Guide · Canada
Alcohol, tobacco, vaping and gift limits for visitors to Canada
General information, not official or legal advice. Customs, immigration and border rules change and every situation is different. Check the linked official sources and the agency’s current page before you travel. This site is not affiliated with CBP, the CBSA, DHS or any government.
Short answer
The CBSA says non-residents and temporary residents must declare all alcohol, tobacco and vaping products, meet the minimum age (18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, 19 elsewhere for alcohol; 18 for tobacco and vaping everywhere) and stay within published quantity limits.[1] The limits are 1.5 litres of wine, or 1.14 litres of spirits, or 1.14 litres of wine and spirits, or 8.5 litres of beer or ale.[1] Duties and taxes can still apply to those quantities, and a provincial or territorial permit may be needed above them.[1]
Steps
- The CBSA sets the minimum age by where you enter: 18 in Alberta, Manitoba or Quebec and 19 in other provinces and territories for alcohol, and 18 anywhere for tobacco and vaping products.[1]
- The CBSA says non-residents and temporary residents must declare all alcohol, tobacco and vaping products they have with them, including quantities within the limits.[1]
- The CBSA lists a quantity limit for each product; see the table below for the published figures.[1]
- The CBSA says to be prepared to pay duties and taxes on any quantity of these products that you declare.[1]
- The CBSA says a permit from the provincial or territorial authority may be needed for amounts over the listed limits.[1]
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age: alcohol | 18 if you enter in Alberta, Manitoba or Quebec; 19 in any other province or territory | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Minimum age: tobacco and vaping | 18 anywhere you enter Canada | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Wine | 1.5 litres | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Spirits | 1.14 litres | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Wine and spirits combined | 1.14 litres | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Beer or ale | 8.5 litres | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Cigarettes | 200 | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Cigars | 50 | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Manufactured tobacco | 200 grams (7 ounces) | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Tobacco sticks | 200 | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Vaping containers | 12 or fewer; maximum 120 millilitres (liquid) or 120 grams (solid) | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
| Gifts without duty or tax | Each gift under CAN$60; excludes tobacco, vaping, alcohol and advertising matter | [1], read 2026-10-20 |
The published limits, in one place
| Product | Quantity listed by the CBSA for non-residents |
|---|---|
| Wine | 1.5 litres |
| Spirits | 1.14 litres |
| Wine and spirits combined | 1.14 litres |
| Beer or ale | 8.5 litres |
| Cigarettes | 200 |
| Cigars | 50 |
| Manufactured tobacco | 200 grams (7 ounces) |
| Tobacco sticks | 200 |
| Vaping containers | 12 or fewer, up to 120 mL (liquid) or 120 g (solid) |
Source for every row: CBSA, What visitors can bring into Canada.[1] The wording on the page is that duties and taxes "could apply" to these limited quantities, which is why the CBSA says to be prepared to pay on any quantity you declare.[1]
Age rules
The minimum age for alcohol depends on where you enter: 18 in Alberta, Manitoba or Quebec, and 19 in any other province or territory. For tobacco and vaping products the minimum is 18 anywhere you enter Canada.[1]
What the CBSA says about permits and provincial rules
For amounts over the listed limits, the CBSA says you may also need a permit from the provincial or territorial authority.[1] For residents returning to Canada, the CBSA separately says the quantities of alcoholic beverages must be within the limit set by the provincial and territorial liquor control authorities that apply where you enter.[2] The visitor page does not publish each province's limits, so this guide does not either; check the liquor authority for the province you will enter.
Gifts
The CBSA says gifts must be declared. The CBSA says all currency on that page is in Canadian dollars. A gift worth less than CAN$60 is not subject to duty or taxes, but tobacco products, vaping products, alcoholic beverages and advertising matter are excluded from that rule. If a gift is worth more than CAN$60, duty and taxes apply to the amount over CAN$60.[1]
Other points on the same CBSA page
The CBSA says the border services officer will ask why you are visiting Canada and how long you plan to stay.[1] It says not to wrap gifts, in case officers need to inspect the contents, and it links to Memorandum D2-1-4 on casual donations.[1] It also says an officer may ask for a security deposit on declared goods and issue a temporary admission permit, with the deposit refunded by mail when you leave Canada with the goods and your copy of the permit.[1] Separately, the CBSA says that if you do not declare pets, food, plant or animal products, officers may seize them and a penalty of up to CAN$1,300 may apply.[1] The page also links to the CBSA's duty and tax estimator and to its pages on restricted and prohibited goods, cannabis and travelling with CAN$10,000 or more.[1]
Vaping products
The CBSA links to its policy memorandum on importing vaping products for details beyond the quantities above.[1] Quantities in the table are those stated on the visitor page.
What this guide does not cover
It covers the federal limits for non-residents and temporary residents on the visitor page. It does not cover Canadian residents returning from abroad (see the separate guide), commercial importation, or each province's liquor rules. The "mini guide" for returning residents lists the same litre and tobacco figures but ties them to absences of 48 hours or more.[3]
About this guide
Officers decide at the border; this is general information, not official guidance. travel.tnaado.ca is not affiliated with CBP, CBSA, DHS or the Government of Canada.
Frequently asked questions
How much wine can a visitor bring into Canada?
The CBSA lists 1.5 litres of wine, or 1.14 litres of spirits, or 1.14 litres of wine and spirits, or 8.5 litres of beer or ale.[1]
Do I pay duty on alcohol within those limits?
The CBSA says duties and taxes could apply to limited quantities, and to be prepared to pay duties and taxes on any quantity of alcohol, tobacco and vaping products you declare.[1]
What is the minimum age for alcohol?
18 if you enter in Alberta, Manitoba or Quebec; 19 elsewhere.[1]
Is there a minimum age for tobacco and vaping products?
Yes, 18 anywhere you enter Canada.[1]
Can I bring a gift worth CAN$100 to a friend in Canada?
It must be declared. Duty and taxes apply to the amount over CAN$60, so on a CAN$100 gift they would apply to CAN$40, following the same arithmetic as the CBSA's CAN$200 example.[1]
Where do the CBSA's limits come from?
The CBSA's visitor page links to the Non-residents' Temporary Importation of Baggage and Conveyances Regulations under "More information" beside the quantity limits.[1]
Sources
- CBSA, What visitors can bring into Canada (page dated 2025-04-02). https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/bring-apporter-eng.html. Read 2026-10-20.
- CBSA, I Declare: guide for residents returning to Canada (page modified 2025-11-25). https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/declare-eng.html. Read 2026-10-20.
- Government of Canada, Personal exemptions mini guide (page dated 2026-09-03). https://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs/personal-exemptions. Read 2026-10-20.