Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to items I declare?

Items will be inspected by a Canada Border Services Agency Officer, and possibly a Canadian Food Inspection Agency Inspector, to determine their eligibility for import. If an item is allowed into Canada and is not prohibited, it will be returned to you. If the item is prohibited, it will be confiscated or you could be asked to obtain an import certificate or permit.

How long does it take to declare an item?

It will take you less time to declare an item and clear customs than it would take if you are caught with an item that should be declared. Declaring an item can take seconds. Sometimes you will be sent for a secondary inspection which will take a little more time. Keep in mind that there can be a monetary penalty if you do not declare an item that falls within the declarable guidelines.

If I declare an item do I automatically lose it?

No, if the item is prohibited, it will be seized and destroyed or returned to the country of origin at your request and at your expense. If it meets import requirements the item will be released back to you.

What happens to my confiscated items? Am I allowed to reclaim them?

All prohibited goods are destroyed in accordance with Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations. Prohibited items can also be returned to the country of origin at the travellers request and expense, if declared on importation.

What happens if I don't agree that the Canada Border Services Agency should have seized the items I brought back?

If you don't think that your items should have been seized, you can request to speak to a supervisor or a manager to verify the decision, either at the time of the seizure, or after the fact.

I have something in my checked luggage, how do I declare it?

You should declare all food, plant and animal commodities on your customs declaration form.

What are prohibited product bins?

They are bins where travellers can drop any prohibited food, plant, animal commodities for disposal without penalty, according to Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Canada Border Services Agency guidelines.

What plants and animals or their products can I import?

For full information on what plants and animals can be imported please visit the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) website. The purpose of the AIRS is to provide accurate and timely information on import requirements.

In addition, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) sets controls on the international trade and movement of animal and plant species that have been, or may be, threatened due to excessive commercial exploitation.

I want to import goods into Canada for commercial purposes where can I get more information?

The Canada Border Services Agency contains information for businesses that import commercial goods into Canada.

In addition, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in cooperation with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), has established three regional Import Service Centres (ISC): Eastern Region - served from Montreal; Central Region - served from Toronto; and Western Region - served from Vancouver.

Import Service Centres process import request documentation/data sent electronically or by fax by the importing community across Canada. Staff review the information and return the decision either electronically to Canada Border Services Agency, which then relays it to the client, or by fax directly to the broker/importer, who then submits the release package to CBSA.

How much alcohol and tobacco can I bring back to Canada with me?

Consult the I Declare pamphlet. This pamphlet is an overview of the laws, restrictions, entitlements, rights, and obligations of Canadian residents returning from travel outside Canada.

Can I bring a firearm into Canada with me?

There are a variety of conditions under which firearms and weapons may or may not be imported. For more information please consult the document Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada

I want to send boxes to myself in Canada - what are the rules surrounding postal or courier packages?

The CBSA Postal, Courier and Casual Refund Program covers the operations of three different national programs:

• The Postal Program deals with all customs related matters in terms of the clearance of international mail both casual and commercial shipments coming into Canada.
• The Courier Low Value Shipment (LVS) Program is responsible for operations of the Courier/Low Value Shipment (LVS) import process. This process expedites the importation into Canada of approved shipments worth less than $1,600 CAN. This program is available for both casual and commercial shipments.
• The Casual Refund Program covers procedures for refunding duties, the goods and services tax (GST), the harmonized sales tax (HST), provincial sales tax (PST), provincial tobacco and alcohol taxes, and the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) on non commercial importations sent into Canada by mail and courier or carried in by a traveller.

Can I bring animals into Canada?

Under the National Animal Health Program, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency establishes import requirements for all animals and animal products entering Canada, including domestic pets.

Information on the import requirements for animals and animal products can also be found using the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) website.

Where can I find travel-related information for trips to Canada?

Check out Service Canada's travel portal.

Where can I find more information about flying to or from or within Canada?

To help make your flight as smooth as possible, the Canadian Transportation Agency has put together a booklet, which provides helpful information and advice about flying to, from and within Canada.

Where can I find information on passports?

Visit Passport Canada.

Where can I find out about safety and security conditions in the country I will be visiting?

Consult the Country Travel Reports before your departure to find out about safety and security conditions, health questions and entry requirements for the country or countries you are going to. Foreign Affairs Canada publishes reports for over 200 destinations around the world.

What do I need to know about travelling with children?

Travelling with children can be a rewarding experience; however, one must take certain precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for all. It is important to make sure that you have all of the appropriate documents when travelling with your child as well as to be aware of any regulations and conditions that may affect your trip.

Where can I get general border crossing information?

You can visit the CBSA website where you will find estimated wait times for reaching the primary inspection booth, the first point of contact with CBSA when crossing the Canada/U.S. land border. Each border location updates its estimated wait times at least once an hour, and this Web page is refreshed every 10 minutes if some of the information has changed.

You can also use the Border Information Service (BIS), a computerized, 24 hour telephone service that automatically answers all incoming calls and provides general border services information. You can use a touch tone telephone to hear recorded information. Just call 1-800-461-9999. BIS will greet you and ask you to choose the category of border services information you need. At the end of the recorded message, you can choose to either speak with an agent or hear border services information on other topics.

What foods, plants and animals and their products can I take to other countries?

The requirements for products going into other countries are set by the governments of each individual country. You can obtain information about travelling with foods, plants and animals and their products through the embassy of the country you plan to visit. You will find a list of embassies and consulates on the website of Foreign Affairs Canada.

Where can I find information on health risks while travelling?

Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Program.

I am a travel-health professional, where can I find out more information?

Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site for travel medicine professionals.