Indigenous travellers

Learn about your rights, the accepted documents and the regulations related to traditional objects and medicines. To avoid unexpected issues, plan your trip carefully before leaving Canada and familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of your destination.

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Crossing the Canada-United States border

If you are registered under the Indian Act, learn about status cards that can be used to cross the Canada-United States border. These cards are generally accepted at U.S. land and sea border crossings, but their acceptance remains at the discretion of U.S. authorities. Secure status cards with a machine-readable zone can facilitate crossing the border between Canada and the United States.

If you are crossing the border by air, you must have an internationally recognized passport.

Learn more about crossing the Canada-United States border with a status card (Indigenous Services Canada).

Temporary measures have been put in place to make it easier for Indigenous people separated by the Canada-United States border to reunite with their family in Canada. These measures allow eligible people to work or study in Canada with some requirements waived, and those already in Canada can also extend their stay for up to 3 years.

Learn more about temporary measures to reunite families of Indigenous people separated by Canada’s border. (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)

Discrimination based on spiritual beliefs

When travelling abroad, it is important to understand the local laws and cultural expectations to avoid risky situations, particularly those involving discrimination.

In the event of discrimination abroad, and if official recourses have been exhausted, consular services may intervene in urgent cases to defend your interests.

To help avoid discriminatory situations, consult the laws and culture section of the travel advice and advisories by destination.

Travelling with traditional Indigenous medicines

The acceptance of traditional medicines varies by country. Before travelling abroad, consult local authorities and review the regulations in effect in your destination. Local laws apply even if you are a foreign visitor.

For more information about regulations in effect in your destination, contact foreign representatives in Canada.

In Canada, you may bring certain traditional medicines with you when you enter the country. Items such as sage, cedar, sweetgrass, peyote and tobacco are recognized as sacred items and can be brought across the border. However, ceremonial tobacco over 200 g may be subject to duties and taxes.

Travelling with sacred and spiritual items

Border crossing practices abroad vary from country to country. It is advisable to check them before travelling abroad.

To learn more on the regulations in effect in the destination, contact Foreign representatives in Canada: Diplomatic missions’ addresses..

When returning to Canada with sacred or spiritual items, inform the screening officer if the items must not be touched or go through X-ray screening or if they need to be inspected by a person of a specific gender. You may also request the item be screened in a private area.

For more information, consult travelling with sacred and spiritual items (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority).

Remember to keep fragile or valuable items in your hand luggage as they may be damaged if packed in checked baggage.

If you need help

Contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance while you are outside Canada.

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