 10 days..and certainly I would miss a lot of scenery on the way.
Then when coming back after 3 months in AK will I have to have my dog re-certified? $$$ If that is the way it is then that is the way it is. Sure would like to understand the best way to handle this.
cdaz

A health certificate is needed to enter Alaska and it needs to be within the last 30 days to be valid. All that is needed to enter Canada is proof of rabies vaccination. Usually, the health certificate contains this information. For leaving Alaska, what is needed is whatever the state you'll be crossing the border requires. I'd just show them the same certificate when leaving, as long as it has the proof of rabies vaccination.

Pet Import/Export

AlaskaNana · 05-12-2012, 02:01 AM

yep you will need two certs. We've been there and done that. Cert has to be within 30 days each time. Try using VCA. They are nationwide and are great with the re-cert issue. Costs me less than using diff vets. Also they are hooked up through computers, atleast the ones I have used are, so they have quick access to your pets records. We used a Reno one and then an Anchorage one on one of our trips. Anyway, also make sure your pet WEARS their collar with the tags and that you have good ID tags, we have our home, cell and daughter's phone numbers on ours when we travel to Washington as she is local there. Sometimes we are asked for the cert and sometimes not. Safer to have than not and waste time finding a vet that can get you in and give you one. And I would NEVER try to use an expired one since that might give them a though on double checking all your paperwork, but that's just me. I prefer to have it all in hand, and correct, and make it easier to cross.

echo7tango · 05-14-2012, 11:32 AM

You may want to get the US passport card. Same size as a credit card, and it can be used instead of the full passport when driving into Canada and Mexico. It's a few extra $$ and the application process is the same as for the full passport.

It's definitely convenient to carry, and mine is in my wallet all the time.

warptman · 05-14-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echo7tango

You may want to get the US passport card. Same size as a credit card, and it can be used instead of the full passport when driving into Canada and Mexico. It's a few extra $$ and the application process is the same as for the full passport.

It's definitely convenient to carry, and mine is in my wallet all the time.

Just get the paper Passport. The card size one is only good for Mexico and Canada. The paper is good for every country in the world.