Canada Customs & Quarantine Prohibited Items

These are the items that are strictly banned from entering Canada for safety reasons. If you attempt to bring these items, they will be seized by the Canada Border Services Agency.

• Certain Foods

  Meat that was prepared at home or meats that are not labelled are not allowed entry into Canada. Raw milk is strictly prohibited for health risk reasons. You can find a complete list of the food you cannot bring into Canada on the Government website.

• Weapons and Firearms

  Automatic firearms, silences, replica firearms, switchblades, butterfly knives, brass knuckers, tasers, stun guns and pepper spray are all strictly banned from entering Canada.

• Drugs

  All illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin, synthetic drugs, cannabis and drug equipment such as bongs or pipes are prohibited. Although cannabis is legal in Canada, it is illegal to bring any cannabis products such as CBD oil or edibles into Canada. You will need a permit or authorisation from Health Canada to do this which isn’t typically accepted for personal use.

• Hateful Material

  Anything that is seen to promote hate against a certain group of people or anything that incites terror or violence is strictly banned from entering Canada under Canadian law.

• Certain Animal products

  Bushmeat is strictly banned from entering Canada as there is a risk of spreading disease. Any item that comes from illegally poached or endangered animals is also prohibited. This includes any animal banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species such as coral and certain reptile skin and exotic leather.

• Explosives

  Any fireworks that don’t meet regulations in Canada, TNT and C-4 explosives, land mines and grenades, are strictly forbidden from entering Canadian customs.

• Counterfeit items

  Counterfeit items, including currency, clothes, shoes, media, and any item infringing on copyrights or trademarks, are strictly banned.

You can bring the following items into Canada without declaring them. They often have to be commercially packaged and for personal use.

• Personal Effects

  You can bring personal items like clothing and toiletries without having to declare them.

• Money

  You can bring up to $10,000 or the equivalent in another currency without having to declare it.

• Alcohol and Tobacco

  Those over the age of 18 (or 19 in certain provinces) can bring up to 1.5 litres of wine, 1.14 litres of liquor and 24 cans or bottles (355 ml each) of beer without declaring. Anything above this must be declared. You can also bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco without declaring or paying duties.

• Gifts

  You can bring gifts up to $60 per person without the need to declare them. Tobacco and alcohol are not considered gifts and fall into their own category.

• Electronics

  You can generally bring personal use electronics such as laptops, cameras, mobile phones, chargers etc without having to declare these at customs.

• Prescription Medications

  You must declare all prescription medications you need to bring to Canada. They must be in original packaging and you must show the original and valid prescription. You can only bring a supply of up to 90 days.