r/canadaguns • u/WestEasterner • Mar 14 '26
Application / Regulation advice Cross Country Move (via USA) with firearms
Hi All - Moving from the GTA to Alberta. It's hard to ignore how much time is saved by travelling through Windsor into the US rather than up and over Superior - which I'm not thrilled about doing in a loaded full size u-haul. What do I need to know as far as travelling with firearms is concerned?
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Mar 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/WestEasterner Mar 14 '26
The more I dig into it, the more I think you're right.
Thanks :) House is bought, just have to get there now! :)
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u/LongRoadNorth Mar 14 '26
Long way staying in Canada.
The time you'll save going through the US will be eaten up at customs going into the US and coming back in. Especially when you declare firearms coming back in.
If you really insist on the short drive, mail the firearms so they don't have to leave Canada.
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u/SniperTeamTango Mar 14 '26
Pay attention to the road signs around thunder Bay indicating that there is limited fuel for distances and you will be fine
Just in case this was unclear, don't go through the US
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u/accidentally_right Mar 14 '26
A bit unconventional suggestion. Send firearms from GTA to yourself in Alberta using Canada Post.
Worst case it'll spend some time at Canada Post office in Alberta.
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u/handen Mar 14 '26
You have two options: Attempt to cross the US border, where they will stop you, unload everything, possibly arrest you, detain you, retain your firearms, and deny you entry anyway. And then even if you do get into the US you're going to be dealing with the exact same scenario to get back into the country at some point regardless. Or the other option: Just stay in Canada.
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u/HankHippoppopalous Mar 14 '26
I've done this drive a dozen times. If I have anything with me thats going to be an issue, I just drive through Canada. Northern Ontario is a shithole but its worth it.
Lock your truck in Thunderbay
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u/black_covfefe_please Mar 14 '26
Last week someone had this same question. The answer from an informed person was surprisingly simple. I don't remember exactly what it was, but if you search through the subreddit, you should be able to find it.
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Mar 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/WestEasterner Mar 15 '26
100% in the plan.. Driving a uhaul, I have low expectations on just how fuel efficient that pos is going to be lol
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u/brandon-568 Mar 14 '26
Driving the long way is much easier and the views in northern Ontario are worth the drive, I drove from Kitchener to Alberta in 2013 when I moved here and drove home and back to Alberta in 2015 for a vacation to see my parents.
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u/WestEasterner Mar 15 '26
Mind if I ask if you took 11 or 17? Driving a full 26ft uhaul, I'm a little concerned about trucks driving up my ass while there's probably still snow on the road. I feel like there's no choice but to take 11 to avoid the hills and higher number of sharp twisties
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u/brandon-568 Mar 15 '26
I took the 17, when I was moving I was still young and don’t have much so I just did the drive in a $500 Pontiac minivan lmao.
Most big hills you have to drive up will have passing lanes so you should be fine taking your time up the hills and everyone can pass if they need too, you’ll probably be stuck behind some semi trucks too anyway.
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u/Eat_Cantaloupe_ Mar 15 '26
It's going to be WAY less stressful just to take the long way and avoid international travel
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u/mischling2543 Mar 15 '26
The highway along the north shore of Lake Superior between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay is 8 hours of the most beautiful driving I've ever done east of the Rockies. You won't regret going the long way.
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u/Reliable-Narrator Mar 17 '26
I've not done this before, but this information on the ATF Form 6NIA (for temporary import into the US for hunting or sportshooting) indicates you should be able to travel through the US to get back into Canada without any form or paperwork needed, and as long as your firearms as US legal without specific permits SBRs, etc.
"Generally, a nonimmigrant alien transiting the United States with a firearm does not require an ATF Form 6NIA (5330.3D) or a temporary import permit issued by the Department of Commerce or Department of State. If you are being admitted under a nonimmigrant visa and will be in physical possession of your firearm, you will need to meet one of the exceptions outlined at 18 U.S.C. § 922(y). For example, if you are a nonimmigrant alien and you will be driving through the United States as a short cut to get from one part of Canada to another and will have firearms with you, you do not need to file an ATF Form 6NIA because you are not temporarily bringing your firearm(s) in for hunting or other lawful sporting purposes. You also do not need a temporary import permit from the Department of Commerce or Department of State because there is an exception to their license requirement that applies in this situation. However, if you were admitted under a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to have a valid hunting license from a state within the United States to lawfully possess your firearm while transiting through the United States"
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u/ovglove Mar 14 '26
I don't think it's actually that big of a deal. I'm from Sarnia area, guys I know go moose hunting in northern Ontario all the time and drive through MI through the upper Peninsula and enter back into Canada. I believe there's a form you prefill and it's pretty seamless.
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u/icyhotbackpatch Mar 14 '26
Untangling which guns need which approval from which U.S. agency is a nightmare. Shotguns are under Dept of Commerce, separate permit. They consider many more things SBRs than we do, so there’s issues there.
If the guy has one rifle maybe it makes sense. If he’s moving shotguns, rifles, handguns, whatever else, in number, you’ll spend more time filling out forms and paperwork than just driving through Canada.
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u/slvrus Mar 14 '26
Yes I've heard of guys taking the I75 to do this too. I think there's some sort of easy way to go about it paperwork wise if you tell them you're just passing through and not stopping. Same way Americans get to Alaska I think.
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u/icyhotbackpatch Mar 14 '26
No. Americans transiting through Canada rarely take guns because most of their guns are prohibs (even before all the Trudeau shit). Most Alaska bound ship their guns. You can’t get a waiver or import a prohib through Canada, period.
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u/slvrus Mar 14 '26
I watched a travel vlog of these Americans RVing through Canada to get to Alaska and they brought their shotguns through with relative ease.
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u/JustWonder2097 Mar 14 '26
Personally I’d take the long route and stay out of that potential mess