Traveller Information

Entering Canada

Clearing Customs
All goods coming into Canada must be reported, including goods purchased at duty-free shops in Canada and abroad. Goods not reported or falsely reported may be seized or fortified and a traveller could face prosecution. 

Exemptions
Visitors to Canada may bring in free of duties and taxes personal and household goods they need for the visit, as long as they take these goods back with them when they leave. Visitors may also bring in personal gifts for residents of Canada that are valued up to $60 Canadian per gift. However, alcohol and tobacco products do not qualify as gifts. The minimum age for someone importing alcohol and tobacco products is 19 years in Ontario and 18 years in Quebec.

Restricted or Controlled Goods
Goods such as firearms, other weapons, drugs or articles made or derived from endangered species may be restricted or controlled, or may require a special permit.

Weapons
Offensive weapons or weapons used for personal protection are prohibited from entrance into Canada. Some of these weapons are handguns, fazer guns, switch-blade knives and mace. All weapons must be declared. Customs may hold illegal weapons or make arrangements to have them shipped back. If weapons are not declared the result could be seizure and possible prosecution.

Arriving Passenger Information

Arriving from international and U.S. destinations: Canada Customs and Immigration 

All passengers arriving on flights originating outside of Canada must clear Canadian Inspection Services. While on board your aircraft, the flight crew will distribute the Travellers Declaration Card. To avoid delays, fill out the form before you land and be sure to have your passport in hand when you leave the aircraft. Upon landing, the aircraft is normally met by its airline representative who escorts passengers to Canada Customs. 

Canadian residents returning from the U.S.A. may present a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, landed immigrant card, or citizenship card as proof of residency, in lieu of a passport.

Connecting flights 

International/U.S.A. arrivals with connection to flights within Canada

For flights arriving from the U.S. and other international locations, baggage must be claimed, then processed through Canada Customs. Passengers must then re-check baggage with the connecting airline at respective check-in counters or at the ongoing/connection desk in the Customs area.

International and Canadian flights with connections to the U.S.

For a connecting flight to the U.S., baggage must be claimed, then processed through U.S. Customs and Immigration. For a connecting flight to an international destination, baggage can be checked through to the final destination in most cases; however, passengers should check with the airline.

Baggage cart

Baggage carts are available throughout the terminals and parking garages. The cart is $1, refunded when carts are returned to dispenser.

Departing Passenger Information

For flights within Canada, check in at least 30 minutes prior to departure 

For flights to the U.S., check in at least 60 minutes prior to departure 

For international flights, check in at least 90 minutes prior to departure

International/U.S. destinations

Canadian residents travelling to the U.S. may use photo identification in combination with a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, landed immigrant card, or citizenship card as proof of residency, in lieu of a passport. For inquiries, contact U.S. Immigration at ....

Canadian destinations

Passengers travelling within Canada should carry photo identification to verify themselves as the traveller named on the ticket.

Peak Periods

The peak hours at Ottawa International Airport are from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Passenger volume increases significantly during the winter holiday season, March break and the summer. Please allow extra time for parking, check-in, security screening, and luggage retrieval during these periods.

Baggage

Hand baggage must fit safely under aircraft seats, or in overhead bins. The acceptable size is determined by the type of aircraft so please check with your airline or travel agent. 

Garment bags may be carried on board some aircraft, but must be soft sided and no larger than: length 112.5cm (45 inches), depth 11.25 cm (4.5 inches).

Suitcases: passengers are generally allowed two suitcases each with an average weight of 32kg (70 lbs) per bag. Please check with your airline or travel agent when purchasing your ticket.

Canada Customs and Duty-Free Information

If you're like most people, you like to go shopping when you are travelling. But remember: when you bring goods across the border, there are rules to follow -- and usually duty to pay.

If you're a Canadian resident, you're eligible for a personal exemption, which allows you to bring a certain amount of goods into the country without paying any duty.

Personal exemptions

Personal exemptions are based on the amount of time you've spent outside Canada. These exemptions apply if: you are a Canadian resident returning from a trip abroad; a former resident of Canada returning to live in this country; or a temporary resident of Canada. 

For a minimum absence of 24 hours you can claim goods worth up to $50 Canadian (excluding alcohol and tobacco). For 48 hours, it's $200. And for seven days, it's $750. Children and infants are also eligible for personal exemptions; parents or guardians can make the declaration on behalf of the child, as long as the item is for the child's use. 

Except for certain restricted items (such as firearms and explosives) you can bring back any amount of goods. But if the amount is more than that of your personal exemption, you'll have to pay duty and any provincial or territorial assessments that apply. And if you don't qualify for a personal exemption, you'll have to pay duty on the entire amount of the goods you bring in.

Some cautions

* Make sure you take into account the foreign currency rates when calculating the amount of your goods.

* You can't combine your exemption amount with another person's or transfer your amount to someone else.

* Generally, your goods must be for personal or household use, gifts or souvenirs. Goods brought in for commercial use or on behalf of another person are subject to full duties.

* Smuggling is an offence that can result in severe penalties and prosecution.

Alcohol and tobacco

There are some special restrictions on tobacco and alcohol. These two goods can be included in your 48-hour or seven-day exemption amount, but not in your 24-hour amount. If you do have these goods, they must accompany you in your hand or checked luggage (i.e. they can't precede or follow you by mail or other means).

Here are Revenue Canada's conditions on tobacco: 
If you meet the age requirements set by the province or territory where you enter Canada (in Ontario it's 19), you may bring in:

• up to 200 cigarettes
• 50 cigars or cigarillos 
• 400 tobacco sticks
• 400 grams of manufactured tobacco. 

If you bring in more than the free allowance, you will have to pay the duties that apply. In some cases, provincial or territorial limits and assessments may also apply.

Revenue Canada's conditions on alcohol

If you meet the age requirements set by the province or territory where you enter Canada (in Ontario it's 19), you can include: 

• up to 1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres of liquor, or 24 355-ml (12-ounce) cans or bottles (8.5 litres total) of beer or ale.

You may bring in more than the free allowance of alcohol, except in the Northwest Territories. However, the quantities have to be within the limit the province or territory sets and, in most cases, you have to bring the alcoholic beverage with you.

If you bring in more than the free allowance, the cost may be high, since you will have to pay both customs and provincial or territorial assessments. For more information, check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority before you leave Canada.

Making declarations

When you return to Canada, you must declare the goods you are bringing back as purchases, gifts, awards or prizes. Don't forget to include any items you bought at the duty-free shop.

If you are arriving in Canada by plane, you will be given a traveller declaration card to fill out. This helps speed up the customs process. Make sure you and any children travelling with you have proper identification, as well as any documents required by the country you visited.

Paying duties

You can pay by cash, traveller's cheques, VISA or MasterCard. Sometimes you can use personal cheques if the amount is less than $2,500.

The source of this information is Revenue Canada's publication "I Declare." For more information on customs and duties, you can find this document at Revenue Canada's website.


By the way...
If you're not a resident of Canada, you may be eligible for tax rebates. 

Call or visit your nearest Revenue Canada office
General inquiries: (416) 973-8022, (416) 676-3643 (weekends and holidays)