Travelling to Canada, Toronto

[melvados]

Hi all,

Not sure where I should placed my thread but this is the most feasible place to put. Anyway I am planning to travel to Canada, Toronto.

While I am able to find tickets for my trips, easily, I read that there are bunch of other documents that I need to apply, otherwise I will either get stuck there or turn back to SG.. So far it does seems I will need to apply this ETA..

But any other documents I need to be aware of?

P.S: This is my first time going there..

 

[Prof Goh]

Will you be planning day trips to the US? If you're going to Toronto only, you'll just need Canada's ETA if you hold a Singapore passport.

 

[melvados]

Will you be planning day trips to the US? If you're going to Toronto only, you'll just need Canada's ETA if you hold a Singapore passport.

I don't think I will be going to US. The place nearest to US I will go is probably the Niagara falls, which can be access via Canada afaik..

On the same topic, if I am bringing my own meds/creams as well as my laptop, need to declare them or not? When I tried googling, some mentioned there is a need while some mentioned that there is no need and for the meds/cream, just placed it into the luggage and not carry-ons..

 

[gasband]

For Singaporeans, if you travel by land from Canada to USA, no need to apply for the ESTA.

 

[Prof Goh]

For Singaporeans, if you travel by land from Canada to USA, no need to apply for the ESTA.

Or by sea!

 

[gasband]

Or by sea!

I think by sea also need ESTA. Only by land no need.

 

[melvados]

I travel by air, maybe if to US, can consider sea..

So personal electronics need to be declare or not? Was planning to bring my own lappy and game with my friend.
Additionally, any chance if you guys know if I can bring bak gwa?

 

[purplewave]

only air needs ETA

 

[melvados]

only air needs ETA

okay good to know, thanks

So personal electronics need to be declare or not? Was planning to bring my own lappy and game with my friend.
Additionally, any chance if you guys know if I can bring bak gwa?

What about this? It seems to went unanswered.. I read in a blog (but that blog was a few years back) and they mentioned the officers there are asking this person to switch on his computer, giving a thorough etc. Is it really that strict?

 

[Prof Goh]

okay good to know, thanks



What about this? It seems to went unanswered.. I read in a blog (but that blog was a few years back) and they mentioned the officers there are asking this person to switch on his computer, giving a thorough etc. Is it really that strict?

from my experience, just need to take out your lappy like in SG or everywhere else. they didn't ask to on my lappy.

as for bak kwa, should be ok. up to 20kg.

Meat and poultry products (for example, jerky, sausages, deli meats and patties, fois gras)
- up to 20 kilograms per person
- packages must have identifying marks, indicating what the product is
- proof of country of origin may be required

source: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/in...-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990

 

[melvados]

from my experience, just need to take out your lappy like in SG or everywhere else. they didn't ask to on my lappy.

as for bak kwa, should be ok. up to 20kg.


source: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/in...-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990

Thanks mate for the info.
I think I am just freaking myself out about the secondary inspection as I read online somewhere (3-4 years ago article) that this dude was asked by the officers there to switch on his lappy and they actually check through the contents within. I was also planning to bring my hard disk over there but not sure if it will be ideal or not..

 

[gasband]

only air needs ETA

Not according to the ESTA website....maybe it has changed but currently it seems both air and sea needs ESTA.... but not sure that many will enter by sea lah...

I have a passport from a Visa Waiver country. Do I need to apply for ESTA?
It depends. You are required to apply for ESTA if you intend to enter the United States by air or sea, under the Visa Waiver Program. However, ESTA is not required if you are entering by land. If you plan on staying in the United States for more than 90 days or have been previously denied entry into the country, you must apply for U.S. visa. There are several other reasons why you might not be eligible to enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. For more information we recommend that you download our application guide.

 

[invisible999]

Thanks mate for the info.
I think I am just freaking myself out about the secondary inspection as I read online somewhere (3-4 years ago article) that this dude was asked by the officers there to switch on his lappy and they actually check through the contents within. I was also planning to bring my hard disk over there but not sure if it will be ideal or not..

Laptop/iphone/batteries are applicable to air travel only. You need to make sure that notebook will power on and phones are charged as well. If they won't power on you most likely won't be allowed to board flight with these devices.

 

[melvados]

Laptop/iphone/batteries are applicable to air travel only. You need to make sure that notebook will power on and phones are charged as well. If they won't power on you most likely won't be allowed to board flight with these devices.

Not that I will deliberately drained the power, but unless they asked me to switch it on right?

 

[melvados]

Funny, I went to this travel agency, and I was told I will need to apply for the ESTA. When I said I am not entering to USA (from what I read and understand that I only need ETA), she seems pretty adamant that I will need ESTA. Feels as if she wanted to earn that $50 from me..

 

[Hisashiburi]

Not sure if u need esta when arriving from canada but u can always apply esta for yourself on the us govt website.
It is immediate and costs about usd 14.

Funny, I went to this travel agency, and I was told I will need to apply for the ESTA. When I said I am not entering to USA (from what I read and understand that I only need ETA), she seems pretty adamant that I will need ESTA. Feels as if she wanted to earn that $50 from me..

 

[babyrobo]

Will you be planning day trips to the US? If you're going to Toronto only, you'll just need Canada's ETA if you hold a Singapore passport.

any day (or 2-days) trips to recommend?

 

[patryn33]

any day (or 2-days) trips to recommend?

what do U want to do? or which cities U want to visit? USA is big by the way.
U plan to fly or drive?

driving to buffalo NY is like 2hr, to Detroit is like 4hrs from Toronto.
if U think coming to USA means NYC thats a 8hr drive or 1.5hr flight.
if U plan on coming to USA for just 1-2 days to NYC, U wouldn't have much free time to do anything.

Trips outside Toronto, Niagara Falls and its wine country
Algonquin Provincial Park if you into nature and wild life

 

[IronMac]

any day (or 2-days) trips to recommend?

A one day trip with a vehicle that is nice is going to Niagara Falls. The Falls on the Canadian side are more majestic than from the American side. You can always look for a B&B in Niagara on the Lake. It's worth the trip.

If you want to push it, you can always drive to Ottawa (nation's capital). That's about a five hour drive through some pretty boring cuontryside! Stay overnight and come back.

 

[IronMac]

Thanks mate for the info.
I think I am just freaking myself out about the secondary inspection as I read online somewhere (3-4 years ago article) that this dude was asked by the officers there to switch on his lappy and they actually check through the contents within. I was also planning to bring my hard disk over there but not sure if it will be ideal or not..

I fly to Canada 1-2x a year (I'm a Canadian) and in almost a dozen trips (with layovers in various countries including the US) no one has ever asked me to turn on an electronic device. Not saying it can't happen, though.

I have brought laptops, multiple phones, cameras, power banks, external hard drives, keyboards, etc. No problems at all.

the officers there are asking this person to switch on his computer, giving a thorough etc. Is it really that strict?

Bwahahaha!!! Whoever this person was they must have looked like the Unabomber.

Edit: Hold on...are you worried about prawn? Anything to do with minors they will lock you up so fast...