What can travellers bring back?
Many countries have strict rules and regulations for taking items outside of their borders. Examples of export regulations include:
- In India, antique items for export must be registered with local police
- In Peru, it is illegal to remove items made from or displaying animals, insects or plants from the country. They may be seized and there may be a heavy fine or jail sentence
- In Lithuania, local authorities should be consulted before exporting religious items or antiques
- In Malawi, it is illegal to purchase and export uncut precious stones
Advise your clients to check out their destination’s “Laws and culture” section in our Travel Advice and Advisories for rules about exporting items.
When your clients return to Canada, they may qualify for a personal exemption. But do they know what they can, and cannot, legally bring back to Canada? Make sure your clients are informed about:
- Personal exemptions based on the length of time outside Canada
- Personal exemptions on alcohol, tobacco and other duty-free goods
- Importing food, plants, live animals and animal products
Our mini guide on travel.gc.ca provides a quick overview of personal exemptions.
If they are bringing food into Canada for personal use, your clients should be aware of federal import restrictions and that it is prohibited to bring back certain foods. These restrictions vary depending on the item and its country of origin. Canadians should be sure to pack and shop wisely. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website contains comprehensive lists of food items on their Bringing food into Canada for personal use page.
More information on what can be brought back to Canada, what to declare, duties and taxes, and personal exemptions can be found on our customs page.
Help Sofia!
14- You know that Sofia likes to collect arts and crafts from the places she visits. You don’t want her to have issues at border controls so you advise her to look up the “Laws and culture” section of the Travel Advice and Advisories for all her destinations. She later tells you that in Thailand there are strict regulations on the export of _____________________.
15 - Sofia likes to shop and buy little gifts for her parents and friends while she travels. Since she will be travelling for a few months, she wonders if she is allowed to send gifts back home along the way. Would they count as part of her personal exemptions when she comes back to Canada? You research the What you can bring home to Canada page and find out that she can:
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