It's a beautiful journey aboard a Washington State Ferry as your car ferry sails from Anacortes through the San Juan Islands to Sidney, B.C. on Vancouver Island. Visitors can enjoy Butchart Gardens, with its hundreds of trees and masses of colorful flowers and shrubs. Take double decker buses on a sight-seeing trip from downtown Victoria. Sidney is just 17 miles from Victoria, a one-of-a-kind city, capital of British Columbia and a blend of English and Canadian architecture, flavor and charm. This 2-3 hour cruise provides beautiful scenery, picture opportunities and views of island living.
WSF Recommends making Vehicle Reservations
If you are traveling by vehicle between Anacortes and Sidney, B.C. or from the San Juan Islands to or from Sidney, B.C., you may make a reservation with us: online or by phone. A non-refundable deposit, applied to your American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa, is taken to confirm your reservation and is applied to your fare. The remainder of your fare will need to be paid when you arrive at the terminal. You should receive an email confirmation of your reservation after making an online reservation or within 5 days by mail for phone reservations.
Identification Is A Requirement
U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling to or from Sidney BC must have one of the following designated documents: passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license (EDL), or "trusted traveler" document such as a Nexus Card.
The EDL is available in the state of Washington and many other states. Please check your local department of licensing for more information.
Department of Licensing
Children Traveling to Canada
U.S. and Canadian citizens who are 15 years old or younger will still be allowed to travel with just a copy of their birth certificate, as will teens between the ages of 16-18 if they are a part of an adult supervised school, religious, cultural or athletic group.
If both birth parents are not traveling, you must have written authorization from the parent(s) along with a telephone number where they can be reached to verify the authorization or proof of custody. Failure to provide such evidence may make you inadmissible to enter Canada.
Travel Options to Victoria
Transit Options to Victoria
BC Transit #72-Mon-Fri
BC Transit #72 - Saturday
BC Transit #72 - Sunday
The stop closest to the terminal is the one labeled “Fifth at Weiler”.
People heading to Victoria should be instructed to cross the street, as the bus stop on the terminal side is for BC Ferries bound traffic (i.e. Vancouver). Cost per ride is $2.50 for adults, and $1.65 for seniors and youth.
The bus system accepts only Canadian currency and requires exact change. Bus drivers do not carry change. Sidney has many banks and ATM machines along its main street so people can also walk to Beacon Avenue to change currency when they arrive.
Helpful information
For ferry routes to Victoria, we have a page which provides links to Other Ferry Services in the Pacific Northwest. Passengers on the Anacortes/Sidney, B.C. route or San Juan Islands/Sidney, B.C. route will be crossing international boundaries and will be subject to either United States and/or Canadian Customs Service and Immigration inspection.
Need More Information
For further information on crossing the US/Canadian Border, please visit the CDP Web site for more detail.
If You’ve Ever Had A Felony
Foreign nationals with a single minor crime conviction (DUI, shoplifting, etc.) may apply to be given a one-time Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) and will be allowed to go to Canada. They will not be afforded this a second time. If they have two or more convictions of minor crimes they will not be allowed into Canada.
If they wish to enter Canada again, they will have to go to a consulate (one is located in Seattle) where they pay a fee to be “rehabilitated” and then they can go to Canada. The cost for this is $200 for a minor crime such as a DUI or shoplifting. It is $1,000 if a more serious conviction of a crime. NOTE: The person with the minor crime conviction must wait 5 years to apply for the rehabilitation fee.
If you have other questions, please contact the Canadian Border Service for assistance. You can access the Border Services line by calling 204-983-3500 (long-distance charges will apply). If you call during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, Monday to Friday, except holidays), you can speak directly to an agent by pressing “0” at any time.
What is required for U.S. Permanent Residents?
A Permanent Resident or a holder of the immigration “green card” needs to present a valid card at the border.
What do I need to bring my pet across the border?
Information on importing domestic dogs and cats is accessible from the "Animals" section of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Web site at the following URLs:
Frequently Asked Questions on the Importation of Domestic Dogs:
http://inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/canine.shtml
Importations of Domestic Cats
http://inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/feline.shtml
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