What to Declare at the Canadian Border and What Happens If You Do Not

Quick answerDeclare everything you acquired abroad (purchases, gifts, prizes, duty-free goods), all food, plants and animals, cash of $10,000 or more, and any firearms or weapons. If you are unsure, declare it. Undeclared goods can be seized, with penalties of 25% to 70% of their value.

Free toolKnow what you will owe before you reach the booth: run your purchases through the duty and tax calculator.

What you must declare

All goods acquired abroad, whether carried or shipped, including gifts, prizes and awards. Duty-free purchases count too.
Repairs or alterations made to your vehicle, vessel or aircraft abroad.
Currency or monetary instruments of $10,000 or more (details).
All food, plant, animal and related products (details).
Firearms and weapons. Most weapons are prohibited, including tasers, pepper spray and certain knives.

How to declare

CBSA Declaration Card (Form E311): given on commercial aircraft and completed before landing. Also used at some train, boat and bus locations.
To an officer: travellers in private vehicles usually declare orally.
Kiosks and Advance Declaration: at some airports, see Advance CBSA Declaration.
Form BSF192: request it from an officer if goods claimed under the 7-day exemption will follow you.

Receipts and proof

Receipts are not explicitly required to declare, but the CBSA advises keeping them for accommodation, purchases and repairs. Officers may ask to see them as evidence of the length of your stay and the value of your goods. Keep your receipt for any duty and taxes paid.

How you pay

The CBSA accepts cash, traveller's cheques, Visa, American Express and Mastercard, debit cards at most offices, and personal cheques up to $2,500 if conditions are met.

Penalties

The CBSA can seize undeclared or falsely declared goods and may impose a penalty of 25% to 70% of the value of the seized goods.
Alcohol and tobacco not properly declared are seized permanently.
Vehicles used to unlawfully import goods may be seized, and a penalty is required before return.
You can appeal by contacting the CBSA within 90 days of the seizure date.
An infraction record can lead to more detailed exams and loss of NEXUS and CANPASS eligibility.

Identification

Carry proper ID for yourself and any children. The CBSA recommends a passport. Children travelling with someone other than a parent or guardian should have a signed consent letter from each parent or guardian not on the trip.

Do I declare it? A quick table

Item	Declare?	Why
A bottle bought at a duty-free shop	Yes	Duty-free purchases must be declared
A souvenir you bought abroad	Yes	All goods acquired abroad
A present a friend gave you abroad	Yes	Gifts and prizes count
A sandwich or a bag of apples	Yes	All food and plant products
Your pet	Yes	Animals must be declared
C$6,000 and US$5,000 together	Yes	$10,000 or more in currency and instruments, combined
New tires or repairs done abroad on your vehicle	Yes	Repairs and alterations to a vehicle, vessel or aircraft
A handgun, pepper spray or a taser	Declare any firearm or weapon; most weapons are prohibited	Officers may seize them and file charges if you do not

What an arrival can sound like

These are our own examples of a clear declaration, not a script from the CBSA:

"I was away three days. I bought about $400 of clothes, two 750 mL bottles of wine and a couple of gifts. I am carrying no more than $10,000."
"I have a cooler with some cheese and fruit, which I am declaring."
"I am not sure about this item, so I am declaring it."

Why honest and early beats fixing it later

The penalty range for undeclared goods (25% to 70% of their value) is far above the tax you would have paid. Example: undeclared goods worth $1,000 can lead to a penalty of $250 to $700, plus seizure, compared with about $130 of HST in Ontario. That is arithmetic on the CBSA range; the actual outcome is up to the CBSA.

FAQ

Do I declare duty-free shop purchases?

Yes. The CBSA says duty-free purchases must be declared.

Do I declare gifts I am bringing home?

Yes. Gifts you bring back are subject to your exemption limits.

What if I forget to declare something?

Tell a border services officer as soon as you realize it. The CBSA says that if you are unsure whether an item must be declared, declare it.

What is the difference between a seizure and a penalty?

The CBSA can seize goods and may return them after you pay a penalty. Alcohol and tobacco that were not properly declared are seized permanently.

Should I declare something I am unsure about?

Yes. The CBSA says that if you are unsure whether an item must be declared, declare it.

Official sources

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