Visit

Canada

Spending time around International Falls?
Here’s everything you need to know if you decide to venture into Canada!

Entering canada

What you should know

Checklist

  • Passport or passport card

  • Bridge toll ($9 USD into Canada, none coming back to the USA) – Additional fees for campers, buses and trailers

  • Declare food, alcohol, cash over $10k

  • No pepper spray or firearms
  • Kids need birth certificate/passport (and consent letter if not with both parents)

Crossing

A sign on a chain-link fence reads “Border Inspection / Contrôle frontalier” with the Canada flag and Canada Border Services Agency logos, marking the Canadian border checkpoint near Rainy Lake, close to Minnesota. | Rainy Lake, MN
The Canadian flag featuring a red maple leaf in the center with red bars on each side waves on a flagpole against a clear blue sky near Rainy Lake, just north of Minnesota. | Rainy Lake, MN

1

Drive across the International Bridge
Pay toll when going into Canada.

2

Stop at Canadian Customs
Show passport/ID, answer a few questions. Your vehicle may be searched including coolers, luggage, and electronics.

3

Declare items
Food, alcohol, cash, plants, firearms (most not allowed).

4

Enjoy Fort Frances & beyond

Traveler Tips

Best ID
Passport is easiest. Enhanced Driver’s License work.
Real ID’s NOT accepted.

Border Hours
Open 24/7

Busy Times
Expect longer waits on summer weekends

NEXUS
If you cross often, you can apply for this program to speed things up.

Pets
Bring proof of rabies vaccination if traveling with pets.

Kids
Traveling without both parents? Bring a consent letter.

Official & Local

Helpful Links

U.S. Customs & Border Protection – International Falls Port

Canada Border Services – Fort Frances Port

Rainy Lake Visitors Guide – Crossing Checklist

Canadian Border Crossing Checklist - Minnesota Vacations | Family Fun in the Rainy Lake International Falls Area

A silver canoe rests on the sandy shore of Rainy Lake, Minnesota, with lush green trees and a clear blue sky in the background. The calm water gently meets the shoreline. | Rainy Lake, MN

Why do visitors cross?

  • Day Trip to Fort Frances for shopping, dining, and exploring.
  • Fishing & Adventure – highlight differences in experiences/rules.

Planning to fish Rainy Lake or Rainy River?
You can bring your catch across the border, but you must follow fishing regulations on both sides. Fish need to be packaged so border agents can count and identify them with a patch of skin left on each fillet. Always declare your fish when crossing, and remember that limits from one country don’t carry over to the other. When in doubt, ask your guide or outfitter they package fish for travelers every day!

  • Canadian events – Canada Day July 1st and their bass tournament, along with many other events

Things to do

A wooden wall outside Falls International Airport in Minnesota displays large white letters reading “Falls International Airport, Einarson Field, Your International Gateway, Elevation 1185 feet,” with an airplane graphic and a bench below—near scenic Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN

Falls International Airport
A close-up of a golf ball with a logo, resting on the grass beside a hole with the flagstick inserted. The background shows Minnesota’s sunlit Rainy Lake golf course and blurred trees. | Rainy Lake, MN

Heron Landing Golf Course – Fort Frances, Ontario
A golf course with a putting green in the foreground, trees lining the course, and a winding path, all illuminated by a vibrant orange and yellow sunset sky over Rainy Lake in Minnesota. | Rainy Lake, MN

Kitchen Creek Golf Course – Fort Frances, Ontario
Children play at a splash pad in a Minnesota park, with water pouring from an overhead orange structure. Trees and green grass are in the background on a sunny day. | Rainy Lake, MN

Legion Splash Park – Fort Frances, Ontario

Coming back home

Things to know

Crossing back into the U.S. is quick and easy if you’re prepared!
Bring your passport or approved ID, declare what you purchased, and keep receipts handy. Most packaged souvenirs, clothing, and gifts are fine to bring home, but leave behind fresh fruit, meat, or plants. U.S. Customs officers may ask about your trip or check your vehicle, so plan for a few extra minutes especially on busy weekends.

A scenic mountain landscape with vibrant autumn foliage in shades of yellow, orange, and red, interspersed with green pine trees under a clear sky—reminiscent of the breathtaking beauty near Minnesota's Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN
The American flag is flying on a flagpole against a clear blue sky over Rainy Lake, Minnesota, with the red and white stripes and the blue field with stars visible. | Rainy Lake, MN