Information for Canadians returning to Canada

• Have proper ID
• Travelling with children
• Personal exemptions
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Food, plant and animal products
• Firearms
• Money and monetary instruments over CAN$10,000
• Trusted Traveller programs (i.e. NEXUS, CANPASS)
• I Declare brochure
• Arriving by Air: Welcome Home. Welcome to Canada

Have proper ID

The Government of Canada recommends that Canadian citizens travel with a valid Canadian passport because it is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel.

International transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a passport and/or a Canadian Permanent Resident Card. Therefore, Canadian residents who present other documents may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance.

More specific information for Canadian identification requirements can be found in the brochure I Declare.

Travelling with children

Our officers watch for missing children and may ask detailed questions about the children who are travelling with you. If you have legal custody of the child(ren) or if you share custody, have copies of relevant legal documents, such as custody rights. If you are not the custodial parent or not the parent or legal guardian of the child(ren), carry a letter of permission or authorization for you to have custody when entering Canada. A letter would also facilitate entry for any one parent travelling with their child(ren). This permission should contain contact telephone numbers for the parent or legal guardian. If you are travelling as part of a group of vehicles, be sure that you are in the same vehicle as your child(ren) when you arrive at the border.

For more tips on how to border-proof your children, please consult our fact sheet.

Personal exemptions

Please refer to the chart below for basic information on personal exemptions:

Absences	Exemptions
Absence of 24 hours or more	CAN$50
Absence of 48 hours or more	CAN$400
Absence of 7 days or more	CAN$750

For more detailed explanations of what constitutes a personal exemption, consult the appropriate section of the I Declare brochure.

Travellers should have the total of all their receipts readily available.

Alcohol and tobacco

Alcoholic beverages

You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:

• 1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine; or
• a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcoholic beverages; or
• up to a maximum of 8.5 litres of beer or ale.

Tobacco products

If you are 18 years of age or over, you are allowed to bring in all of the following amounts of tobacco into Canada free of duty and taxes within your personal exemption:

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

For further details on bringing back alcohol and tobacco, visit the I Declare brochure.

Food, plant and animal products

All food, plants, animals, and related products must be declared. Based on emerging threats, the import requirements for food, plants, animals and related products are subject to change on a daily basis. To determine the most up-to-date import requirements for these items, refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Automated Import Reference System at www.inspection.gc.ca.

Firearms

You must declare all weapons and firearms at the CBSA port of entry when you enter Canada. If not, you could face prosecution and the goods may be seized.

For more detailed information on importing a firearm into Canada, see the publication called Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada or call the Border Information Service at one of the telephone numbers listed in the Additional information section.

Money and monetary instruments over CAN$10,000

If you are importing or exporting monetary instruments equal to or greater than CAN$10,000 (or the equivalent in a foreign currency), you must report this to the CBSA when you arrive in Canada or before you leave. This applies to either cash or other monetary instruments.

For more information, please refer to the publication called Crossing the border with $10,000 or more?

Trusted Traveller programs

Want to save time at the border? Approved NEXUS or CANPASS members can use their credentials at certain ports of entry to speed up the clearance process.

I Declare brochure

For a more detailed guide for Canadians returning to Canada, consult the full I Declare brochure.

Arriving by Air

Whether you're returning home or visiting Canada, you'll follow the same straightforward process when Arriving by Air. There are four simple steps to follow.

1. Pre-Arrival: Complete a Declaration Card
2. Arrival: First CBSA Checkpoint
3. Baggage and Second CBSA Checkpoint
4. Exit the CBSA's Area

For information, including a video guide and downloadable brochure, visit Arriving by Air: Welcome Home. Welcome to Canada.