Canada duty-free allowance

What arriving travelers can bring into Canada without paying duty — from official customs guidance.

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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