Crossing into Canada from Skagway

Which trips cross into Canada

• A passport or other border document for every person, if your trip goes past the White Pass summit to Fraser, Carcross, Emerald Lake or Whitehorse. Round trips that turn back at the summit, such as the White Pass Summit train excursion, stay in the US.
• Ask your tour operator whether your trip crosses the border; they will tell you which documents to bring.

Documents

• US citizens: a passport is best. Tour operators also accept a passport card or enhanced driver's license, the documents you need to re-enter the US by land. A regular driver's license is not enough.
• Other nationalities: your passport, plus a Canadian visa if your country needs one. Check before the cruise; you can't get one at the border.
• Children: their own document. A child traveling without both parents needs a signed consent letter from the parent who isn't there, with that parent's contact details.
• Your ship ID card, to get back aboard.

What not to take across

• Cannabis, even if legal where you live. Taking it across the border in either direction is illegal.
• Firearms, pepper spray and other weapons. Leave them aboard.
• Fresh fruit, meat and plants from the ship can be refused at the border. Eat them or leave them aboard.

On the day

• Mind the clock: in summer the Yukon and British Columbia are one hour ahead of Skagway. Your phone may switch time zones; your all-aboard time does not change.
• Cell service in Canada is roaming. Download the tour and maps here before you leave town.
• Have your documents in hand at both borders: Canadian customs at Fraser, BC, and US customs just north of Skagway on the way back.