What can snowbirds bring back to Canada?
We will be heading home to Canada from the U.S. soon. How do I find out what I can bring back to Canada?
LAST UPDATED: April 11, 2023
For snowbirds returning to Canada, it can be very confusing to figure out what you can - and cannot - bring across the border.
Many goods are restricted or prohibited, while others have limits on how much you can bring back to Canada. Then there’s the matter of how much duty and tax you’ll have to pay, depending on what you’re bringing back.
And to make things even more complex, the rules can change from time to time and temporary restrictions can be put in place for some goods due to health and safety concerns.
Fortunately, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have a number of resources available online to review prior to coming home so you can plan accordingly:
- What you can bring home to Canada
- Travelling with pets, food or plants
- Bringing food into Canada for personal use
- Maximum quantity limits for personal use exemption
- Estimate duty and taxes on items you are bringing back to Canada
If you can’t find the information you are looking for online, you can also contact the CBSA by phone or email with your question:
