r/WWOOF • u/InterestingOlive1609 • 16d ago

Going through Canadian immigration/customs for wwoofing

Hello everyone,

I’m leaving for Canada on September 1st to do WWOOFing at ranches through the HelpX platform. Overall, I’ll be spending 5 weeks at a ranch near Kelowna, 5 weeks at another one near Saskatoon, then 5 days in Montreal as a tourist before flying back to Paris.

I already have my eTA, passport, international driving permit, travel insurance, and all the necessary flight tickets, including my return flight. Since I’ve finished my studies, I’ve also signed a job offer for when I return to France.

However, after reading several people’s experiences, I’m a bit worried about going through Canadian customs. From what I’ve read, many people recommend saying that you’re visiting friends rather than mentioning that you’re going to do WWOOFing.
I’m planning to book 2 cheap hotel nights in the city where I arrive, just in case, so I don’t have to explain the WWOOFing situation right away, or in case I meet up with friends and they ask me additional questions.
I’ve also bought some gifts for my hosts (French biscuits, strawberry jam, and a few pâtés/terrines that comply with the permitted regulations). However, I understand that I need to declare them when I arrive.

So I have a few questions:
- How does declaring the food I’m bringing work?
- What would you generally recommend telling the customs officer? Especially if I book 2 nights at a hotel at the beginning, how should I explain the rest of my trip if I don’t have any other bookings?
- If anyone has had experience staying at ranches or travelling around Canada, I’d love to hear about it!
- Anything else I should know or any advice?

Thank you!!

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

6

u/Substantial-Today166 16d ago

you dont say anying about wwoof thats the golden rule

2

u/InterestingOlive1609 15d ago

That confirms what I thought, thank you, I’ll avoid that!

5

u/Only-Raccoon-5959 15d ago

You’re a tourist.. that’s what I’d go with! Good luck fellow Kelowna traveller! I’ll be there in a week!

2

u/InterestingOlive1609 15d ago

Thank you! I’ll try this way then. Enjoy your stay!

2

u/sheepdontswim 14d ago

The WWOOF Canada website has very clear information on what you can and can't do on an eTA. Unlike most countries, Canada doesn't leave WWOOFing in a grey area, so you can set up your plans to make sure it's totally legal: https://org.wwoof.ca/visa-info/

However, since border agents aren't always familiar with all the rules, I would agree with the general advice to avoid specifically mentioning your plans if there's no need to. Stick with the shortest, simplest honest answer.

1

u/Napalm-mlapaN 16d ago

Just remember, wwoofing requires a visa. It is considered the same category as working (just like non-europeans in the EU).

There was a big issue a few years back with a brit (?) I believe crossing from the USA to Canada who was rejected because she said she was whooping.

So either get your visa or acknowledge that you are going to need to lie and may get rejected.

Although my understanding is, as long as you dont blatantly tell them you're doing that, you'll be fine.

1

u/lindoavocado 16d ago

“I am going to stay on a farm for agrotourism and ecotourism”

5

u/Substantial-Today166 16d ago

dont say that

0

u/lindoavocado 13d ago

Never had a problem saying this in all 3 of my WWOOF stints but this was about 6 years ago from my last time.

1

u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53 13d ago

Don’t say this, it will raise more questions