What Visitors Can Bring Into Canada: Alcohol, Tobacco, Gifts and Food

Quick answerVisitors who meet the minimum age (18 or 19 for alcohol depending on the province; 18 for tobacco) may bring one of 1.5 L wine, 1.14 L spirits or 8.5 L beer, and 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 g of manufactured tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks. Gifts of $60 or less each are free of duty and tax. You must declare all food, plants and animals.

Free toolAre you a Canadian resident returning home? Use the duty and tax calculator for your exemption and taxes. Visitors: see the counter-tariff guide.

Alcohol

The minimum age is 18 if you enter in Alberta, Manitoba or Quebec and 19 elsewhere. The CBSA limits are 1.5 L of wine, or 1.14 L of spirits, or 1.14 L of wine and spirits combined, or 8.5 L of beer or ale. Duties and taxes may apply, and amounts above these limits may need a provincial or territorial permit. More detail: alcohol limits and age.

Tobacco and vaping

The minimum age is 18 anywhere in Canada. The CBSA lists 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 g of manufactured tobacco, 200 tobacco sticks, or 12 vaping containers or fewer (maximum 120 mL of liquid or 120 g of solid). More detail: tobacco and vaping limits.

Gifts

Declare all gifts. Each gift worth $60 or less is free of duty and tax. For a gift above $60, duty and tax apply only to the amount over $60 (a $200 gift is taxed on $140). Tobacco, vaping products, alcohol and advertising matter do not qualify. Do not wrap gifts so officers can inspect them.

Food, plants and animals

All food, plant and animal products must be declared, including pets. Undeclared pets or food, plant and animal products may be seized, and you may face a penalty of up to $1,300. See food, plants and animals.

Your personal belongings and vehicle

Personal goods such as clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras, personal computers and devices, and your vehicle, boat or aircraft are not subject to duty or tax if you declare them and take them back when you leave. They cannot be used by a Canadian resident or for a Canadian business, given as gifts in Canada or left behind. An officer may require a security deposit and issue a temporary admission permit; bring the goods and your permit copy to the port of entry when you leave and the deposit is refunded by mail.

Counter-tariffs apply to visitors tooSince September 8, 2026, tariffs apply to US-origin goods that will remain in Canada. Consumables such as groceries are assessed against the purpose, nature and duration of your stay. Personal vehicles and baggage that non-residents bring temporarily for personal use are excluded. See US counter-tariffs for travellers.

Cash, cannabis and the Advance Declaration

Cash and monetary instruments of $10,000 or more must be declared (details). Cannabis is illegal to bring across the border. At some airports you can declare in advance with ArriveCAN.

Examples for visitors

Tax figures use Ontario's 13% HST on the amount above $60 and ignore any regular duty. Illustrations, not official figures.

What you bring	What happens
A $45 candle and a $60 scarf as gifts	Each is $60 or less: no duty or tax. Declare them and leave them unwrapped.
A $200 jacket as a gift	Duty and tax apply only to the amount above $60, so on $140. At 13% that is $18.20 of tax.
A bottle of wine as a gift	Alcohol does not qualify for the gift exemption. It counts toward your personal alcohol limit.
A laptop and camera for your own use	No duty or tax if you declare them and take them home. You cannot leave or give them away in Canada.
A 20-year-old visitor with a 750 mL bottle of wine, entering at Toronto	Not allowed: the minimum age in Ontario is 19.
The same visitor entering at Calgary	Allowed within the limit: the minimum age in Alberta is 18.
Your dog	Declare it. Pet paperwork is required.
A cooler with sandwiches and fruit	Declare all food. Groceries are assessed against the purpose and length of your stay.

Before you travel: a visitor's checklist

Passport and any documents you need to enter (this guide does not cover entry eligibility).
Alcohol and tobacco within the limits and above the minimum age where you enter.
Gifts unwrapped, each worth $60 or less if you want them duty and tax free.
All food, plant and animal products ready to declare.
Cash of $10,000 or more reported.
No cannabis in any form.

FAQ

Can visitors bring a bottle of wine as a gift?

Alcohol does not qualify for the gift exemption. It counts against your personal alcohol limit and you must meet the minimum age.

Do I pay duty on my laptop and camera?

Not if you declare them as personal goods and take them back when you leave. They cannot be left in Canada or used by a resident.

What is the penalty for not declaring food?

Undeclared pets or food, plant and animal products may be seized, and you may face a penalty of up to $1,300.

Is the minimum age the same for alcohol and tobacco?

No. Alcohol is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec and 19 elsewhere. Tobacco and vaping products are 18 anywhere in Canada.

I am bringing a rental car or my own car. Do I pay duty on it?

The CBSA lists your vehicle among personal goods: no duty or tax if you declare it and take it back when you leave, and it cannot be used by a Canadian resident or for a Canadian business. Check the CBSA tariffs page for the personal vehicle exclusion for non-residents.

Official sources

Data checked against official sources: October 17, 2026. Rules change; confirm with the CBSA before you travel.