Destinations Canada More to Explore Essentials Reasons You May Be Denied Entry at the Canada Border By Jane McLean Jane McLean Jane McLean is an Ontario-based travel writer who has covered Canada for more than 10 years. Travel's editorial guidelines Updated on June 26, 2019 Photo: Mark Spowart/Getty Images Crossing the border is serious business. Even Canadians, who are known to be polite and easy-going, don't mess around when it comes to checking ID at the country's border. To some extent, your ability to come to Canada is subjective and at the discretion of the officer who you speak to when you arrive at the border. As one border services officer puts it: "Admissibility of all travelers seeking to enter Canada is considered on a case-by-case basis based on the specific facts presented to the border services officer, by the applicant, at the time of entry. It is up to the person to demonstrate that they meet the requirements to enter and/or stay in Canada." If you have any concerns about your admissibility, you may be interested in these common reasons why people are denied entry at the Canada border. 01 of 08 Insufficient Identification Tetra Images/Getty Images A current passport is required for entry into Canada no matter your nationality. You may also use a Trusted Traveler program card, like NEXUS, or an enhanced drivers license, but you are still required to have a passport. If you are traveling with a birth certificate and drivers license, do so at your own risk. You could be denied entry. 02 of 08 Lacking Papers for Your Pet meaghanbrowning/Getty Images If you are traveling to Canada with your dog or cat, make sure you have a signed veterinary document that indicates the animal's breed and physical description as well as proof it is up to date with their rabies shots. 03 of 08 No Note for Minor Image Source/Getty Images Because border officials are always keeping an eye out for abducted children, if you are traveling with a minor (under the age of 18), ensure that he or she has proper identification, such as a birth certificate, passport, citizenship card, permanent resident card or Certificate of Indian Status as well as a note a letter of permission to travel. If not, you could technically be denied entry to or at least held up at the border. 04 of 08 Forgot to Empty the Trunk Picture Finders/Getty Images A messy trunk will not get you denied entry into Canada, but if you forget to remove prohibited items or items that make it look like you are trying to work in Canada, you could be turned away. 05 of 08 Criminal Record franz12/Getty Images Having a criminal record is one of the main reasons people are refused entry into Canada. If you have a DUI (drinking under the influence) or an assault conviction lurking in your past, don't think it will go unnoticed. People are turned away every day for past convictions. Denial to Canada is not automatic if you have a conviction. Be honest about your criminal history. You may be able to persuade the immigration officer that you have been rehabilitated. Alternately, you may have to prove individual rehabilitation, which is an application process that proves though you have a previous conviction, you no longer pose a risk. 06 of 08 Bringing a Gun Without the Proper Paperwork vasiliybudarin/Getty Images Though some guns are allowed into Canada, you must have licenses for them as well as the proper hunting license for the province you are visiting if you plan to hunt. You must declare any arms you are bringing into Canada or you can be denied entry and/or fined. 07 of 08 No Visa KingWu/Getty Images Citizens of certain countries require a visa to visit Canada or even just to travel through Canada (say your cruise ship ports in Canada on your way to the U.S.). You can't apply for a visa once you're here, so find out before you travel if you need to have either a Temporary Resident Visa (visitor visa), a Transit Visa or a Parent & Grandparent Super Visa, or you could be denied entry. 08 of 08 No Permit belterz/Getty Images Canada provides many opportunities for people from other countries to study or work, but if you plan to do so, be sure you've gotten the proper study or work visa, or you may be denied entry. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit