From Susan Munroe,
Your Guide to Canada Online.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Duty-Free Allowance for Alcohol When You Move to Canada

If you are moving to Canada permanently or if you are coming to Canada to work for more than three years, you are allowed to bring a small quantity of alcohol (wine, liquor, beer or coolers) into the country without having to pay duty or taxes as long as:

• the alcohol accompanies you

• you meet the minimum legal drinking age for the province or territory in which you enter Canada

You may bring in one of

• 1.5 litres (50.7 US ounces) of wine, including wine coolers over 0.5 percent alcohol, or

• 1.14 litres (38.5 US ounces) of liquor, or

• a total of 1.14 litres (38.5 US ounces) of wine and liquor, or

• 24 x 355 millilitre (12 ounce) cans or bottles of beer or ale, including beer coolers over 0.5 percent alcohol (a maximum of 8.5 litres or 287.4 US ounces).

Bringing More Than the Duty-Free Allowance of Alcohol Into Canada

Except in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, if you are moving to Canada to settle you may bring in more than the personal allowances of liquor listed above as long as you pay customs and province / territory assessments. The amounts you are allowed to bring into Canada are also limited by the province or territory in which you enter Canada. For details on specific amounts and rates, contact the liquor control authority for the apporpriate province or territory before you come to Canada.

Shipping Alcohol to Canada When You Move to Settle in Canada

If you are moving to Canada to take up permanent residence or temporary employment for more than three years, and you want to ship alcohol to Canada (the contents of your wine cellar, for example), contact the liquor control authority for the appropriate province or territory to pay the provincial or territory fees and assessments in advance. To have your shipment released when you get to Canada, you will need to show the receipt for the provincial or territory fees and assessments and you will also need to pay the applicable federal customs assessments.

Customs Contact Information

If you have questions or require more information on bringing alcohol into Canada, please contact the Canada Borders Services Agency.

See Also:

• Bringing Alcohol Into Canada - Visitors
• Bringing Alcohol Into Canada - Canadian Residents