Canada duty-free allowance

Your duty-free allowance is what you can bring into Canadawithout paying import duty or tax. Anything above it must be declared at customs and is taxed. The figures below were checked on 2026-07-31 against the official customs source, linked on the card.

Alcohol

1.14 L

spirits — or 1.5 L wine / 8.5 L beer · 48h+ away

Full rule

48h+ absence: 1.5L wine OR 1.14L spirits OR up to 8.5L beer (provincial drinking age 18/19)

Tobacco

200 cigarettes

+ cigars & tobacco · 48h+ away

Full rule

48h+: 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 200g manufactured tobacco AND 200 tobacco sticks; unstamped tobacco capped at 5 units under Excise Act 2001

Goods & gifts

CAD 800

48h+ away · only CAD 200 under 48h

Full rule

under 24h: no exemption; 24-48h: CAD 200 (no alcohol/tobacco); 48h+: CAD 800; 7 days+: CAD 800 (goods may follow, alcohol/tobacco must accompany)

Cash · declare from

CAD 10,000+

Full rule

CAD 10,000+ in money or monetary instruments must be declared

Depends on: exemption strictly tiered by absence duration (24h/48h/7d); returning residents only; duty-free on goods made in CA/US/MX

Good to know

the CAD 200 24-hour tier excludes alcohol and tobacco entirely; CBSA duty estimator tool exists but ignores personal exemptions

From Canada's official customs guidance, checked 2026-07-31 ·verify at the source · Guidance, not law — allowances change and the customs officer has the final say. Verify before you fly.

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