Canada Arrival Card Guide: How to Complete Your Declaration
Planning a dream trip to Canada? Whether you’re imagining maple syrup in Quebec 🍁 or exploring the Canadian Rockies 🏔️, there’s one important thing you should do before you land — submit your Canada Advance Declaration (CAD) through the ArriveCAN app or website. 🛂
I just returned from a trip to Toronto, and let me tell you — using ArriveCAN saved me a ton of time at the airport. So here’s everything I learned to help my fellow Malaysians travel smoother.👇
📄 What’s the Canada Advance Declaration (CAD)?
The Canada Advance Declaration (CAD) is a digital arrival form introduced by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to streamline entry into the country. It lets you fill out your customs and immigration info online before your arrival.
🔍 In simple terms, it’s an online declaration that international travellers (including Malaysians) can fill in before landing in Canada. It collects:
- Full name & passport details
- Flight information
- Declaration of goods (like food, alcohol, etc.)
- Travel history & contact info
✅ After submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email or QR code, which you scan at self-service kiosks in Canadian airports — no paper forms needed!
🧾 Is CAD a Visa?
No, it’s not a visa. Malaysians need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) or a visitor visa to enter Canada depending on their travel purpose.
The CAD is not a visa — it’s a customs declaration form, similar to what we used to fill out on paper during flights, now done digitally through ArriveCAN.
🛃 Why Is It Important?
- ✈️ Speeds up the airport arrival process
- 📉 Reduces paper forms and manual checks
- 👮 Helps Canadian customs officers process entries faster
- ⏱️ Shorter queue times at self-service kiosks
- 📱 Accessible on mobile via ArriveCAN app or web
✅ Key Takeaways
- CAD is optional for now but highly recommended — some airports will make it mandatory soon
- You can submit via ArriveCAN app or online portal
- It’s free, easy, and makes immigration smoother
👥 Who Should Submit the Canada Arrival Declaration?
If you're a Malaysian citizen flying to Canada, you're eligible to submit the Advance Declaration using ArriveCAN. It’s supported at major Canadian airports, including:
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
- Vancouver (YVR)
- Montreal (YUL)
- Calgary (YYC)
- Halifax, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Ottawa, Edmonton — and more!
Even if you're entering visa-free with an eTA, it’s still a good idea to submit this digital form.
📝 How to Fill Out the Canada Advance Declaration
💻 Option 1: Online via Web Portal
Go to https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca
✅ Step 1: Sign In or Continue as Guest
You can create an account (optional) or continue as a guest. If you plan to travel often, creating an account makes future trips faster.
✅ Step 2: Select Your Arrival Information
You’ll be asked to input:
- Arrival airport (e.g., Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal)
- Arrival date and time
- Flight number
- Country of departure (e.g., Malaysia)
🕐 Must be completed within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in Canada.
✅ Step 3: Enter Your Personal Information
Provide:
- Full name (as in your passport)
- Passport number
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Email address (for your receipt)
✅ Step 4: Provide Travel Details
You’ll need:
- Your Canadian address (hotel, Airbnb, or friend’s home)
- Reason for travel (tourism, business, etc.)
- Length of stay (if known)
✅ Step 5: Complete the Customs Declaration
Answer standard customs questions such as:
- Are you bringing food, plants, or animals?
- Are you carrying more than CAD $10,000 in cash?
- Do you have gifts or commercial goods?
- Any duty-free or alcohol purchases?
🧳 Answer honestly — these are routine questions.
✅ Step 6: Review and Submit
- Double-check your info
- Click Submit
📧 You will receive a confirmation receipt with a QR code via email.
✅ Step 7: Save or Screenshot Your QR Code
📸 Take a screenshot or save it offline — you’ll need to scan it at:
- Airport kiosk
- E-gates (available at major airports)
- Or show it to a CBSA officer manually
📱 Option 2: ArriveCAN App
Download the ArriveCAN app on iOS or Android. Sign up, select your trip, and complete the Advance Declaration in under 5 minutes.
📧 You’ll get a digital receipt with a barcode — scan it at the airport kiosk for faster clearance!
✅ Quick Recap:
Question | Answer |
|---|---|
Is CAD a visa? | ❌ No |
Is it required? | 🔶 Optional but recommended |
Submit through? | ✅ ArriveCAN App or Website |
Cost? | ✅ Free |
Time to submit? | ⏰ Within 72 hours before arrival |
Benefits? | ⏱️ Faster immigration, no paper needed |
Cheap Hotels in Toronto
5 star
Great142 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|0.81km dari pusat bandar
I stayed at this hotel on business, and the overall experience was outstanding. The staff is extremely professional and polite – I especially appreciate that they went out of their way to allow us an early check-in, which really helped with organizing our day.
The hotel lobby is beautifully designed, and the cleanliness and tidiness of the entire property are at a very high level. After a busy workday, the exceptionally comfortable bed and great pillows ensured a perfect night's sleep.
The location is an absolute plus. The hotel is very close to the city center, and with the main railway station right in front of it, it is incredibly accessible and convenient. All in all, I really enjoyed my stay and would highly recommend this hotel!DariVND 6,755,051
Very Good136 Ulasan
Entertainment District Toronto|0.51km dari pusat bandar
The location in Toronto's Financial District is impeccable. Breakfast is à la carte and costs extra. The room was a bit small, and although bath salts were provided for the tub, I didn't use them. I happened to be there during TIFF, so the lobby was a bit chaotic.DariVND 13,086,697
Amazing113 Ulasan
Niagara Toronto|3.2km dari pusat bandar
Very nice..Beautiful view. I would stay there again. A little disappointed with the size of the pool and having to reserve a 2 hour window to be poolside but besides that it was the perfect distance from both BMO field and The Budweiser Stage. Staff were courteous and friendly too.DariVND 7,248,375
Amazing120 Ulasan
Church and Wellesley Toronto|2.12km dari pusat bandar
Still quite satisfied, lived well, lived for 10 days, the surrounding area was also visited, the restaurant also ate a few times. The spa is also reflected, the overall is not bad. The exterior is being built, the sound is always bad during the day, and there is a fire truck, you can hear a lot of times a day. Toiletries are not provided daily, they need to be explained, and the service attitude is OK. At least the brand is there. I hope I can have a better stay experience next time.DariVND 16,388,476
Amazing109 Ulasan
Toronto|2.12km dari pusat bandar
When staying at the hotel, the front desk informed that all non-alcoholic beverages in the mini-bar are free because they have been prepaid.
After that, bring some desserts.
Someone knocked on the door at night, asking if a turndown service was needed.
Before leaving, I was told that there are additional charges: facility charge $12, Neighbourhood Mktg $4.89. This is required upon check-in.DariVND 15,953,418
Amazing106 Ulasan
Fashion District Toronto|1.86km dari pusat bandar
Very sustainable hotel😂I forgot to bring toothpaste. I called and they said they didn't have any. The price of $650CAD+a night. Bottled water was also charged $7. There were no amenities but there was an Amenity Fee of $29 a night..1.5 languages
The service attitude was OK. The gym had no view. The swimming pool was only open for a few months in the summer. The rooftop bar was also closed due to recent maintenance. The price for two breakfasts booked on Ctrip was actually a $60 breakfast credit per day. The price was a bit expensive. The actual meal cost $60 per person. The excess and tax had to be paid extra. The taste was average.DariVND 13,168,270
Great102 Ulasan
Entertainment District Toronto|1.19km dari pusat bandar
Really nice and clean room , the staff was very helpful, will be coming back.DariVND 7,248,375
Great96 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|1.84km dari pusat bandar
The breakfast was very rich, the chef was very warm, the restaurant had a classic temperament, and I saw a chic wedding reception in the restaurant. It was really a very good hotel! The location is in the university town, surrounded by high-end residences, Remowa is next to it, the intersection is facing Hermes.... The bottom of the alley can directly enter the Victorian University campus, the living function is super good, from the BAY of Metro Line 2 STATION is also very close and the traffic is very convenient.DariVND 10,561,807
Business travel
Great192 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|0.28km dari pusat bandar
The room is spacious. Location is good, within walking distance to Eaton Centre, only 8 mins walk. You can also walk to the attractions at downtown like CN tower, City Hall, Rogers Centre….There are a lot of restaurants around, Japanese, Korean, western …. You can even find bubble tea shop within 3 mins walk.
The hotel service is good, the waiters remember the drink I preferred on my second & the following days of breakfast already. They are caring.DariVND 5,189,619
Very Good280 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|0.59km dari pusat bandar
Chelsea Hotel is perfectly located in downtown Toronto with convenient transportation. The room is super clean. There are two separate swimming pools; for kids and for adults ~ it made it clear they take guests convenience to the next level. You could see the CN tower from 27th floor of adult swimming pool (with sauna and whirlpool!)
Definitely will choose this hotel when I come back!DariVND 5,212,926
Very Good137 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|1.35km dari pusat bandar
Nice place for business travel. Located in the downtown. 3mins walk to CN Tower. Perfect breakfast.DariVND 7,190,109
Very Good396 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|0.42km dari pusat bandar
Hotel wasn’t bad, but there’s no amenities in the room at all.. not even water… every time I wanted to have some water, I’d need to go to the lobby and ask for some bottles, same for toothpaste (there’s basically no amenities in the room), the coffee machine was nasty as well.DariVND 5,364,419
Great85 Ulasan
Financial District Toronto|0.46km dari pusat bandar
The location was handy few minutes from CN Eaton mall, about 35 minutes walk to CN tower, 8 minutes walk to the Toronto sign.
Great selection for breakfast and a nice aesthetic in general 🤩DariVND 5,100,277
Very Good121 Ulasan
Toronto|13.08km dari pusat bandar
Everything was quiet and clean EXCEPT the bath and sink drains in the room were extremely slow. Standing in water above my ankles by the end of a shower. Things don't get this way overnight so I expect infrastructure maintenance isn't as timely as it should be.DariVND 4,517,610
Very Good124 Ulasan
The Harbourfront Toronto|1.62km dari pusat bandar
Got so lucky to have this room which was perfect to spend time to catch up with my friends!
Suite room was amazing and the cleaner was the most professional one we have ever met!
The location is just right in front of the Harbour and likely 5 mins from Union station!
We definitely stay againDariVND 7,007,540
Very Good132 Ulasan
Entertainment District Toronto|1.13km dari pusat bandar
Came to Toronto for a conference and booked this apartment a few days in advance. It wasn't cheap and didn't include breakfast, but I chose it for its proximity. I didn't have high expectations, but after checking in, I felt it was excellent value for money. It's on the 44th floor, the highest level with a balcony, and the sky is directly overhead – the view is perfect! I just felt the safety could be a bit better, as it's completely open.DariVND 4,459,343
Breakfast
Very Good79 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|0.64km dari pusat bandar
The location is great, among shops and restaurants. The lobby is quite small, with only a couple of couches to sit. There is a restaurant and bar in the restaurant as well, with tables and chairs but the division is not as clear between what is lounge area for hotel guests and restaurant seatings. We were waiting for our room to be serviced and my husband sat at a table to do some work on the labtop and only about 20% of the restaurant had customers with the remaining tables empty. He was approached by a couple of waitstaff and he explained that he's there to do some work and didn't want to order any food. At which point, a manager approached him and asked him to move to the sofa area and not occupy a table and he did and then the manager approached him again, asking what room are we staying in as well as other details. There's not much work/lounge space in the area at all. I feel that they could have let him sit at a table, considering many of the tables were not occupied. I've seen people sit there on a previous day with their laptops and not order anything. So it was kind of unpleasant that that happened. Also, our room had absolutely no natural light, which made it very depressing. I don't know if I would recommend this hotel for a stay in Toronto.DariVND 7,019,193
Very Good49 Ulasan
Garden District Toronto|0.37km dari pusat bandar
Overall a good hotel and would book there again. They don’t have smart tv’s in the room so was unable to stream Netflix or any of those. A microwave in the room would be handy tooDariVND 4,851,672
Great155 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|0.17km dari pusat bandar
My stay at this hotel was the best experience I've had in Toronto. It's right in the absolute city center, making it super convenient for landmarks and shopping. A Chinese guy at the front desk was especially welcoming; even though I arrived very late, he proactively arranged a high-floor, quiet room for me and gave me plenty of water, which made me feel really warm and cared for. It's a shame I was only there for the weekend and spent most of my time out exploring, so I didn't get to enjoy the hotel as much as I would have liked. I'll definitely be back next time!DariVND 7,434,829
44 Ulasan
Toronto|9.25km dari pusat bandar
The rooms looked a little old, but other than that everything was fine until it came to the bathtub. The frame was not fitted against the floor, so every time you stepped in the entire bottom would move like you were walking on a pool cover. I swear to God I thought I was going to fall through the floor the first time I stepped in. Felt like you were surfing every time you showered and you couldn’t close your eyes for fear of falling over from losing your balance lol. I was in room 452DariVND 2,738,534
Great107 Ulasan
The Harbourfront Toronto|1.45km dari pusat bandar
Requested the newly renovated room instead of non renovated. The hotel staff was very kind and friendly to let us check in at 1.30pm as our rooms was ready. Eventhough we didnt get the connecting room as we requested but we were happy enough to let us an early check in.DariVND 7,434,829
Great111 Ulasan
Downtown Toronto Toronto|1.13km dari pusat bandar
Amazing cleanliness and accommodations when asked. Great location, views, and very close to everything. Only note is it would be great to have adult swim time secluded from the kids hours, given the pool size. As well, updated coffee machines in room. Overall great stay!DariVND 9,112,909
Very Good56 Ulasan
Toronto|16.15km dari pusat bandar
It’s near the airport, and they know it. As a result, the parking fare is quite high. Overall, the stay was average. One should be wary, however, that although the breakfast is complimentary, they expected a tip, which is absolutely ridiculous. How can one call it complimentary under such expectations?DariVND 4,249,583
Amazing95 Ulasan
Toronto|2km dari pusat bandar
The room was clean, cozy, and had good soundproofing. The bathroom was also spacious and clean. However, a fire alarm went off around midnight, scaring me sleepless. I was too afraid to stay and too afraid to leave. Later, I thought that since the room was on the third floor, jumping out wouldn't be too bad, until the alarm was cleared! I couldn't fall back asleep until morning.DariVND 6,354,953
🧳 Tips for a Smooth Arrival in Canada
📸 Screenshot your ArriveCAN receipt or QR code
🛬 Have your hotel address and eTA/visa info ready
📱 Use your phone or tablet — works great on mobile
✈️ Submit your info 1–3 days before your flight
💳 Don’t forget your eTA if entering Canada by air!
📶 BONUS: Stay Connected in Canada, Don’t forget to pre-purchase a Canada eSIM or travel SIM card so you can access maps, emails, and show your ArriveCAN code on the go!
🍁Explore Canada Now!
Canada is making travel smarter and more digital — and once you’ve sorted your ArriveCAN submission, you can focus on the exciting parts: finding the best halal food in Toronto, visiting Niagara Falls, or skiing in Whistler.
👉 Book your flight to Canada on Trip.com ✈️
👉 Reserve top-rated hotels in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal 🏨
👉 Get your Canada eSIM to stay online from the moment you land 📱
Safe travels, and bon voyage! 🍁
🙋♂️ FAQs: Canada Arrival Card (Advance Declaration)
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📌 1. Is the Canada Arrival Card (CAD) mandatory?
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📌 2. Is CAD the same as a visa?
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📌 3. Who needs to submit the Advance Declaration?
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📌 4. How do I submit the Canada Advance Declaration?
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📌 5. When should I submit it?
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📌 6. What info is required?
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📌 7. Do I still need to fill out a paper form on the plane?
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📌 8. What happens after I submit the declaration?
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📌 9. Can I edit my submission if my flight changes?
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📌 10. Is ArriveCAN and the Advance Declaration free?
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📌 11. Which airports accept the Canada Advance Declaration?
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