Taking Goods Out
Exemptions and Duty: International Visitors
International travelers should check with the customs authorities in their home country before traveling to determine what goods or money they will be allowed to bring back with them.
Exemptions and Duty: U.S. Visitors
American residents who spend more than 48 hours in Canada are allowed to take goods purchased in Canada worth up to US$400 back into the U.S. You may take advantage of this exemption only once every 30 days. (If you have already used this exemption, the US$200 exemption applies.) Members of a single family, traveling together and living in the same residence, are allowed to pool their exemptions to cover their combined purchases.
U.S. citizens are allowed one litre of alcohol, 100 cigars or one carton of 200 cigarettes within one exemption. (Note: Cuban cigars are available in Canada but may not be brought back into the United States).
If you visit Canada for less than 48 hours, you are allowed to take goods purchased in Canada worth up to US$200, 5.1 ounces of alcohol, 10 cigars or 50 cigarettes.
As of January 1998, there is no longer any duty charged on items made in Canada or the United States worth less than US$1,400. However goods valued more than US$1,400 are still liable for various taxes.
For current information on duty rates and levels, please contact U.S. Customs before you travel.
United States Customs Service Information Center
1301 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20229
(202) 927-0370
Gifts: U.S. Visitors
You may mail gift parcels to friends and family in the U.S. both duty free and tax free provided that the fair retail value of the gift does not exceed US$100. The package should be clearly marked "Unsolicited gift," and its contents and fair retail value should be indicated.
For further information, contact your nearest U.S. Customs office.
Bringing Money Home: U.S. Visitors
You may carry any amount of money or other negotiable instruments between Canada and the United States. If, however, you are importing or exporting more than US$10,000, you are required to file a report of the transaction with U.S. Customs (using Customs Form 4790, which can be obtained at any border station).
Cultural Property: All Visitors
Canada has restrictions in place to keep objects that are of historical, cultural or scientific significance in Canada. If you wish to take objects that are more than 50 years old - such as fossils, archaeological artifacts, fine and decorative art, technological objects, or books and archival material - out of the country, you should first contact the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board to determine if an export permit is required:
The Secretary
Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board
Department of Canadian Heritage,
15 Eddy Street, 3rd Floor,
Hull, Quebec K1A OM5
Canada,
Telephone: (819) 997-7761
Fax: (819) 997-7757
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