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
Food Products (Raw and Prepared)
Many prepared foods are admissible. However, bush meat made from African wildlife and almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are admissible.
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 you bring groceries across the US Canada border? ›
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 ...
Do you have to declare items at US Customs? ›
All travelers must complete a CBP Declaration Form 6059B itemizing all purchased merchandise and agricultural products. Here are your options: Complete a paper form that may be obtained at the port of entry or on the flight or cruise. Complete the online form at a Global Entry kiosk.
Can you bring furniture across the US border? ›
You may have to pay import duties (tariffs) on your furniture when crossing the US border. Furniture imported for personal use must also contain the proper HTS code and may be subject to import duties. Check the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States or consult with a customs broker for more information.
How much stuff can I bring back to the US? ›
Duty-free exemptions
In most cases, travelers are permitted to bring up to $800 worth of merchandise back to the United States without having to pay duty. (Numerous exceptions apply.) Keep in mind that only one liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars may be included in this exemption.
How much can I bring into the US as gifts? ›
A non-resident may bring gifts totaling $100 in value to the U.S. duty free. Any gift items over that amount will be dutiable at the same rates as gifts exceeding $800 for a returning resident (see next paragraph).
Do you have to claim food when crossing the border? ›
All travelers entering the United States are Required to Declare meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.
What can I bring back from the USA to Canada? ›
You can bring back up to 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres of alcoholic beverages or up to 8.5 litres of beer. You can bring back 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 grams of manufactured tobacco and 200 tobacco sticks. Some tobacco products* and alcoholic beverages may be included in your personal exemption.
What are the rules for crossing the U.S. Canada border? ›
Entry into Canada
If you are a citizen of the United States over the age of 16, you will need a Passport, a Passport Card or Enhanced Driver's Licence (only issued by certain states) to enter Canada. If you are travelling by air, you are required to have a passport, regardless of age.
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.
What food items cannot be brought into Canada? ›
Items You Cannot Bring Into Canada
Food: Fresh fruits and vegetables and animal and fish products. Live bait: Don't bring minnows, leeches, smelts, or leeches on your fishing trips. Night crawlers are permitted but must be contained with artificial tissue bedding (no soil).
Can I bring eggs across the Canadian border? ›
As of March 15, 2023, retail packaged poultry products for human consumption that are clearly labelled as a "Product of the USA" are acceptable for import from any U.S. state, regardless of outbreak status. Some examples of these products include: Raw table eggs. Vacuum-packed flats of raw chicken breasts and thighs.
Can I cross the border to shop in the US? ›
Yes, you can.
If you are Canadian you can shop at Duty Free. There are advantages to shopping with us. You can find unique Canadian products at lower prices than other retailers in Canada, and you can find products often not found in the U.S., like local award-winning wines, for example, ice wines.
What are goods that are not allowed to be taken through customs? ›
According to customs, prohibited goods are goods that are not allowed to cross the border either out of or into the country. Attempting to import or export prohibited goods can lead to serious fines and even criminal charges. Examples of prohibited goods for import include: Narcotics and habit-forming drugs.
Can you bring open snacks through customs? ›
You can bring open food through security so long as it abides by the 3-1-1 and other TSA food rules. Following the same logic and limitations, you can also bring unopened, prepackaged or sealed food through TSA.
