Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages are products that exceed 0.5%alcohol by volume. Certain alcoholic and wine products that do not exceed 0.5% by volume are not considered alcoholic beverages.
If you have been away from Canada for 48 hours or more, you are allowed to import one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:
| Product | Metric | Imperial | Estimates |
| Wine | Up to1.5litres of wine | Up to 53fluid ounces | Two 750 ml bottles of wine |
| Alcoholic beverages | Up to 1.14 litres | Up to 40 fluid ounces | One large standard bottle of liquor |
| Beer or ale | Up to 8.5 litres | Up to 287 fluid ounces | Approximately 24 cans or bottles (355 ml each) of beer or ale. |
You must meet the minimum age of the province or territory where you enter Canada. Minimum ages are established by provincial or territorial authorities: 18years for Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec and 19years for the remaining provinces and territories.
The CBSA classifies "cooler" products according to the alcoholic beverage they contain. For example, beer coolers are considered to be beer and wine coolers are considered to be wine.
The quantities of alcoholic beverages you can import must be within the limit set by provincial and territorial liquor control authorities that apply where you will enter Canada. If the amount of alcohol you want to import exceeds your personal exemption, you will be required to pay the duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply. Contact the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority for more information before you return to Canada.
Tobacco products
You can speed up your clearance by having your tobacco products available for inspection when you arrive.
Whether they are stamped or unstamped, if you bring in tobacco products that exceed your personal exemption, you will be required to pay the regular duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply on the excess amount.
Note: You must be 18 years of age to bring tobacco products into Canada under your personal exemption.
Stamped Tobacco Products – Personal exemption amounts
If you wish to import cigarettes, manufactured tobacco and tobacco sticks duty free as part of your personal exemption, the packages must be stamped "duty paid Canada droit acquitté". You will find tobacco products sold at duty-free stores marked this way.
If you have been away from Canada for 48 hours or more, you may import all of the following amounts of cigars and stamped tobacco into Canada free of duty and taxes.
| Product | Amount |
| Cigarettes | 200 cigarettes |
| Cigars | 50 cigars |
| Tobacco | 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco |
| Tobacco sticks | 200 tobacco sticks |
Unstamped Tobacco Products – Special duties rate
A special duty rate applies to cigarettes, manufactured tobacco and tobacco sticks that are not stamped "duty paid Canada droit acquitté".
For example, if you claim a carton of 200 cigarettes as part of your personal exemption and it is not stamped "duty paid Canada droit acquitté", you will be assessed at a special duty rate.
Unstamped Tobacco Products – Import limits
In addition to your personal exemption amounts, there are limits on the quantity of tobacco products that may be imported if it is not packaged and not stamped "duty paid Canada droit acquitté". The limit is currently fiveunits of tobacco products. Oneunit of tobacco products consists of one of the following:
| Product | Amount |
| Cigarettes | 200 cigarettes |
| Cigars | 50 cigars |
| Tobacco | 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco |
| Tobacco sticks | 200 tobacco sticks |
FAQs
Travelers may bring commercially canned fruits and vegetables (not containing any meat products) into the United States. All such products must be declared and presented at entry, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists will make the final determination as to what products may enter.
What is the custom limits for bringing goods into us? ›
Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate.
Can I buy groceries in the US and bring them back to Canada? ›
Travellers coming into Canada can carry food with them for their own personal use, provided the food is imported within the specified personal exemption limits of the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations and there are no restrictions in place under other federal legislation, such as the Health of Animals Act or the Plant ...
What are the new rules for cross-border shopping? ›
Returning residents can bring back, tax and duty free, goods valued at CAN$200 after being away for 24 hours, and goods valued at CAN$800 after 48 hours. There are no personal exemptions for same-day cross-border shopping trips so be prepared to pay tax on those purchases and possibly duty.
What should you not bring over the border? ›
Examples of prohibited items are dangerous toys, cars that don't protect their occupants in a crash, bush meat, or illegal substances like absinthe and Rohypnol. Restricted means that special licenses or permits are required from a federal agency before the item is allowed to enter the United States.
What are goods that are not allowed to be taken through customs? ›
Examples of prohibited goods for import include: Narcotics and habit-forming drugs. Poisons and toxic substances. Certain types of firearms, military weapons. Certain types of explosives and fireworks.
Do I have to declare Louis Vuitton at customs? ›
Here's where things can get a little dicey. Do you have to declare that secondhand Louis Vuitton wallet? The answer is almost always yes. In most cases, you're permitted to bring up to $800 worth of goods into the U.S. without having to pay any duty fees.
What items do you have to declare to customs in USA? ›
You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.
Which goods are exempted from customs duty in the USA? ›
You are permitted to bring 100 cigars or 200 cigarettes (one carton) into the US duty free, or one roll (“stock”) of snuff into the US duty free. You may import furniture, dishes, linens, libraries, artwork and similar household furnishings for your personal use free of duty.
What fruits and vegetables can cross the border? ›
Travelers may bring commercially canned fruits and vegetables into the United States as long as you declare them on your U.S. Customs form. Home-canned products are not allowed entry because canning practices can vary and may not remove all pest and disease risks.
Goods must be in your possession and reported at time of entry to Canada. If the value of the goods you are bringing back exceeds CAN$800, duties and taxes are applicable only on amount of the imported goods that exceeds CAN$800. A minimum absence of 48 hours from Canada is required.
What can I not bring back to Canada from us? ›
Prohibited goods include:
- cannabis.
- food, plants, animals and related products that pose a risk to Canada.
- endangered species and anything made from the parts or endangered species (these can be found in some souvenirs)
You can claim goods up to CAN$200 without paying any duty and taxes. You must have the goods with you when you enter Canada, and tobacco products or alcoholic beverages are not included in this amount. If you bring in goods worth more than CAN$200, you have to pay full duty and taxes on the total amount.
Can I bring cheese into Canada? ›
Global Affairs Canada requires an import permit for all types of cheese imports including fresh, grated, powdered and processed. Keep in mind, this is in addition to obtaining a cheese import license. With a Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) Permit you can receive reduced duty rates for importing cheese.
What items are prohibited to bring into Canada? ›
Goods such as obscene material, hate propaganda, child p*rnography, counterfeit coins, and goods made by prisoners intended for sale by a person or firm will not cross Canadian borders. Other prohibited items include: Firewood. Weapons such as tasers, brass knuckles, pepper spray, and certain knives.
What can you bring over the border to Canada? ›
As a visitor, you can bring certain goods into Canada for your own use as personal baggage. Personal baggage includes clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras and personal computers. This also includes your mode of transportation, including vehicles, private boats and aircraft.
What do you have to declare at the US border? ›
You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.
Does the border check your bags? ›
Agents may search any person, the inside of any vehicle, and all passenger belongings. Agents do not need a warrant, any suspicion of wrongdoing, or consent to do any of these things. CBP's own policy requires that searches be “conducted in a manner that is safe, secure, humane, dignified and professional.”
Do you have to declare everything at U.S. Customs? ›
Travelers should declare all items being brought from abroad that will remain in the United States. This includes gifts and duty-free purchases. Goods purchased in a duty-free shop are not automatically free of duty upon your return to the United States.
