# Do you have to check in with customs/immigation to sail into internal waters?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-check-in-with-customs-immigation-to-sail-into-internal-waters/607094>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 22, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-check-in-with-customs-immigation-to-sail-into-internal-waters/607094 "2011-12-22T17:35:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-check-in-with-customs-immigation-to-sail-into-internal-waters/607094/1 "2011-12-22T17:35:47Z")

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It’s painfully obvious that if I want to take a boat out from Maine and dock in Nova Scotia for a few days, I am required to check in with Canadian Customs, then check in with US Customs when returning. Am I required to do this if I want to sail into, say the Bay of Fundy or the Gulf of St. Laurence (e.g. sail by Newfoundland, up to Anticosti Island, spend a day taking pictures, sail down through the Northumberland Strait, then up and around Cape Breton Island, and return), do I HAVE to check in with Canadian Customs? I know that it would probably be a good idea, but is there any legal requirement that I must do so if I do NOT go ashore? What about other countries?

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**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-check-in-with-customs-immigation-to-sail-into-internal-waters/607094/2 "2011-12-22T17:43:03Z")

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I’d certainly appreciate you checking in with me before sailing into my internal waters. 😃

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**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-check-in-with-customs-immigation-to-sail-into-internal-waters/607094/3 "2011-12-22T17:51:03Z")

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Yes.

> [@"\[Requirement](#):
>
> ([Newly Published Canada Customs Fact Sheet - BassFan](http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=4008))"]All recreational boaters are required to present themselves upon their arrival in Canada as per the Customs Act (CA) and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). This includes all foreign boaters entering Canada, as well as private boaters who depart Canada and enter foreign waters, and subsequently return to Canada.
> 
> This obligation exists regardless of their activities while outside of Canada or their planned activities while in Canada. Arrival in Canada occurs when the pleasure craft crosses the international boundary into Canadian waters.
> 
> This provision applies regardless of whether or not boaters drop anchor, land, enter an inland tributary or moor alongside another vessel while in foreign waters.