There are a number of requirements in terms of paperwork & notification.
US registered aircraft: Must have a Customs & Border Protection decal. Available from:
https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/main/login_internet.jsp# Costs $26.50. More if you use expedited delivery. Not worth it because it is acceptable to fly if you have ordered the decal - but not yet received it - as long as you have the receipt for it in the plane.
The decal must be placed within a foot or so of the door and visible from the exterior when the door is open.
The plane must have its FCC radio licence.
Pilot:
You must carry your licence & medical, passport (of course) and your FCC restricted radiotelephone operator licence. It can only be obtained online from:
You have to register an account to pay:
https://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/coresWeb/regEntityType.do
FCC form 605 to apply on-line. Pay using form 159.
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html#605
FCC website instructions:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/rp.html
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USA & Canada have two entirely different systems & requirements for Customs & Immigration notification. You will have to notify each country's C&I separately
USA:
As was written above, register on the gov. website:
https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov/auth/login.html. Google 'eapis' will give you a link straight to it.
An online eapis submission is required for each & EVERY USA international departure or arrival. DO NOT cross the border with out one being submitted for each border crossing - inbound or outbound. Be aware that the eapis submission is not the approval for the flight to proceed. You will only know the flight is approved to cross the USA border when you receive an email with a sentence in it similar to 'based on the information submitted this flight is approved to depart' (or arrive, if inbound to the USA.
Eapis must be submitted at least 60 mins prior to departure, or inbound crossing of the border or ADIZ. Don't depart the US prior to your nominated ETD. CBP reserve the right to inspect the plane prior to departure. They rarely do, but get pretty pissy if they turn up to inspect and you've already left. CBP aren't known for their sense of humour.
CBP at any airport can have their own procedures & requirements - especially for arrivals. Phone them before you go to see what they require. Typically you will need to phone them at least 60 mins prior to ETA. Some stations require you to stay in the plane, others to unload & walk in. Like I said, phone them. It makes life a lot easier!
Canada:
Phone CANPASS prior to departing the US. Provide similar info as US eapis, but verbally at least 2 hrs prior to ETA, and no more than 48 hrs. You only need to notify CANPASS for entry *into* Canada. No need to do anything other than file a plan & go for departures *from* Canada (but don't forget US eapis requirements still have to be met.
CANPASS website:
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/can...alavi-eng.html
On arrival in Canada you will have to stay in the plane. Phone CANPASS to advise arrival. You'll either be told to wait for a Customs agent to arrive, who will give you a reference number once you're cleared, or you will be given that cleared-in reference number over the phone and you're free to go.
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Flight plans:
You must submit an IFR or a DVFR plan for crossing the border. I use fltplan.com for *all* of my flight planning & submission, both privately & professionally but you can do it via a briefer too. You can also pay fltplan.com to do the eapis submission for you. Last I checked it was US$25 / flight with some discounts for pre-paid multiple/bulk submissions. I don't bother, but some people prefer it.
If on DVFR flight plan make sure you activate it, and get a TXDR code from ATC.
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Charts etc
Fltplan.com have an app, fltplan go, for Android & Ipad. It has free VFR & IFR charts etc for USA & Canada. You can also download your fltplan.com flight plan including notams, weather etc. I pretty much use it for all of my flying.