Information on Montreal

Montreal, general information

Accommodations

Canadian Taxes

Customs Information
- General Visitor Requirements
- For Those Bringing Children
- Visitors From the U.S. who are Not U.S. Citizens

Money Matters
- Currency & Exchange
- Credit Cards/Bank Machines

Five million visitors a year can't be wrong. Montreal is a vibrant city where the old meets the new. Old Montreal is a superb two-kilometer site along the river full of pure magic for the whole family, delivering hour after hour of fun and entertainment. Each summer, the Old Port offers a host of actvities, quality shows, the IMAS theater and exciting excursions and cruises – something for all tastes and ages.

For more information about Montreal visit the Greater Montreal Convention and Tourism Bureau Web site: www.tourism-montreal.org.

The Montreal Sheraton is a five-star hotel with a boutique style atmosphere located in the heart of Montreal.

The Teratology Society has reserved a limited number of rooms at discounted rates for meeting attendees. Arrangements for accommodations must be made through the Montreal Sheraton at (800) 325-3535 no later than May 15, 2001. Montreal in June is lovely and a popular distention, so make your reservations early to ensure that you receive the Teratology Society discounted rates.

The below room rates are exclusive of Canadian taxes and are quoted in Canadian dollars.

	Single	Double
Hotel Room	$198	$218
Club Rooms	$238	$258
Hotel Suites	$360	$360
Club Suites	$750	$750

Currently, a 7% Good & Service tax (GST) and a 7.5% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) plus a $2.28 Tourist tax, per room per day, are applicable to the room rate. Such taxes are subject to change without notice. Extra person charge is $25 per night and $30 per night is charge additional roll-in beds. Children under 18 may stay for free in their parent's room using existing bedding.

Hotel room rates are commissionable, with all commissions paid to the Society to offset the registration costs.

For more information about Canadian taxes please visit the Canadian Customs and Revenue Web site www.rc.gc.ca/visitor. As a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) you paid on eligible goods and/or short term accommodation while visiting Canada. You can also claim a refund for provincial tax you paid in the province of Quebec (TVQ).

A non-resident visitor qualifies for a tax refund if the following conditions are met:

• you are not a resident of Canada;
• you purchased eligible goods, short term accommodation or both;
• you paid GST/HST and/or TVQ on these purchases;
• you have original receipts (see enhanced export verification procedure);
• the total of your purchase amounts (before taxes) for eligible goods and accommodation must be at least CAN$200;
• each individual receipt for eligible goods shows a minimum total purchase amount (before taxes) of CAN$50;
• the goods are removed from Canada within 60 days of the date they were purchased.

Specific information can be obtained from the pamphlet, Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada, RC4031, which includes the official refund form GST176 Application for Visitor Tax Refund (PDF). This booklet is available in English, French, Japanese, and Spanish. (see Multilingual Publications)

For information on how to get your refund, see Methods of Obtaining your Visitor Tax Refund.

Non-resident businesses can apply for a refund of tax paid on eligible, short-term accommodation for their non-resident employees traveling on business anywhere in Canada by completing form GST510 Application for Business Travel Refund (PDF). Specific information is available in the pamphlet Tax Refund for Business Travel to Canada RC4117.

If you require specific Visitor Rebate Program information and answers, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions.

If you cannot find your answer, please send your question to our E-mail address at visitors@ccra-adrc.gc.ca.

For more information on Canada, visit the Canadian Tourism Commission website.

General Visitor Requirements.

Although a passport is the ideal identification, you do not require a passport or visa to enter Canada. Just make sure you carry identification to establish your citizenship such a Birth Certificate and at least one ID card with photo.

If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen, you should carry this certificate. Permanent residents of the U.S. must bring their Green Card.

Although it is rare, immigration officials may prevent the entry of visitors:
Who appear to pose a health risk.
Whom they doubt will be able to support themselves and their dependents in Canada.
Whose willingness and means to return to the U.S. is in doubt.

As well, those admissible to Canada must not have a criminal record. This includes convictions for driving while intoxicated.

If you have questions about your admissibility to enter Canada, contact your nearest Canadian Embassy of Consulate for consultation.

For Those Bringing Children
Travelers visiting Canada with children should carry the following.
Identification for each child similar to ID described for adults.
A letter of permission from the parents of any children accompanying them for whom they do not have legal custody.
Please note: Divorced parents with shared custody rights should carry legal documents establishing their status. Unaccompanied children should carry a letter of permission from their parents of legal guardian.

Visitors From the U.S. who are Not U.S. Citizens

Permanent residents of the U.S. (anyone with a Green Card) do not need to carry a passport or travel documents to enter Canada.

Temporary residents of the U.S. (anyone who carries a Temporary Resident Card, Form 1-688 or Employment Authorization Card, 1-688A or 1-688B) must carry a passport and may also require a visa, depending on their country of citizenship.

Citizens of other countries who wish to enter Canada through the United States must also carry a valid passport and may require a visa, which they should obtain in advance from a Canadian Embassy of Consulate outside Canada. Those in this category should check with an office of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service before they enter Canada.

Currency & Exchange

The currency system in Canada uses dollars and cents, similar to the U.S. system. In the past decade, the US$ has been very strong compared to the CDN$, giving American visitors a most favorable exchange value for your money.

It is always best to change your money at a recognized financial institution – bank, trust company or currency exchange. Stores, hotels and restaurants will also exchange currency but the rate will not be as good as a financial institution. And always convert some money prior to leaving home.

Canada now has one-and two-dollars coins, affectionately called the ‘loonie' and the ‘toonie', in addition to 1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, and 25 cent coins. The paper money comes in different colors and designs. The most common are $5 bills (blue), $10 bills (purple), $20 bills (green) and $50 bills (red). You may still see some old red $2 bills, which remain valid currency.

Credit Cards/Bank Machines

Major credit card such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in Canada. Keep in mind your financial institution at home will automatically make the currency exchange before you receive your monthly statement. You can use any bank card for the Interac system with just about every automatic banking machine in Canada, conveniently located at banks and other locations throughout most cities and at airports.