Traveling into the United States From Canada at Land Borders
Restricted/Prohibited Plants
- Acai (Euterpe spp.)
- Achiote (Bixa spp.)
- Almond (Prunus spp.)
- American cotton palm (Washingtonia spp.)
- Anikary palm (Syagrus spp.)
- Apple (Malus spp.)
- Apricot (Prunus spp.)
- Ash (Fraxinus spp.)
- Assai palm (Euterpe spp.)
- Avellana (Gevuina spp.)
- Barberry (Berberis spp.)
- Bataua palm (Oenocarpus spp.)
- Brazil bramble palm (Desmoncus spp.)
- Bristle grass (Setaria spp.)
- Cabbage palm (Euterpe spp.)
- Cacao (Herrania spp., Theobroma spp.)
- California fan palm (Washingtonia spp.)
- Cherry (Prunus spp.)
- Chilean wildnut (Gevuina spp.)
- Cricketvine (Arrabidaea, Fredericia spp.)
- Crinkle bush (Lomatia spp.)
- Fan palm (Mauritia spp.)
- Fig (Ficus spp.)
- Figi sago palm (Metroxylon spp.)
- Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
- Foxtail grass (Setaria spp.)
- Foxtail millet (Setaria spp.)
- Giant redwood (Sequoiandendron spp.)
- Giriba palm (Syagrus spp.)
- Golden larch (Pseudolarix spp.)
- Grape (Vitis spp.)
- Grapevine (Vitis spp.)
- Green botan (Sabal spp.)
- Hazelnut (Gevuina spp.)
- Hesper palm (Brahea spp.)
- Hops (Humulus spp.)
- Horse chestnut (Aesculus spp.)
- Ite palm (Mauritia spp.)
- Japanese quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
- Jelly palm (Butia spp.)
- Jicara (Euterpe spp.)
- Kiwi (Actinidia spp.)
- Larch (Larix spp.)
- Licuri palm (Syagrus spp.)
- Lipstick tree (Bixa spp.)
- Longleaf Lomatia (Lomatia spp.)
- Mango (Mangifera spp.)
- Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia spp.)
- Millet (Setaria spp.)
- Monkey cacao (Herrania spp.)
- Nectarine (Prunus spp.)
- Okra (Abelmoschus spp.)
- Ouricury palm (Syagrus spp.)
- Palm (Acrocomia spp., Astrocaryum spp., Attalea spp., Bactris spp., Brahea spp., Butia spp., Calamus spp., Desmoncus spp., Euterpe spp., Manicaria spp., Metroxylon spp., Oenocarpus spp., Oncosperma spp., Roystonea spp., Sabal spp., Syagrus spp., Washingtonia spp.)
- Palma real (Manicaria spp.)
- Parsley fern (Lomatia spp.)
- Peach (Prunus spp.)
- Peanut (Arachis spp.)
- Pear (Pyrus spp.)
- Pindo palm (Butia spp.)
- Pine (Pinus spp.)
- Pinot (Euterpe spp.)
- Plum (Prunus spp.)
- Puerto Rico hat palm (Sabal spp.)
- Puerto Rico palmetto (Sabal spp.)
- Queen palm (Syagrus spp.)
- Quince (Chaenomeles spp., Cydonia)
- Raspberry (Rubus spp.)
- Rattan cane (Butia spp.)
- River Lomatia (Lomatia spp.)
- Royal palm (Roystonea spp.)
- Sago palm (Metroxylon spp.)
- Sequoia (Sequoiandendron spp.)
- Sikkim larch (Larix spp.)
- Spiny palm (Bactris spp.)
- Strawberry (Fraxinus spp.)
- Thorny palm (Oncosperma spp.)
- Tree of life (Mauritia spp.)
- Trinidad palm (Sabal spp.)
- Troolie palm (Manicaria spp.)
- Wildnut (Gevuina spp.)
- Winter’s bark (Drimys spp.)
Approved Growing Media
- Baked expanded clay pellets
- Coal cinder
- Coir
- Commercial potting soil or soil taken from any Canadian Province except from an area of Canada regulated for potato cyst nematodes. Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for more information.
- Cork
- Glass wool
- Organic and inorganic fibers
- Peat
- Perlite
- Phenol formaldehyde
- Plastic particles
- Polyethylene
- Polymer stabilized starch
- Polystyrene
- Polyurethane
- Rock wool
- Stockosorb® superabsorbent polymer
- Vermiculite
- Volcanic rock
- Zeolite
- Or any combination of the media listed here
Seeds With Additional Requirements
- Broomcorn (Sorghum spp.)
- Canegrass (Chionachne spp.)
- Caracan millet (Eleusine spp.)
- Coix (Coix spp.)
- Corn (Euchlaena spp., Zea spp.)
- Cotton or cottontree (Gossypium spp.)
- Finger millet (Eleusine spp.)
- Grass (Pennisetum spp., Polytoca spp.)
- Grass (Cenchrus spp.)
- Job’s tears (Coix spp.)
- Kenaf (Hibiscus spp.)
- Millet (Echinochloa spp., Eleusine spp., Panicum spp.)
- Miscanthus (Miscanthus spp.)
- Okra (Abelmoschus spp.)
- Potato (True seed of Solanum tuberosum)
- Rivergrass (Chionachne spp.)
- Rose mallow (Hibiscus spp.)
- Sorghum (Sorghum spp.)
- Zebra grass (Miscanthus spp.)
Prohibited Plant Materials
- Alder (Alnus spp.)
- Almond (Prunus spp.)
- Apple (Malus spp.)
- Apple (Malus spp.)
- Apricot (Prunus spp.)
- Apricot (Prunus spp.)
- Cherry (Prunus spp.)
- Cherry laurel (Prunus spp.)
- Chestnut (Castanea spp.)
- Cotton (Gossypium spp.)
- Crabapple (Malus spp.)
- English laurel (Prunus spp.)
- English laurel (Prunus spp.)
- Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
- Grape (Vitis spp.)
- Nectarine (Prunus spp.)
- Peach (Prunus spp.)
- Pear (Pyrus spp.)
- Prune (Prunus spp.)
- Quince (Cydonia spp.)
- Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)
- Witchweed (Striga spp.)
Prohibited Fruits and Vegetables
Allium (includes chives, garlic, garlic chives, green onion/Welsh onion, green bunching onions, leeks, onion, ramps, scallions, and shallots): Fresh allium bulbs are prohibited unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) containing an additional declaration stating the shipment is free of Acrolepiopsis assectella. Thoroughly dried allium bulbs (papery skin) may enter without such documentation.
Arrowhead tuber: Arrowhead tubers are prohibited unless the traveler obtains a PPQ Form 526, Noxious Weed Permit from APHIS.
Avocados
Bananas
Cherries: Fresh cherries grown in Ontario Province are prohibited. Fresh cherries commercially grown in a Canadian Province other than Ontario may enter if accompanied by documentation demonstrating the province of origin.
Fresh chestnuts
Citrus
Coconut (if liquid or husk is present)
Corn on the cob: Fresh corn grown in any Canadian province (except British Columbia) is prohibited if destined for Arkansas, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, or Utah. Fresh corn commercially harvested in British Columbia with proof of origin may enter any U.S. State without restriction.
Edible flowers: Only the following edible flowers from Canada can enter—Calendula spp. (pot marigold), Tagetes spp. (marigold), Tropaeolum spp. (nasturtium), and Viola spp. (johnny-jump-ups, pansies, and violets). Edible flowers not completely free of stems and leaves will be prohibited entry.
European blackberries (Rubus fruticosus)
Guava
Okra
Papaya
Fresh peanuts (commercially packaged peanuts [raw, in shell, or roasted] labeled as grown in Canada or the United Sates are allowed)
Peppers
Pineapple
Potatoes (50 pounds or less of commercially packaged potatoes labeled as grown either in Canada or the United States are allowed)
Tomatoes
Tropical fruits and vegetables
Water spinach (fresh leaf, fresh green stem): Fresh perishable water spinach is prohibited unless the traveler first obtains a PPQ Form 526, Noxious Weed Permit from APHIS.
The United States restricts or prohibits the entry of many agricultural products, which can carry foreign pests and diseases that harm American agriculture and our environment. A major pest or disease outbreak could mean higher grocery bills, shortages of certain foods, and devastating losses for farmers and ranchers.
Help us keep American agriculture healthy by following the guidance on this page about products you may want to bring into the United States from Canada.
Declare Food, Plants, and Other Agricultural Items
Travelers entering the United States must declare all agricultural and wildlife products to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. You must also tell them if you visited a farm or were in contact with animals before traveling to the United States.
U.S. agricultural inspectors will examine your items to be sure they meet entry requirements and do not harbor harmful foreign pests or diseases. U.S. inspectors have the authority to make a final determination about whether your products can enter the country. We recommend that you keep receipts and original packaging of agricultural products as proof of their country of origin.
As long as you declare all the agricultural products you are bringing with you, you will not face any penalties—even if an inspector determines that these products cannot enter the country.
The guidance below is intended only for travelers crossing at Canadian land borders; it does not pertain to commercial shippers. Air travelers from Canada should refer instead to the guidance for international travelers at Traveling From Another Country.
Meat, Poultry, Dairy, Eggs, Pet Food, and Animal Trophies
Use the Veterinary Services (VS) Permitting Assistant to understand import requirements for animal products. This self-guided tool has the most updated and comprehensive information, based on the type of materials you want to bring in and the intended use.
Please note that commodities intended for "personal use" mean those in passenger baggage or passenger vehicles. Commodities sent by mail are regulated as "commercial" use.
Travelers may bring the following types of fresh (chilled, frozen), cooked, cured, or dried meats from Canada: beef, bison, veal, sheep (lamb, mutton), goat, swine, and camelid. Travelers may also bring personal-use amounts of foods containing beef, veal, or bison. There is a limit of 50 pounds of meat per traveler.
Travelers may also bring personal-use amounts of cervid meat (deer, elk, moose, caribou), including hunter-harvested cervid meat, provided they present the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer with evidence that the product is cervid meat, such as a valid hunting license, commercially prepared labels found on unopened packages, or other official documents. Hunter-harvested meat is not subject to the 50-pound limit, but allowable amounts are determined based on the hunting license.
Before you travel, be sure to check for any temporary restrictions. APHIS may implement temporary restrictions when certain avian diseases are present in North America.
In the absence of temporary restrictions, travelers may bring back personal-use amounts of poultry meat from Canada.
There is a limit of 50 pounds of meat per traveler. Hunter-harvested meat is not subject to the 50-pound limit, but allowable amounts are determined based on the hunting license.
Travelers may bring back milk and other dairy products from Canada with proof of Canadian origin, such as a package label, written documentation, proof of travel (passport or travel itinerary), origin of flight, sales receipt, or a certificate.
Before you travel, be sure to check for any temporary restrictions. APHIS may implement temporary restrictions when certain avian diseases are present in North America.
In the absence of temporary restrictions, travelers may bring back personal-use amounts of eggs or egg products from Canada.
- The items must be in unopened retail packaging.
- If the items are raw (not shelf-stable without refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried, then the items must be labeled as a product of Canada or the U.S.
- Pet food/chews/treats that contain avian (bird, poultry, among others) materials that are raw (not shelf-stable without refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried are prohibited.
Trophies from Canada may enter with documentation that proves country of origin, including a bill of lading; certificate of origin; invoice; document on official letterhead prepared by the manufacturer, seller, outfitter, Provincial government, Tribal Nation, or shipper; or an official certificate issued by a veterinarian representing the Canadian national government certifying the country of origin. The trophies must be fully finished or receive special processing upon entry.
Learn More About Trophies and Approved Establishments
Plants, Seeds, Cut Flowers, and Greenery
You may bring live plants produced in Canada to the United States if they meet the following conditions:
- You have a phytosanitary certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
- You have an import permit for plants that are designated as restricted or prohibited. These plants may potentially pose a threat to the health of U.S. agriculture.
- Your plants are bare rooted or in an approved growing medium.
- Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the U.S. port of entry determine that the plants are free of pests and diseases and meet all entry requirements.
Plants that are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) may require special documentation. Call USDA’s Plant Import Information Line at 877-770-5990 (toll free) or email us at plantproducts.permits@usda.gov for more information about bringing plants into the United States, and about importing plants that are not produced in Canada.
Because all imports of seeds for planting that are produced in Canada require some form of documentation, we strongly suggest that you buy your seeds in the United States. If you want to transport seeds from Canada into the United States, you will need to present either a phytosanitary certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or a Small Lots of Seeds permit issued by APHIS.
Some seeds require other kinds of permits or documentation. Call USDA’s Plant Import Information Line at 877-770-5990 (toll free) or email us at plantproducts.permits@usda.gov for more information about bringing seeds into the United States, and about importing seeds that are not produced in Canada.
USDA defines cut flowers as the fresh, cut portion of a plant that is imported for decoration or ornamentation. Common additions to cut flower bouquets such as most ferns, baby’s breath, and many ornamental grasses produced in Canada are generally admissible.
Generally, you can bring cut flowers from Canada into the United States if they meet the following conditions:
- Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the U.S. port of entry determine that the flowers are free of pests and diseases and meet all entry requirements. Some flowers that are not produced in Canada may have to meet special requirements.
- The flowers are not mixed with prohibited plant materials. These materials require permits that are granted only under extremely limited circumstances.
To determine the entry status of other plant materials, and for more information about entry or permit requirements, call USDA’s Plant Import Information Line at 877-770-5990 (toll free) or email us at plantproducts.permits@usda.gov.
Due to the risk of transporting forest pests from Canada to the United States, travelers cannot bring cut conifer trees, such as Christmas trees (white pine, Scotch pine, Scots pine, fir, spruce, hemlock, and Douglas fir) across the border. Requirements for boughs, wreaths, or garlands can vary greatly, depending on the Canadian province of origin. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the U.S. port of entry will determine whether the greenery or plant material is free of pests and diseases and meets all entry requirements.
Call USDA’s Plant Import Information Line at 877-770-5990 (toll free) or email us at plantproducts.permits@usda.gov for more information about entry status or permit requirements.
Fruits and Vegetables
Travelers crossing a land border into the United States may bring, for personal consumption, some (but not all) fresh fruits and vegetables that were grown on a commercial orchard or farm in Canada, if all the conditions below are met and confirmed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the border:
- Produce is free of soil, pests, and diseases.
- Produce variety is not listed as prohibited.
- Traveler has sufficient documentation to clearly demonstrate that the item(s) was grown in Canada and not just sold there. Sufficient documentation includes sales receipts and individual stickers on produce or fruit and vegetable bags commercially labeled as “Produce of Canada”. For produce purchased at a commercial pick-your-own farm, you must have a dated receipt showing the farm’s name and address.
- Traveler is entering the United States during the Canadian growing season (May 1–October 31) if produce is field grown. Field-grown produce presented for inspection before or after that date range may be refused entry. However, fresh cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, squash, and strawberries commercially labeled as greenhouse grown in Canada may enter the United States year-round. Sea buckthorn berries may also enter year-round.
Travelers may not bring U.S.-grown produce they previously took into Canada back across the border unless the items are whole and still in their original packaging. Any item listed as prohibited—such as citrus, tomatoes, or peppers—even if U.S.-grown, may not re-enter the United States.
Homegrown or backyard-grown fruits and vegetables (as well as any produce lacking a commercial label) grown in Canada are, in general, prohibited entry into the United States, because in almost all cases there is no way to prove that the produce was actually grown and harvested in Canada.
Exception: Homegrown fruits/vegetables of nonprohibited fruits and vegetables may be allowed entry if the gardener arranges and pays for an onsite inspection of their garden or orchard by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). CFIA may then issue the travelling gardener a phytosanitary certificate certifying that the produce was grown and harvested in Canada. For more information, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Most fruits and vegetables grown in Canada that were commercially dried are allowed entry into the United States. All such products must be declared and presented at entry, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists will make the final determination as to what products may enter.
Travelers may bring certain commercially packaged frozen fruits and vegetables grown in Canada if the product does not contain any meat products and is frozen solid (that is, 20 degrees Fahrenheit or -6.6 degrees Celsius) when presented for entry at the border. However, most produce varieties listed above as prohibited when fresh (allium, citrus, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) are also prohibited when frozen. All such products must be declared and presented at entry, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists will make the final determination as to what products may enter.
Travelers may bring commercially canned fruits and vegetables (not containing any meat products) into the United States. All such products must be declared and presented at entry, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists will make the final determination as to what products may enter.
Contact us if you have questions or would like more information about bringing items from Canada into the United States.
APHIS Directory