News Release

National 2010

Travel tips from the Canada Border Services Agency

Montréal, Quebec, December 21, 2010 – With the coming of the winter season, many residents of Canada will travel by air for their vacations. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) makes every effort to effectively process the volume of international arrivals at airports. The travel tips below will assist travellers to take appropriate action before their departure, and to be aware of requirements to facilitate their return to Canada.

Proper identification

Make sure that you are carrying proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you so you can prove that you have the legal right or authorization to enter Canada upon your return. While a passport is not mandatory for entry into Canada, it is the only document that is universally accepted.

Travelling with children – authorization letter

All adults travelling alone with minors are strongly recommended to have a letter authorizing them to take the children on a trip out of the country. The letter should include addresses and telephone numbers where the parents or legal guardian can be reached. Divorced/separated parents who share custody of their children should carry copies of legal custody documents.

Personal exemptions

When you return to Canada, be prepared to pay the GST and provincial tax on your purchases, and customs duties on some items. Declare all your purchases and have receipts readily available. After an absence of seven days, you are entitled to CAN$750 duty- and tax-free.

You can include one of the following alcoholic beverages, duty and tax free, if you have been away for at least 48 hours:

• 1.5 litres of wine; or
• 1.14 litres (40 oz) of alcohol; or
• A combination of wine and liquor not exceeding a total of 1.14 litres (40 oz); or
• 24 cans or bottles of beer or ale (8.5 litres maximum).

The following amounts of tobacco can be imported, free of duty and taxes, if you have been away for at least 48 hours:

• 200 cigarettes (1 carton); and
• 50 cigars or cigarillos; and
• 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco; and
• 200 tobacco sticks.

Food products

Canada has complex requirements, restrictions and limits on the importation of meat, eggs, dairy products, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other food products from all over the world. For more information, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Web site.

Plants and animals

Plants are potential carriers of insects and disease. For this reason, border services officers control the entry into Canada of plants, soil, sand or all other material in which vegetation or plants are rooted or wrapped. For more information, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Web site.

For more information, visit the CBSA Web site or contact the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999.

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For media information:

Communications Division
Canada Border Services Agency
Quebec Region
514-350-6130