Customs

Upon landing you will complete a customs declaration either on paper (as pictured below) or electronically at a kiosk which will print out a declaration receipt for you. You will present your customs declaration to a CBSA officer at the Pre-Inspection Line (PIL) who will conduct a short interview. All travelers arriving in Canada must make a customs declaration.

 

Sample of a customs declaration

Please note that up to four people living at the same address may be listed in a single declaration. To read more about making customs declarations, click here.

Be aware that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requires that you pay a duty on the following goods:

  • Leased or rented items
  • Items bought en route to Canada
  • Vehicles that will be used for business
  • Farm equipment
  • Equipment that will be used in construction, contracting or manufacturing

You will also need to declare any of the following items on your customs card:

  • CAD$10,000 or more in cash
  • Any food, plant or animal products
  • Any alcoholic products exceeding:
    • 5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine
    • A total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcoholic beverages, or
    • up to a maximum of 8.5 litres of beer or ale
  • Any tobacco products exceeding:
    • 200 cigarettes
    • 50 cigars
    • 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco, or
    • 200 tobacco sticks

It is important to report any of the above items on your declaration form, as failure to make an accurate declaration could result in penalization.

To see a list of restricted and prohibited items, click here.